bobquasit | The Drawbacks and Advantages of Being A Woman

I'm often grateful that I wasn't born a woman. It seems to me that in many ways, it's harder to be a woman than a man. At the same time, the issue isn't totally black and white; there's something to say for both sides. So, recognizing that I'm not really qualified to be saying any of this:

Drawbacks of Being A Woman

Gynecological examinations. By all accounts, these are pretty damned unpleasant. Prostate exams are uncomfortable, but men don't have to start those until they're 40 or so, and I suspect they're nowhere near as painful. And this may reveal incredible ignorance on my part, but don't women have to have prostate exams too? Do women even HAVE prostates? Why don't I know?
Mammograms. Squish. Ouch.
Childbirth. I will forever be profoundly grateful that I can reproduce without having to push an eight-pound nine-ounce creature through my genital area.
Periods. Cramps, bleeding, pads, tampons, bloating, mood swings...sheesh. They're an excellent argument against the existence of a compassionate God. What sort of sadist would design a system like that?
Menopause. It just sounds nasty; a message from Nature telling you that you're no longer a participant in the process of evolution. On the plus side, I've noticed that many women seem to get a lot more sane - or calmer, anyway - after menopause.
Rape. Men can be raped too, of course, but it's a lot more likely if you're a woman.
The fashion industry. Actually, the entire cultural mystique of femininity is a heavy weight to bear. Wear the right clothes. Weigh the right weight. Use the right perfume. If you don't, you'll be repulsive. And that message is drummed in constantly by all sorts of media. No wonder so many women develop anorexia or bulimia! Of course this is a cultural issue, not a biological one, so maybe it shouldn't be counted.
Men. Hairy. Dirty. Smelly. Drunk. Liars. Okay, not all men are that way^*. But admit it, the majority of them are.
Bras. Or maybe this should be "breasts". Men, after all, don't need a special garment to keep a body part from reaching the floor by age 50. And we only need to keep track of one piece of underwear, not two. But in any case, I have the strong impression that it's almost impossible for most normally-proportioned women to find a comfortable, well-fitting bra for under $100. You could buy 50 pairs of boxers or briefs for that kind of money.
Bathrooms. I pondered for a moment - is this biological, or cultural? But I think it's biological. Women take more time in the bathroom, which means that in her life, a woman is sure to spend much more time in line, jiggling from one foot to the other.

Hmm. What else? I'm sure I've forgotten something.

In any case, this has already gone longer than I expected, so the advantages of being a woman will have to wait until next time.

* - For example, I'm usually only two out of the five. Whoops - make that three.