Denouncing toxic male behaviours within heterosexual relationships, the TikTok and Instagram trend #WomenInMaleFields has all the hallmarks of a feminist call to action
With Valentine’s Day coming up soon, it’s the perfect season to feel all lovey-dovey, as long as you feel it for the right partner. Sometimes, it’s difficult to navigate the complex feelings of the heart and recognise red flags. So at Tatler, we are revisiting the #WomenInMaleFields trend that emerged in November 2024 on the US TikTok—which encouraged women to share toxic patterns and normative expectations they face from men in heterosexual relationships with humour and irony.
More than being an outlet for women, this social media trend addresses broader issues than romance, such as systemic inequalities and the importance of sisterhood. Tatler explores this trend further.
What #WomenInMaleFields says about modern-day romance
Dating in recent years feels like a minefield. From situationships to “nanoship”, “love bombing”, “breadcrumbing” and the classic gaslighting, dating trends have shaken things up in the world of love but have also identified the common challenges that many of us face— the grey and blurry zones, commitment issues and emotional unavailability or immaturity.
Through the #WomenInMaleFields trends, female users are using social media to parody behaviours usually displayed by men, calling out the toxic dating situations they have encountered.
“We sleep together, wake up together, hang out, watch series, but when he asks me if we’re a couple, the answer is no, obviously,” writes a user. “He was crying in bed, so I said, ‘Here we go again’, and turned around and fell asleep”, writes another. “Told him he’s crazy after he made a valid argument,” writes yet another woman. “Liking his story every few months after ghosting him just to make sure he never fully moves on,” adds another one.