In a very different vein from “very demure, very mindful” and “girl dinner” comes the latest TikTok viral trend, #WomenInMaleFields.
Thousands of women have been bonding over the short video craze in which poor male dating behaviour is called out.
More than 220,000 posts have been made on TikTok and nearly 19,000 have been posted on Instagram, according to Newsweek, with the most popular being seen by thousands.
As ever, the craze has not been universally popular, with some men striking back under the reactionary #MenInFemaleFields banner.
It may not be here for long (these things usually have a shelf life!) but before the craze is a has-been – this is what you need to know.
@maayanyve this trend has me cackling #womeninmalefields
♬ Anaconda - Nicki Minaj
What is #WomenInMaleFields?
#WomenInMaleFields is a craze for women to take to social media (in most cases TikTok) to share their frustrations with male behaviour. Women post videos of things they have heard men say to them – with the aim of making the statements seem ridiculous, selfish or even stupid when turned against them.
“He was crying in bed so I said ‘here we go again’ and turned around and fell asleep,” said Marla Frtiz in a video that has received more than 4 million views.
“Made plans to meet him at 7 so I switched my phone off at 6,” is another example.
Vogue India managed to find: “I went on a date with a guy, he told me he’s bi and asked if I’m accepting of that. I said, ‘Yeah, as long as I can watch’”.
And most videos are set to the backing of Nicki Minaj’s 2014 hit Anaconda, which is perhaps ironic considering the song’s lyrics and artwork.
@jessicawetz6 Women in male fields trend is teaching women that it’s not our fault. Its the subtle guide to red flags. Men teach each other to act poorly and they’re responsible for teaching each other better if they want the privilege of a wife and kids. Single women are happier than ever, whereas men are the opposite. Their happiness relied on taking women’s away for too long. I feel so grateful to be a single woman living alone child free at 29, no one else in my family has had that luxury. #4b #4bmovement #womeninmaledominatingfields #womeninmalefields #wetz #feminism #equality
♬ original sound - Jessica Wetz 🍉#6
Why are women sharing these?
There is no statement of intent as such but rather there is a shared goal towards challenging poor behaviour in relationships.
The Express and Tribune commented: “[It is a] powerful commentary on how behaviors like emotional neglect, ghosting, and reluctance to commit are often judged differently depending on gender.”
TikTokker Jessica Wetzstein has racked up more than 2 million plays for her videos on the subject and told Newsweek that one post led a woman to file for divorce.
"Women are realizing men subconsciously absorb their environment from birth, teaching them to be selfish.
“It doesn't have to be intentional to be unacceptable. Men often say the most selfish thing imaginable, which ends up being the same script for everyone – not just you.
"TikTok has helped women identify subtle signs of abuse and neglect by men, showing them it's not something they've personally done wrong or can fix.”
