Perhaps you’ve heard of the man flu? The half joke/half belief that grown men, who are otherwise stereotypically tough and emotionless, are reduced to sniffling children who just want their mommies (or their wives to act like their mommies) as soon as they contract a cold?
When the man flu is mentioned, most women I know smile and nod knowingly. Optionally adding “So true…” Blogger friend Anka had a real life case of it in her house.
But are we, as a society in general, ok with this sexist notion? I know they say that all stereotypes come from somewhere, but none of the men in my life have ever contracted the man flu.
Maybe I won’t change society’s mind today, but let me at least offer a counter example.
Two weeks ago, I got sick. It went something like this…
Tuesday: Jill coughs. Panicked, she reaches for Vitamin C drops.
Wednesday: Jill tells her boss she’s sick and needs to leave early. Jill sees her doctor, who diagnoses her with a cold and prescribes cough medicine.
Thursday: Jill calls in sick. Alternates sleeping, coughing, and complaining for the rest of the day.
Friday: Jill braves it and goes to work, coughing and making weird sounds all day.
Saturday-Sunday: Jill alternates sleeping, coughing, and complaining. Repeatedly asks her mother and husband to check if she has a fever. “Check again. Are you sure? I feel chills. Where’s the thermometer? Oh weird, it says I don’t have a fever. Check again.”
Monday – Tuesday#2: Jill calls in sick. Alternates sleeping, coughing, and complaining for the rest of the day.
Wednesday#2 – Thursday #2: Jill makes it to work but cuts out plans afterwards. Coughs and complains.
Friday #2: Jill works from home. Alternates working, coughing, and complaining.
Saturday #2-Wednesday #3 (today): Jill sniffles her way through life, stocks up on tissues, and complains.
………………
This past Sunday, Tom finally caught my cold…
Sunday: Tom wakes up with a cold. Reaches for the Vitamin C drops.
Health report: “If you gave me your cold I’m going to kill you.”
Monday: Tom’s school cancels classes, forcing him to stay home and play video games.
Health report: “I felt a little feverish so I took some Tylenol and now I feel better.”
Tuesday: Tom drops Jill at the train station, drives to Brooklyn, works a full day, drives back to Long Island, goes to class for three hours, comes home.
Health report: “This cold is annoying.”
Wednesday (today): Tom goes to class.
Mid-day health report: “I feel fine.”
………………
And you know what, man flu truthers? It’s always like that. I’m a big baby who needs constant attention, and Tom just needs some Gatorade and video games for a day. My mom says that once I have kids, I’ll learn to suck it up, but I doubt it.
Maybe the man flu isn’t a myth. Maybe Tom’s a carrier I’m just the first female patient. But if it’s spreading to women, you men should probably be on the lookout.
I’m definitely the baby compared to Joel but my dad is definitely the baby compared to my mom. He moans, groans and says “SUE!” in a really whiney voice. My brother is the best, when he gets sick he lets me and my mom touch him (i.e. rub his head and/or feet). This is a big deal for my brother who hates hugging people who are not his wife and kids.
Haha. Ok so that’s 2 votes for man flu, 1 for woman flu. Maybe I should be keeping a tally.
Ha! I loved reading about your account of the “Woman Flu.” I’m siding with mom on this one. I think once you experience contractions during labor, havng a slight temperature will be like a single strand of hair falling out. You won’t even notice!
By the way, my husband did the exact same thing you did–he asked me to check his forehead repeatedly. Even when I told him the thermometer read 98.6! Thanks for the laugh my friend!
Lol I’m pretty sure I claimed the thermometer was broken at one point.
Far be it from me to doubt the wisdom of two moms (including my own) so I guess I can’t wait to be amazed at my own resilience someday.
I’ll call you next time Chris is sick so you can see the show front and center. Heck you can even drop by his office to witness it cause yes it carries over to there as well
Lol I don’t know about that. I bet he only shows that side to you and his mom.
Both my husband and I are pretty good about sucking it up when we’re sick. But being sick still stinks!
Were you always good or did you get better after having kids?
I think we were always good about it.
Well, I might be doomed to be a forever man flu sufferer. Lucky I find my own faults so charming.
I wouldn’t ever recommend going to work if you are suffering from flu. You’ll spread it around and your colleagues will hate you for it.
Us fellas are lucky in that we don’t suffer periods. The payback though is that we get man flu!
Tell me about it. I hate it when my coworkers come to work with even a cold. I wish I could stay home with every illness but, I’m afraid, the whole operation falls apart without me.
So I get the worst of both worlds, I guess!
I will pretend I’m not hurt, but if I am sick everyone must be involved in the treatment plan.
Man flu, for sure.
Sounds like me. I guess I’m lucky my husband is not a fellow sufferer.
I read this yesterday, and had a good laugh….so it’s my own fault…my guy woke up under the weather today. He gets sick twice a year if you ask him…’spring & fall…when the weather changes’. In reality he gets the ‘man flu’ almost everytime the temp swings more then 10-20 degrees in a few days, so about 20 times a year …damn you global warming! Pick a temp and stick with it!
On the other hand, I’m a baby, too. I get sick enough to complain far less often, but probably ask for more when I do. “Can you get me another box of tissues…more drugs…more blankets…hug me…hold me…kiss my forehead…make me soup, pleeeease…etc…etc…etc.” lol
Lol that sounds like me, too.
Ha, sorry destiny or irony or whatever “ny” was out to get you. Either way, let’s blame global warming.
Thanks for commenting
I never get sick. I live and move around in one of those giant plastic gerbil balls.
I also bury the bodies of those who come to work sick. Where they will never be found.
Happy Valentines Day!
Phil
http://www.blog.theregularguynyc.com
I like your plan. You’d think, since I work in healthcare, they would forbid me to come to work. But no, I’m too important.
I go into mom-mode when Steve starts to complain that he doesn’t feel well. Dr. Rae prescribes: hot bath, a glass of emergenC, hot tea, and in bed by 9 with the humidifier on all night. Steve wakes up and feels much better. I do the same, but still call out the next day.
Hey, that’s why you got sick days, right??
Oh, you’re too nice. I’m usually too wrapped up in my own drama to baby Tom.