During the last few months of 2024, the “#womeninmalefields” trend emerged and shone a light on all the toxic things women have dealt with during their jobs, relationships, and just when they are out in public. This trend basically brings attention to the toxic things some men say towards women but mostly involves women going off on the way men treat them. Even though the jokes in the video are mostly satire, the things that are said do happen a lot.

The main point of the trend is that women are “exhibiting the same toxic traits and responses” as if it were a man saying them (Economictimes). There are several examples of all the things women “have” to do in order to please the guys they are dating or hanging out with. Women (and men, but in this case women) constantly have to compromise and deal with backlash from their in-laws or other family members where they can’t say anything back because it would hurt their husband’s feelings. An influencer addressed this in her video and said, “When a guy tells me his in-laws are mistreating him, I tell him marriage is all about compromise and he should learn to adjust for his happiness #womeninmalefields” (Economictimes). She makes it known that there have been points where women are trying to compromise in a way that benefits both partners; however, the man doesn’t want to and forces the woman to adjust.

There are so many examples of all the toxic things men do. For example, one TikToker mentioned the fact that someone thought she couldn’t pass a PhD program and wrote, “He said he was doing his PhD, so I said, ‘Are you going to drop the degree once you get kids?” as a way to show how little some men think of women (Today). Anytime a woman wants to join a challenging area of work (STEM, nursing, etc.), they a) aren’t viewed as valid competition, b) treated as though their ideas are not good, and c) are belittled about what they’re going to do with their degree when they have children. Another influencer made a video saying, “When he tells me exactly what I’ve done wrong, I say, ‘I’m sorry you feel that way.’”  alluding to the idea that when women correctly accuse their boyfriends of being in the wrong, they quickly victimize themselves and make it seem like their girlfriend is being mean and the one in the wrong instead of him (GLAMOUR).

The whole reason the trend started, and continues, is because women want toxic men to be aware of the fact that women are capable of manipulating and mansplaining them as well. Yari Ceballos explains how it allows women “to show men exactly what they’re doing — how we’re aware” of the way they treat women and that they aren’t going to continue to let them (Today). Psychologist Avigail Lev explains how this trend brings light to the way women are treated, and women who “feel alone are now saying, ‘This isn’t just me. This is common. It’s not my fault. It’s something that’s happening” because if more than enough women feel commonly towards the way they are being treated by men, it will start a reaction and allow us to end the toxic behavior/relationships (Today).

Several people have commented on the influence this trend has on women in this society, saying that it can help them become closer, notice who’s at fault, and talk about the things going on in their relationships. One TikToker says that “[the] women in male fields trend is teaching women that it’s not our fault. It’s the subtle guide to red flags” and all the wrong that is going on (GLAMOUR). Unshockingly enough, #womeninmalefields has diminished the power and authority men have “over” women so much that men decided to make their own trend, “men in female fields.” Men have become so annoyed that women are not only making fun of them for what they do, they are also calling them out for their toxic behavior. Similarly to the original, “men share experiences from their own relationships with women, ”and a few are “tongue-in-cheek, some not so much” (GLAMOUR). Not only is this trend pretty funny, it also brings attention to the way men treat women in today’s society.