iExplainTheJoke
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There’s an online trend to belittle men who are sick and need extra support by calling it the “manflu”, this effectively reinforces the idea that men aren’t allowed to show weakness and that needing help is a personal failure. Everyone needs help from time to time and no one should be made to feel bad about it.
Utecr
Who calls anything manflu?
GuestChrist
I agree that term is misleading no matter how it's used. A better word is probably "malingering" and that covers all genders.
Fostylake
First time I've ever heard of this
mosjoo
Nothing I ever heard about. But Jauffre would be the one to know. He's the grandmaster of my order.
yakandu
WTF is that
candyland83
My boyfriend and I have a running joke about this. He send me his last will and testament whenever he gets the sniffles. It’s funny. //
candyland83
But he’s not the toxic type. He’s super chill and open. But he is ABSOLUTELY a little crybaby bitch about a cold. ❤️❤️❤️
MonsieurBambi
If I have the flu people need to leave me the fork alone, I’ll bite anyones head of if they as much as breathe my way..
MonsieurBambi
I need to die with my flu in peace. I’ve also never had anyone care for me while I’m sick, so don’t know what that’s like
Hurglederp
As a man, I'm not particularly concerned about people's opinion of me outside of my relevant field of influence. I have kids to feed.
HeyOP
1) There's some evidence that the stereotype of overreaction to illness leads to undertreatment and may contribute to the
HeyOP
2) fact that men have much worse average outcomes for infection. Got a son?
HeyOP
3) I should say *some* infections, probably. And there's no proved causal link. But there's concern about more than hurt feelings.
Arcygenical
I got wrecked by the man-flu 2 weeks ago. I don't view using a self-depreicating joke as a sign of weakness though, so...
HeyOP
1) You can reclaim it, but that's exactly what it started as, and how it's most often used still.
HeyOP
2) https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/man-flu
DrunkBobRoss
The joke was started by moms who had to keep up with everything while sick about dads who would just lie on the couch and whine.
korndogg83
KaraokeLemur
The fun part is that the cold hits men and women different. Probably an evolutionary reason to it, too.
navytowel
We've been reading a book called Invisible Women, you should read it. It's good stuff.
whatseventhepoint
I’ve never heard this term before and I’m on Insta and Twitter. Maybe you follow too many assholes?
EaNasirsExcellentHighGradeCopper
man, I heard the term manflu long before the internet even existed. Its always been used to deride and insult men who get sick and ask for
aifeloadawildmoss
Yeh I remember this term from the before times definitely been a term used in England for a lonnnng time. And I agree, it’s toxic af.
EaNasirsExcellentHighGradeCopper
help since they cant get up themselves.
MoschopsUK
I thought manflu was a reference to men having a little bit of a cold but acting like they had the fucking plague.
layinginbedfeelinglikeaquesarito
It is that, but is also when a man is really sick people act like we should be tougher, can’t do the self pamper thing that’s okay for women
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paulguy119
Hopefully work from home and not being around people while infectious.
d3jake
This has been my understanding. Though it doesn't surprise me if it had another definition tacked on.
ProppaGanda
It's basically ridiculing men for ever showing weakness, in one field that used to be assumed "safe"
MoschopsUK
It's never been safe to act like a minor cold is the fucking plague. People who do that deserve ridicule.
ThatOrangeApple
Or could it be that some people are affected more intensely than you are by the common cold?
ProppaGanda
Yeah, I grew up with that mindset. Last time it turned out to be tonsillitis, but hey, I'm just fine, just a bit of cold, heh?
paulguy119
I was considering leaving the hospital when an appendicitis (not diagnosed yet) was feeling less painful.