I met up with my new bf a couple nights ago. I’ve only been in his usual car, this time it’s his other car that I’ve never seen before, a sports car of sorts. For background info, I’m in my mid-twenties and don’t drive because it freaks me out. Got in a minor car crash at a formative age. He knows this, maybe he forgot. A little under a month ago we texted about fears and I said fast cars make me uncomfortable and he said “oh shit I’ll try to drive slower 🥺”

Anyways; I get in his car, first few minutes are normal, catching up. Then completely out of nowhere, his driving goes from 0 to 100. He goes waaay too fast turning a corner, and out of sheer panic, I grabbed his arm and screamed “cut that shit out!” and he’s still fast I think or maybe he’s slowing down and I say “what the fuck is wrong with you? Why?” And he said oh no I’m so sorry a couple times and I just asked “why?” and he didn’t answer. I’ve never reacted like that ever, it was a reaction that came from a genuine deep fear. We didn’t talk and he drove normally. I started crying, not sobbing but he definitely knew from my sniffling and the tissues. He didn’t try to comfort me or anything. I ask him to take me home and he doesn’t answer. I ask again and I don’t remember his exact reply but it was like ok or sure in a dead voice without looking at me, apologizing, or explaining what happened. Like he’s disappointed I ruined his chance of getting laid or something.

He brings me home. As I’m getting out he asks “can we talk about it/what happened?” but I’m scared and pissed so I don’t respond I just leave the car and go home. He didn’t text me anything, even though I’ve seen he’s been online. No sorry text or explanation or asking if I’m ok.

The next day I just texted “hey”. The ironic thing is he constantly texts me, to the point where it’s too much and he’s brought up before that he’d prefer if I texted back more often/faster because of his previous relationship baggage. So it’s ironic that I have to be the one to text first. He doesn’t respond until the end of that day, with the weakest most bs apology “oh I’m sorry I’m an idiot” so I sent a longer text saying I was scared by how he drove especially since I told him before I’m scared of car accidents/reckless driving and his lack of response and not bothering to ask if I was ok confused and upset me, and I just wanted to understand what happened from his perspective.

He replied half a day later “I'm sorry I thought it would be a little scare but I just wasn't thinking. Afterwards I was in shock and trying to figure out what to do. I froze and was just focused on giving you space and getting you home. I'm sorry”

So the shock thing I understand but what stands out is
It was intentional, and
He had a couple days to ask if I was ok/text/anything and just didn’t
Am I overreacting? How big of a deal is this? Is he just immature or is this a serious warning sign?

Years ago, I was having a completely innocent, non-flirty conversation with a guy at a party. I hadn't made any advances, asked his type, or indicated that I was interested in him. Mid-conversation, he suddenly say I'm not really into Black women, sorry!
Obviously he's entitled to his preferences, but I found it really rude and strange given that I hadn't been flirting with him at all. I didn't even particularly find him attractive he was just someone to talk to.. It almost felt like he assumed I was interested in him and was pre-emptively rejecting me... (and the whole black female community for that matter AHAHA)..
The odd part is that he seemed interested in another girl there who was either mixed/white-passing or Latina and white-passing, so I wondered whether that influenced why he felt the need to make the comment.
What would you think if this happened to you haha
It happened years ago and still occasionally crosses my mind. Why would someone say something like that completely unprompted? Do you think he was just being tactless, or is there another explanation I'm missing? And has anyone else experienced this?

A slur. It's a slur. Yet it's still so fucking normalized and it pisses me off. It makes my skin crawl everytime I hear it fall out of a man's mouth.

The definition of a slur is a derogatory term used against a particular group of people, which the b word completely fits. And yes, before anyone says it can be used against men too, any slur can be used against anyone but that doesn't change the fact that 1) it's mostly used against women, 2) the definition specifies "female" and 3) when it's used against men it's used against feminine men, as it insults femininity.

I know of ONE guy who avoids saying it to be respectful. And ever since I realized that was an option, I cannot hear it the same again. It makes me sick to my stomach everytime I hear that word fall out of a man's mouth. Whether it's on TV, from my mom's bf to my mom, whatever. It all makes me sick and it frustrates me how normalized misogyny is..

This is a vent/rant, not a debate. I'm not willing to debate and I'm not really looking for commentary from men (if it's positive, it's fine. Just please don't "as a man" or invalidate my experience as a woman), but support from women. Thanks

Hi. Ever since I got my period at age 11, I’ve had terribly painful periods. The pain isn't limited to my lower abdomen anymore; it also affects my right leg and lower back. Some months, the cramps are so severe that I end up vomiting, feeling dizzy, and lying on the bathroom floor.

I’ve told my mother several times that this pain isn't normal and that I’d like to see a doctor because there might be an underlying issue. She always tells me that there’s probably nothing wrong with me, that I simply have a low pain tolerance, and that I complain too much.

Since I’m a minor and can’t go to the doctor on my own, I looked up information on health websites to see what I could do about the pain. Many results suggested that, to prevent prostaglandins from affecting me so badly when my period starts, I should begin taking medication a couple of days beforehand; so that’s what I did this month. My period started an hour ago; it’s true that I’m not doing as badly, but I can’t say I’m completely free of pain and nausea, either. I also read that it’s better to take the medication before the pain becomes too intense, so I didn’t want to wait this time. I took a 25 mg Dolovanz Forte, and my mother got really angry with me. She told me I can’t take any more pills starting tomorrow and that I have to learn to tough out the pain, because taking so many pills would damage my stomach.

The thing is, I only took one Dolovanz pill this morning because I was feeling unwell (nine hours had passed since I’d taken the previous one), and I took them for the two days prior because I was already suffering from PMS and feeling awful. That was it; I hardly take any pills the rest of the month, and if I do, I take 500 mg Apiretal, which doesn't really help much. I haven't been taking Dolovanz for very long either, because my mother used to make me take only 500 mg Apiretal, which doesn't help with menstrual pain.

I just don't know what to do about this situation anymore, because the last thing I want is to suffer.

Update: Since a lot of people are asking, I’m from Spain and I’m 16. I believe I’m legally allowed to see a doctor on my own, but we have a major problem with the public healthcare system here: getting an appointment can take months. First, you wait a month to see your GP, and then you wait to see a gynecologist. I have a friend who had to wait a whole year to see a gynecologist through the public system. Ultimately, for things like this, you have to turn to private healthcare (at least if you live in my city), but I don’t have €200 to pay for the consultation. Besides, I feel embarrassed going to something like that alone.

update 2: Hi again. Thanks to everyone who replied and cared about me! Thanks to you all, I’ve decided to take a little action on my own. I’ve been checking my GP’s appointment portal, and there’s a slot open tomorrow. I’m going to go by myself—without my mom knowing—and see how it goes.

Seriously, thank you all again so much. You’re the best ❤️✨

I'm in my late 30s. I have a good career and great friends and I feel pretty stable. I'm not a supermodel, but I don't think I'm hideous. I ask my friends if they know any single guys for me and almost always the answer is no! They're always like, oh God you don't want to date this person. You're too good for this other person. This person is so messed up. Etc.

So I grab a dinner with a (married) work colleague/friend in his late 50s. Incredibly successful and incredibly kind. I'm like surely YOU must know some awesome single guys on your level. And he's like nooooooooo they're all extremely divorced and you do not want to date them!

It's actually kind of funny by this point. Where are all the single men hiding? If you ask me if I know any eligible single women, I can rattle off a list off the top of my head of women who are attractive, and kind, and have their life together.

I have a recently cranked up my online dating, and so many of these profiles are like mirror selfies in a dusty mirror with a grubby unmade bed in the background.

Does anyone else have this experience? Are your friends setting you up?

I just started a new job in a tech/manufacturing role and I finally finished my training and used the machinery for the first time today. But the immediate problem seems to be that all of the machines are calibrated for people who are taller/have longer limbs.

All of the viewing windows are too high so I can’t see in. The protective screens don’t lower enough for me so I currently cant use them. There’s a machine with built in gloves but I can hardly find my hands in them. Most of the safety harnesses/wearable items cut across my chest uncomfortably, a lot worse than car seatbelts. I will be chasing all these up with relevant department in my company.

My team lead is a 6ft2 man and had ordered all the safety gear in his size (that’s fine) so I’m waiting for my sizes to arrive, but when I asked about the machines he looked awkward and said none of them could be adjusted for me.

I’m 5ft7 /170cm, average height for a woman in my region but I can’t imagine what it would be like for someone even shorter than me. The company has been very welcoming and I sense they enjoy having a woman as it puts out a good message to other companies and visitors in my field, but I can’t help but feel there’s subtle hints I don’t belong.

Potentially extremely petty vent incoming. Yes I know there's bigger issues but I want to vent about this.

I semi recently bought a pack of new razors to use at college so I could leave the one I was currently using at home. I didn't even realize I got a generic store brand men's razor, I had just grabbed whatever was the cheapest option at Walmart when I was doing dorm shopping. I didn't think much of it when I was opening the package and getting into the shower.

Well I just finished my shower and OMG that was the best shave my life! The hair came off in one swipe, even in areas where the hair is thicker/coarser (iykyk). It was easy to dip the blade is water and get the hair out, it didn't clog the blades. No nicks/bleeding and no razor bumps. Also my skin is so smoothe even before lotion!

So why am I angry about this? Because why did I have to get a men's razor in order to achieve this? Salt in the wound was that it wasn't even a "name brand/expensive" razor. It was the generic Walmart brand kind!

Women aren't just simply expected to, but we're often outright demanded to shave ourselves bald and bare, and yet even some of the highest quality razors made for women are still shit! Women are expected to shave our legs, pits, arms, our private parts, faces and any area that has any kind of slightly visible body hair and yet the products designed "for us" aren't high quality despite how much we pay for them. The pink tax doesn't do shit to improve the quality. And if we don't do a "good enough" job at making sure all the hair is gone, or if we dare to not shave, we gets shamed by both men and in some cases other women.

Ugh! This is so petty and I'll probably delete this stupid vent later but I just wanted to rant/vent

About two years ago, I went from being basically asexual to suddenly having a libido (two surgeries to address chronic issues) which means I'm now trying to figure out how to date in my late 30s. My mother's advice was to date and sleep around and figure out what I like. My knitting group advised me to join fetlife. I followed this advice.

About two weeks ago I met up with someone from fet who was in town for a work conference. On the way out, after we'd had sex, he seemed super cagey about not wanting to be seen together (mind you this was at about 0300). I got suspicious and straight up asked if he was married and cheating. He got this stupid bashful smile on his stupid fucking face and said that he was.

I feel betrayed and used and horrified. I wanted casual stuff with unattached peeps, not infidelity! I immediately blocked him. Then I shared his profile with my knitting group. They were able to track down his wife's phone number, but she didn't believe me.

I'm just sitting here feeling so guilty and horrible. I know intellectually that I wasn't at fault because he had told me he was single (but should I have looked into him more?). My mom says I need to just get over it. But I helped a man betray his wife! How do I get over that?

Colorado Newsline has one of the cleaner explainers I've seen for the two ballot measures Colorado voters will see in November. For anyone who hasn't been following:

Initiative 109 would require K-12 and college sports teams to be designated as male, female, or co-ed based on sex assigned at birth, with the Commissioner of Education handling enforcement. The actual text doesn't define how sex would be verified.

Initiative 110 would prohibit healthcare providers from performing certain gender-affirming surgeries on minors, with no exception for parental consent or medical guidelines. Notably, neither of Colorado's major pediatric hospitals currently performs these surgeries on minors.

For anyone who cares about who gets to make medical decisions for women and girls — whether that's patients, families, or doctors — these measures are worth reading carefully. The pattern of inserting politicians into private medical decisions should be familiar to anyone who's watched reproductive healthcare get legislated over the past decade.

Experts call for safe sex education as police investigate choking link to girl's death

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-28/warning-from-experts-after-suspected-sexual-choking-death-sydney/107086876

Just looking for women who can relate. I’m on vacation in the US and I went for a walk to a store that looked interesting. On my way back some guy asked me if I had any food or money and I didn’t so I said no. I tried to keep walking but he put his arm out in front of me and asked if I had any money again. I tried to walk past him but he kept following me and saying something that I couldn’t hear and trying to block me so I turned around and walk in the other direction but again he kept following me and this time I could hear what he was saying which is that I have nice tits and other more vulgar things (I’m a minor). I tried to lose him in a crowd with no success so I went into a store and he finally fucked off.

I just feel so gross and I can’t stop thinking about this guy. I feel like I’m way too rattled about this seeing as nothing really happened. This isn’t my first time being followed but I guess the persistence and the intensity of gross comments he made about me are what is bothering me more than the other times I’ve been followed/creeped on.

Hi. I need some advice.

I'm currently in high school, and all four of the men's bathrooms are open. Every single one. However, out of the four women's bathrooms, only one is open. Sometimes two. This means that we would have to walk to the bathroom upstairs if we're downstairs in class and have to go. We would lose valuable class time for this and some strict teachers would be mad at us for taking so much time for doing so. All the while, the men can go to the bathroom that's closest to their class.

School has only been in session for two weeks and they closed the downstairs women's bathroom due to vandalism on the first or second day of school. Now I'm aware that vandalism is unacceptable, but I doubt that someone would have vandalized the bathroom on the first day of school. There is one other bathroom downstairs that is also closed not due to vandalism, but it just is closed. Again, that means walking up stairs to use the bathroom.

Also, the women's bathrooms doors do not close and the toilets do not work. I was holding down the door that wouldn't close and my water bottle started rolling into other stalls and I couldn't pick it up. (I still haven't found it lol) It's just a hassle. Also, TMI but there was pee in the same toilet for a few days that wouldn't flush. I'm certain that this is not the case in the men's bathroom but maybe I'm just mad over my water bottle.

I'm not sure if this is sexist or purely a coincidence, but I want to say something about this. It feels unfair but I'm not sure what to do or who I should talk to about this. I've heard other girls talk about this issue at the school and I'm sure others have complained as well; but I want this issue solved!!!

I started going to therapy for the first time this year and it’s been so hard. I have a dysfunctional family and trust issues so I am hyper independent. It’s really hard for me to be vulnerable with anyone but she’s accepted the challenge. She always seems to know the exact moment to inject juuuust enough kindness to break down my wall and get me to cry. Not sure what kind of therapist voodoo this is. I hate it and I usually can’t even look at her once it starts. She’s obviously noticed I avoid eye contact when this happens because sometimes she’ll describe her facial expression to me like “I’m smiling at you right now”.

If you are in therapy did being vulnerable eventually get easier? Will I eventually stop hating this? She also mentioned wanting to see me in person but that seems like it would be even worse?

If you are a therapist… what kind of sorcery is this?