Man Ignites Backlash by Romanticizing the Role of Women in the 1800s

A recent TikTok video by William Bergholz (@wbergholz) has stirred controversy and angered social media users. In the video, Bergholz expressed his belief that women today are not like their counterparts from the 1800s and early 1900s. As expected, his perspective has faced significant dispute online.

Over the past few decades, society has made great strides towards gender equality, welcoming women's participation in various fields. Despite the advancements, there are still individuals who hold onto outdated beliefs, asserting that a woman's rightful place is in the kitchen. Bergholz's video, viewed over 195K times, resonated with women especially, causing discontent.

Acknowledging potential controversy, Bergholz began the video by stating his preparedness for pushback, adding that many men share his thoughts but refuse to voice them. He argued that men fear expressing such views as it may upset their partners or render them undesirable in the dating game. Nevertheless, he openly shared his conservative opinions, claiming that the women he has encountered do not embody what he considers "real women."

According to Bergholz, his perception is rooted in the idea that women no longer aspire to marry and prioritize caring for their families, unlike their counterparts from decades ago. He shared his frustration, observing that many women today focus on their appearance to attract good-looking and wealthy men. Bergholz further expressed the concern that today's culture normalizes women seeking financial security in relationships, only valuing wealth and attractiveness.

Bergholz's controversial statement continued with his belief that the characteristics he yearns for in women—dreams of marriage, embracing traditional roles, and a love for cooking and cleaning—are no longer commonplace. He attributed this shift to societal influence, suggesting that women are compelled to prioritize work over their traditional roles. Expressing his personal preferences, Bergholz opined that he deeply desires a woman who takes care of herself and embodies these traditional traits.

As expected, Bergholz's video received strong backlash online. Many people, both men and women, criticized his outdated mindset and questioned his understanding of historical realities. Some even speculated that the video may have been intended as a satirical piece, given the incredulity of his comments.

Among the criticisms, one online user, @sbjmpj96, dismissed the notion that women in the past genuinely loved cooking and cleaning. Meanwhile, @hiraeth393 expressed an opinion that Bergholz cannot expect a woman to exclusively fulfill traditional domestic roles while simultaneously demanding financial stability. @dbizzle306 chimed in, explaining that in the past, limited options and societal restrictions led to women's involvement in household duties, rather than a genuine passion for it. And @artisianfupa exclaimed, "Society forces us to be workers! How else are we supposed to pay our rent, Sir?"

The backlash Bergholz faces serves as a testament to the progress made in dismantling gender stereotypes and empowering women to choose their own paths. While everyone is entitled to their opinions, controversial statements that romanticize outdated gender roles remain a source of ire within modern society.