Why are girls brought up to hide their bodily functions?

I don't understand why girls are brought up to hide their bodily functions like passing gas or pooping. When I was little my mom asked me not to fart around anyone even at home. My brothers freely did it at home while I always left for the bathroom or to my room whenever I needed to fart. At school if I got the urge to poop I would hold it uncomfortably until I came home because I was too afraid of the sounds and the odor. Some of my female friends had the same problem. I was told to make sure the toilet was super clean and it didn't give any bad odors before leaving. Sometimes I suffered from problems like constipation due to this issue. I often do my best to painfully hold it whenever I need to pass gas. And I'm afraid to use public toilets so I wait until I come home if I need to go.

I think many women face this issue. Why are we brought up to live like if we are not humans? I think this is something women themselves made up over the generations because men do not seem to be much stressed over these matters.
6 5

Superb Opinion

  • So you have a therapist or counselor to talk this over with. To be this uptight about your bodily functions when you're a grownup sounds stressful and needless.

    Everybody expels gas. Say excuse me. Giggle a little. Everyone has to deposit excrement in the toilet. Holding on to urine or poo is unhealthy. The only reason NOT to use a public toilet is if it's filthy. Sure, we don't want everyone in the bathroom to hear all our "sounds" but you can't have perfect privacy all the time.

    Talk this out and get to a place where you can feel comfortable with this aspect of yourself. It'll lower your tension level.

Most Helpful Guys

  • Everyone is brought up to hide their body odors, how is this a gendered thing?
    If guessing that you're brothers were also thought not to act like livestock, they just didn't care about it and there wasn't much that could change that.

    I don't see how using the bathroom outside is anyone else's fault but yours. It seems like you were the one merely concerned with others' opinion, something that just doesn't bother guys as much.

    I don't see how this is really people holding women to higher standards. It seems to me that everyone is thought the same thing but guys are more likely to be careless and inconsiderate.

  • As a guy who enjoys rimming his women i always like to pretend only flowers come out of there. If me and my chick are out and about and she starts talking about a nasty shit earlier from taco Tuesday the chances of my tongue going in her back door is gonna go down significantly. Ignorance is bliss.

Most Helpful Girl

  • I don't think that's really the case. I think it's not a matter of hiding it as much as it is not making a production or exhibition of it. It applies to both girls/women and men/boys (though the latter don't seem to care as much). There's no reason to let out a big fart and ask everyone "did you hear that?" Or put a magazine under your arm and announce to everyone you're going to take a dump, then leave after and tell everyone "don't go in there for a while." There's a happy medium, and a time and place for everything.

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What Girls & Guys Said

11 19
  • Can’t tell you how true this is. Wonderful statement.

    • Has it been the same for you?

    • 100% it is. Growing up we were taught to be ladylike and hide the fact we were human. I think this is why some guys have the weirdest fetishes now. Women are portrayed as clean proper beings.

    • In one way it's not their fault since it's us who are made to behave as if we came from another planet.

    • Show All
  • I am glad I was not brought up like this. I do think some of it is self imposed. Like women think it isn’t lady like, men think it is funny

  • if you know the practices that you were taught are unhealthy, you are 26 and you have the authority to decide to conduct yourself differently. Blaming your mom works when you are 10 years old, but not when you are 26.

    • I know it's unhealthy, but I've got used to it since I was a child and it's difficult to get out of it.

  • It all comes down to the ‘lady like behaviour).

    it is / was a society driven thing on how a girl should behave.

    it’s still true when looking at fashion.

    No one ever says a guy looks a slut wearing x clothes.

    but if a girl shows a bit of thigh, she’s a slut.

    same with farting , pissing and pooing,

    it’s all the same crazy standard,

  • Well, you’re 26 now. My mum told me that I need to act like a “lady” and quit being a tomboy lol. My brother was taught not to use unhygienic toilets too. My mum taught me some of the stuff and advised against some of the things you’ve mentioned

    • I mean haven't you ever had uncomfortable moments like the ones I have mentioned?

    • Yeah, I have had uncomfortable moments like the ones you’ve mentioned and I think we need to change it

  • I think it's strange that you were given different standards. We were brought up to not be pigs. I'm pretty certain my father has never passed gas. We were taught to chew with our mouth closed, not to burp, fart, or hack in public, don't spit, don't yawn, and don't rest your elbows on the table. I don't see this as a gender issue.

  • Well that is just so weird I wonder what my mom used to tell my sister because with my sister does he sounds like a bad car accident if my brother and I are around we just look at each other and try not to laugh and it doesn't work we died laughing

  • They should not be afraid to hide body functions including talking about their periods. All of them are normal and we are way too stuck up and conservative in the USA.

    • That's true.

    • Hang in there!!!

    • Dude your profile is such a clown

    • Show All
  • I've never understood this either. Most of my old girlfriends (and thankfully my ex wife) had no issue with freely doing either.

    • It's good they don't have the issues I've got.

    • Just let it rip when you need to. Nothing bad will happen, I promise.

  • There is a guy on here who think women have things easy in life. If ever you see his questions? you be sure to bring THAT up.

  • Sadly this happens to many girls, I'm glad you talk about this issue. Luckily I didn't grow up in this manner. I have pooped in school and many other places and I never cared about it. If I want to pass gas in a public place I move a bit further from other people so they don't get bothered and do it. I'd rather do it than suffer. Girls shouldn't be made to oppress about this matter.

    • You're right, this oppression is very bad. You never cared about sounds or odor at school and other places? Omg you're brave.

    • No, I don't care about it. I'd rather let people know I'm taking a dump than holding it. I have used restrooms at school, stations, restaurants and some other places and did my business without caring if other people are listening.

    • You're very brave. I can't imagine doing that, I'm so scared about noise and odor.

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  • I never understood it either. Fortunately I didn't grow up the way you did, but I know it's a problem for many women. I do use public washrooms if I have to go and at home I freely do all of those things you have mentioned. Holding is not good.

    • How was it for you as a child? Didn't you go through any of this?

    • It wasn't that tough for me when compared to you. While I didn't pass gas loudly around other family members, I had no problem doing it anywhere at home. At school if I had to do number two, I usually went to the corner stall.

    • Brave. No one heard you?

  • I shit myself at the local store and it ruined my underwear
    so I had to throw them away and I finished shitting in their toilet
    and I came out with just my regular shorts on with no underwear
    so be careful your bowels can work when you least expect them to
    happen what you think is just a fart can be that you shit your panties

  • SOME OLD WORLD SOCIETIES had a weird obsession with women being these picture perfect showpieces that were "seen but not heard." That's where a lot of those gender norms came from. Specifically, the South European and Middle Eastern societies were like that; extremely patriarchal. Generally think of the Greeks, Romans, Persians, etc... The vast majority of societies throughout history have realized that women were every bit the fart factories that men are and were, and had fun with it.

  • It’s normal. Everyone does it. Even that hot chick in town you know has been ripping farts. That’s stupid.

    • Exactly that's the truth.

  • That I am not sure. I have no issues going to the bathroom in public, but hate it. I Would rather use my own bathroom. You are right though, guys can do what they please and if we do the same it is frowned at.

  • Because it’s not ladylike or feminine to burp and fart.

  • everyone is. you're not supposed to display your "bodily functions" in public...

  • I dont know, my family is not like that. But we don't fart or have stinky shit or get constipated because we don't eat a lot of junk. Its just polite to burp quietly fyi, i do it too, and I've never been in a group of guys where farting was acceptable. Someone man might be gassy one day but they will get teased and shunned. Stop being a victim.

  • Sadly this happens to many girls. This is one reason why constipation is more common in women than men.

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