Now that I'm pregnant, my husband ignores me: Bad Advice Friday

Dear Abby tells a pregnant woman to accept the abuse her husband dishes out--because of course she does.

Bad Advice Friday is a twist on my usual Feminist Advice Friday. In this semi-regular column, I look at the bad advice other columnists have given. The bad advice is often rooted in patriarchal norms, in the idea that women’s emotions really don’t matter, and in the cultural practice of centering men’s desires at the expense of women’s needs. You can find a complete list of previous bad advice columns here.

The problem

A reader writes to Dear Abby sharing that her husband has begun to ignore her since she got pregnant. “Ever since I got pregnant, he no longer considers my feelings or treats me as a priority,” she says. “I have to beg for his support, but when his mom and sister need help, he is quick to help them.”

She adds that she married her husband because he “seemed loyal and dedicated to his family” (eesh)