From Competition to Connection: Rediscovering Women’s Happiness (Special Podcast Highlight)Are you unhappy? What's causing this sense of dissatisfaction?
Timmerie is hitting on a topic that might resonate with you—whether you're married, single, a parent, or not.
Why are women unhappy?
Timmerie has a theory, and she’s about to clue you in. She explains that there’s been a coordinated effort to undermine women’s happiness. Yes, really. It’s not just a conspiracy theory—statistics back it up. She points out that 60 years ago, women were generally much happier and more satisfied. More people were married, more people had children, and fewer women were in the workforce.
These days, women have all this supposed "freedom." Yet, we can see that abortion, contraception, and no-fault divorce has made things way worse.
Here’s what she thinks is going on:
First, there’s this relentless competition with men—"Anything you can do, I can do better." Women are constantly being pitted against men, and not just in the workplace. Then there’s the narrative that men can’t do anything right. You hear it all the time: “He can’t watch the kids without messing it up,” or “He’ll only eat takeout if I’m not around.”
Timmerie is quick to point out that men and women are just different. Instead of accepting and celebrating these differences, society has created this toxic mentality that men are incompetent and that women have to prove they can do everything better.
Here’s the wild part:
Timmerie explains that this all ties back to the feminist movement, which has roots in communist ideology. The goal was (and still is) to drive a wedge between men and women. This wedge has been driven so deep that it’s affecting relationships even before people consider marriage. Women are now trapped in what Timmerie calls a "spirit of perpetual dissatisfaction." Nothing is ever good enough.
Sound familiar?
Timmerie points out that this constant dissatisfaction is exhausting. It’s not just about wanting more; it’s about believing that women are oppressed or victimized—by men, by society, by everything.
But wait, it gets even stranger...
Timmerie brings up the concept of “consciousness raising,” which was a big part of second-wave feminism in the 1960s. Small groups of women would gather to talk about how they were being oppressed, and this mentality would build up over time. The idea was to make women feel like victims, so they’d get politically involved and "fight back."
Fast forward to today, and this mindset is still alive and well. Timmerie sees it everywhere—from casual conversations to social media. It’s like a contest to see whose husband is the most clueless.
"My husband can’t even wash a dish. He only eats takeout when I’m gone. He spends all our money!" And people nod along, as if being married is some kind of oppression. The advice from friends? “You’re a superwoman—you don’t need him. Just leave!”
But here’s what Timmerie says we’re missing:
Men and women are different, and that’s a good thing! Maybe he doesn’t clean the house the way you would, but that doesn’t make him useless. Maybe he works long hours and doesn’t help as much with the kids. Does that mean the marriage is doomed? Absolutely not! According to Timmerie, relationships require sacrifice, patience, and above all—love.
The solution, according to Timmerie?
We need to stop feeding into this toxic mindset that women are always oppressed and that men are always the enemy. Timmerie encourages us to embrace the beauty of sacrifice—something that’s central to our Catholic faith. Sacrifice isn’t about being a doormat; it’s about choosing to love, even when it’s difficult. It means putting your spouse first, not because you’re oppressed, but because you choose to love them.
Timmerie emphasizes that marriages don’t fall apart over dirty dishes or takeout dinners. They fall apart when couples stop choosing each other—when they stop making time for one another. It’s easy to let life get in the way and become “two ships passing in the night,” but it doesn’t have to be that way.
So how do we fix this?
Confession is key. Timmerie stresses the importance of confession as a way to receive Christ's forgiveness whenever we need it.
Find a community. Surround yourself with people who share your values—couples who are striving to make things work and won’t just point fingers.
Ditch the competition. Timmerie says it’s time to let go of the “anything you can do, I can do better” mentality. Men and women are meant to complement each other, not compete with each other.
At the end of the day, Timmerie believes true happiness isn’t found in trying to outdo men or in rejecting the things that make women unique. It’s found in embracing the vocation that God has given us, with love and sacrifice at the center. That’s where we’ll find peace, joy, and real fulfillment.
So, as Timmerie puts it: It’s time to stop chasing the false gospel of dissatisfaction. Let’s reclaim true joy, rooted in our faith, our families, and the beautiful roles God has given us. Ladies, you’ve got this!
