‘He said I had no butt…’
IT is perfectly normal for couples in relationships to tease and joke with each other whether it is about their physical appearance or just a weird quality they possess. But there are some words spoken that are just too harsh, that they leave women — the more sensitive in relationships — wondering what the heck.
Below, women tell of their mates’ foot in mouth statements, that though most of the men apologised for after, still leave a bitter taste.
“You’re growing a beard?”
I once forgot my waxing appointment and thought I could get by with plucking my chin until I could find time to go to the salon. I caught my always-inquisitive boyfriend staring at me one day, and when I asked what was the matter, he blurted out, “are you growing a beard?” I was so embarrassed, because I had tried to pluck. He tried to laugh it off after, but the damage was already done.
— Nadine, 32
“Wow, your head is big”
‘Head Mundo’ is what he calls me. My head blends perfectly with my body but my husband of two years does not think so. He teases me so much that I am starting to believe that there is something wrong with me. When I speak to him about it he says that I am lacking a sense of humour if I take his comments seriously. I think I need to start teasing him about his far from flat belly.
— Kedesha Clarke, 25
“Gosh, You are hairy”
I have very hairy skin. I do shave the relevant areas but I refuse to shave my legs and eyebrows for the sake of my husband. Of course he is not pleased with me refusing to go completely bald everywhere on my body, so every chance he gets he reminds me how hairy I am. The worst time though, was when he jokingly asked if I had the genes of monkeys. I often laugh along with him but inside I was dying because his words hurt but I refuse to change my entire being for a man. After all, I must have an identity.
— Alecia Wright, 39
“Geez, you have no butt”
After being relentlessly pursued by my husband, and then being married for five years, I thought we were pretty much accepting of each other’s bodies. But one day I was getting dressed in front of him, when he blurted out, “Geez, you have no butt”. What was weird was that we had been married for so long, and it was like he was just noticing it. I promptly told him to apologise and he did.
— Petra W, 30
“You remind me of my ex-girlfriend”
There is nothing more insulting to me than having my spouse constantly comparing me to his ex-girlfriend — whether it’s the way I nag, iron his clothes or cook. His remarks usually leave me wanting to strangle him.
— Krista Davis, 32
“The earth trembles when you jump”
After the birth of my daughter almost seven years ago I gained about 70 pounds leaving me a little on the large side. I have tried several weight-loss diets and of course I exercise in order to shed a few pounds. My child’s father took to jeering me about my weight. One time he saw me skipping and yelled on the top of his voice, “the earth trembles when you jump, aren’t you afraid of sinking?” I tell him that he crushes my spirit each time he ridicules me but he tells me to use his negative criticism as a boost.
— Nicolette McNeir, 27
