What do you envy about the opposite sex?

Men envy women's ability to bring new life into the world, some even envy their role as mothers. Meanwhile, women envy other surprising things.

According to the IFLScience website, although society is more open than it used to be, gender inequality is still a problem worldwide. Social roles, whether direct or indirect, can have a huge impact on life.

These pressures influence how we behave, how we dress, how others expect us to live our lives, and even what emotions we should express and when. Failure to follow these rules often leads to shame, anger, and sadness.

In a study conducted by researchers at the University of Ostrava in the Czech Republic, researchers examined 1,769 participants over the age of 15 (the oldest respondent was male, representing the Czech population at 92 years old, female at 94 years old) and asked an open-ended question: "What do you envy about the opposite sex?".

Illustration photo/Source: theasianparent

Participants' responses ranged from one word to several sentences. The researchers used thematic analysis to analyze the responses. This method organizes qualitative information into recognizable patterns or themes.

Researchers found that women tend to envy men's social privileges, including higher salaries, advantages in the workplace, the ability to relax more easily, and freedom from social pressure about appearance.

Additionally, women often feel that society does not allow them to age naturally, making them jealous of men who can endure many of these changes. This includes men not having to stand in front of a mirror for an hour before going out, not having a strict dress code, and looking good without makeup.

Men, on the other hand, envy women's physical beauty, especially their "cuteness," "soft curves," "elegance," and "attractiveness." They also envy women for their so-called "charming" power, the ability to use their charm to influence others.

In addition to looks, men are also jealous of women who can express their emotions more openly and without being judged by society.

Physically, women envy men's strength, lack of menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, and the ability to urinate standing up. On the other hand, men envy women's ability to bring new life into the world, some even openly envy their role as mothers.

Psychologically, women envy men for their apparent logic in life and emotional stability while men envy women for their ability to multitask and take on complex responsibilities. These examples reveal important social expectations that clearly influence how we perceive the opposite sex.

Furthermore, many people in this study (over 42% of women and over 56% of men) did not express any jealousy toward the opposite sex. This may be because they are less concerned with perceptions of gender differences and more accepting of them.

However, this study has limitations because it only targeted the Czech population and relied on a single question and answer, which does not allow for a wider range of responses.

How to overcome the troubles caused by jealousy?

Canadian clinical psychologist Monica Vermani writes on the Psychology Today website that jealousy is a normal emotion that can bring awareness, insight, and inspiration to seek out opportunities for learning and growth, but for some people, it can also be a source of anxiety.

When we see or hear about others doing well, we may feel jealous. Our self-esteem drops and we may experience a range of unpleasant emotions, from shame, anger, resentment to feelings of hopelessness.

By taking the time to gain a deeper understanding of our emotions (especially the negative ones), we can begin to make changes that align with what we truly desire.

5 Steps to Overcome Jealousy

Acknowledge and examine your emotions: Sit with your emotions instead of suppressing them. Allow yourself to process what is coming up. Examine and challenge the reality of these feelings and fears.

Discover what jealousy reveals: Jealousy shows you what you want in life. This provides a quick summary of your goals = and how far you are from them.

Make an action plan: Once you understand where you are and what you want, you can map out a path and work towards your goals.

Be compassionate with yourself: When you feel stuck or hopeless, acknowledge it. Reflect on how far you've come and seek support and strategies when you're struggling.

Incorporate Gratitude into Your Life: Gratitude can do a lot, it keeps our thinking in a positive frame of mind. Being grateful for the people and things in your life that support you allows you to maintain your highest standards. Take five minutes each day to reflect on the positive and challenging aspects of your life.

T. Linh

Source: https://giadinhonline.vn/ban-ghen-ti-voi-nguoi-khac-gioi-dieu-gi-d203684.html