Divorce Expert Claims Men 'Weaponize Pooping' to Avoid Family Duties
A viral article by Olivia Howell suggests extended bathroom breaks are a tactic for men to evade responsibilities, sparking widespread online debate.
A divorce expert's assertion that men are “weaponizing pooping” by spending extended periods in the bathroom to avoid family duties has ignited a viral debate online.
Olivia Howell, author of “Divorce Happens,” argued in a recent Substack post that men utilize the bathroom as a private sanctuary, a space from which they cannot be easily interrupted or asked to engage in domestic responsibilities. She posited that the advent of smartphones has amplified this behavior, allowing men to occupy the space for long durations under the guise of a physiological need while engaging with digital content.
"A husband walks through the door as an active member of a family unit, shuts it behind him, and immediately becomes a private citizen," Howell wrote. She explained that unlike other forms of personal time, such as basement activities, hobbies, or workouts, bathroom breaks offer an "unlimited plausible deniability." The phrase “I have to go to the bathroom” serves as a powerful sentence for those living with others, she noted.
Howell, a certified life and divorce coach who divorced her husband in 2019, claimed that the modern man can disappear with a smartphone and engage in a variety of activities, from reading social media to watching videos or managing personal finances, all while being ostensibly unavailable for family matters.
The article quickly drew reactions on social media platforms, with many users expressing disbelief and humor. Some interpreted the claim as an indictment of all men and their basic bodily functions, while others satirized the idea, with one X user joking, "Pooping is my weapon and taco bell is my ammunition. I am god’s strongest soldier OORAH."
Other commentators questioned the broader implications of the argument for feminist discourse, while some made light of the situation by suggesting that prolonged bathroom use could lead to physical ailments like hemorrhoids. The discussion reflects a broader cultural commentary on gender roles and the division of domestic labor, amplified by the specific, and provocative, framing of the issue.