He’s got the job, the kids, the Pilates routine and the smile. The only thing he doesn’t have is time – or equality.
You know the type. The woman who does it all and makes it look easy – the job, the kids, the Pilates, the perky smile. She’s calm, capable, and allegedly thriving on four hours of sleep and cold coffee. For years, social media has been full of inspirational quotes about women “having it all.” What’s there to complain about?
Gracefully smiling… well – perhaps a little? At the handful of learnt and quietly accepted assumptions. The self-conceptions passed down by our parents, colleagues, friends – by the world, really – about what’s “normal” when it comes to social roles, skills, jobs, clothes.
Then there’s the wrinkle-zapping, skin-glowing, weight-losing, younger-looking, better-posing advice. All so familiar when aimed at women in magazines or online. But when the same language is flipped and aimed at men, it suddenly becomes hilarious; and revealing.
That’s exactly what Sarah Ballard is doing on her Facebook and Instagram accounts.
And while her posts will definitely make you smile (or laugh out loud), they also reveal just how far we still are from genuine, lived equality. Don’t miss the community’s witty replies to her questions – they’re half the fun.
A few teasers from her feed:
- “I’m writing an article called ‘Tips for middle-aged men on how to look stunning on photos. Any suggestions?’”
- “I’m interviewing a male academic about what it’s like to be an academic at the same time as being a man. What should I ask?”
- “My dream: that one day boys will become anything they want to be – male mayors, men rugby players, male policewomen, and even male prime ministers.”
- « Will you STOP calling me a ‘male epidemiologist’? I’m just an epidemiologist! » shouts angry Michael, bringing his gender into everything as usual. »
And the moral?
He’s doing his best. He’s juggling work, home life and moisturiser. He’s leaning in, logging on and burning out – bravely, beautifully, publicly.
He has it all. Except, of course, equality.
Source: Man who has it all Facebook and Instagram accounts by Sarah Ballard.
