Why Men Need To Stop Using The Word “Nagging” In Relationships by GIGI ENGLE 04.18.17
There are a lot of words used to describe women that should be permanently expelled from men’s vocabularies.
You know them as well as me: Nasty. Bitch. “Cool girl.” “Whiskey girl.” Whore. Please don’t even get me started on the c-word. I will scream.
We are slowly but surely doing away with the gender-constricting, damaging words of yesteryear and opening ourselves up to a new dialogue between the sexes (at least, that’s what we’re trying to do). But, there is one word you probably don’t even know you’re using and it has to end.
I’m talking about nagging. Men MUST stop using this word! Here’s why.
Nagging is born from differing communication styles.
Nagging is a word thrown around to describe a pestering woman. It’s a word that turns women into caricatures — impatient and hysterical.
“‘Nagging’ is an inflammatory word,” says Avery Neal, a psychotherapist at The Women’s Therapy Clinic and author of the forthcoming book, If He’s So Great, Why Do I Feel So Bad?“Its negative connotation makes a woman feel devalued.”
Generally speaking, women are bigger on verbal communication. You know it’s true. We don’t need to keep everything inside and have a decent sense of how to articulate our feelings and needs. Men, meanwhile, don’t always possess this talent.
“There is a fundamental difference between men and women when it comes to communication,” Neal says. “Most women relate to one another and bond through talking, and are less concerned about getting to a particular point. This lays the groundwork for what has been labeled ‘nagging.’”
When we use our words to ask for what we want, too often those words get turned around on us. Say we ask a partner to take out the trash, fix a lightbulb, or give the kids a bath. And say, hypothetically, the request is ignored, and three days later the garbage pail is overflowing, the light is still out, and the kids are filthy. So, we ask again. But instead of this being part of normal communication, we’re chastised for being nags.
“She is left in a powerless position, since her attempts to get her needs met have failed,” Neal says. “She may get angry, withdraw, or simply do it herself. Regardless of the case, a bad pattern is formed.”
The word is gendered — and damaging.
During the Middle Ages, nagging women were punished.
Iron muzzles, called “Scold’s bridles,” were fitted onto nagging wives’ heads complete with bridle-bit pressing down on the tongue to prevent speaking.
Ah, the patriarchy. Can’t make this stuff up.
Read the full article HERE on ravishly.com