AITA for going through with a women only thanksgiving?

A family holiday turned into an unexpected showdown when one woman took a stand. Tired of the men in her family lounging while the women slaved away, she proposed a bold plan: a women-only Thanksgiving. What followed was a mix of empowerment, laughter, and some serious family tension.

The idea sparked from a frustrating Easter where the men, except for one, did nothing to help. By the Fourth of July, their attempt at planning fell flat—think plain grilled food with no sides or drinks. This set the stage for a Thanksgiving rebellion that left the men out in the cold, quite literally. Was this a step too far, or a justified lesson in fairness? Let’s dive into the story.

‘AITA for going through with a women only thanksgiving?’

The stage was set after a frustrating Easter gathering.

This has to do with my whole family. Last Easter all the women in the family got really pissed off that all of the guys beside one ( Tim) sat...

Determined to make a point, the idea of an all-women Thanksgiving emerged.

I brought up the idea if they won’t help for thanksgiving this year, we should just kick them out and have a women’s only thanksgiving. I informed my husband and...

Thanksgiving arrived, and the women were ready to enforce their rule.

The day came and I told them they need to help or we will kicked them out. They sat and watched the game, couldnt even bother to set the table....

I am getting so much s__t for it from the guys side that I am now questioning if we went to far on this. Also I know this will be...

The story is a deeper look at family relationships. The women’s decision to exclude men highlights a common problem: the unequal division of labor at family gatherings. According to Dr. John Gottman, a renowned relationship expert, “Equal household responsibilities strengthen family bonds and mutual respect” (Gottman Institute, 2023). Men’s refusal to contribute, despite warnings, demonstrates a lack of accountability, which can erode trust over time.

The woman’s bold move is an exercise in boundary setting, but it also instigates conflict. Psychologically, it reflects a stance against traditional gender roles, where women are often expected to shoulder the household chores. More than that, it raises the question of communication breakdown—why don’t men take the warning seriously? Tellingly, the men’s reactions after being excluded suggest they underestimated women’s resolve, much to their own surprise.

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For families facing similar issues, experts suggest three solutions. First, set clear expectations before events, outlining who does what. Second, foster open dialogue about fairness to avoid resentment. Third, consider rotating responsibilities annually to ensure everyone contributes. These steps can turn chaotic holidays into joyful celebrations.

Here’s what people had to say to OP:

The online community rallied behind this bold move, offering a mix of support, humor, and practical takes. Let’s see what they had to say.

The community saw this as a win for standing up to unfair expectations. These comments highlight the importance of teaching accountability, especially for younger generations watching.

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Different-Mirror-100 − NTA Congratulations on being a great rolemodel for the girls! Hopefully they learned that nobody gets to trample their boundaries without consequences.

I like my male family members very much (and they do help) but a woman only get together sounds great too! I hope you had fun and didn’t have the...

armchair_fireplace − While that was a pretty drastic thing to do, the mere fact that all the women in your family agreed that it was appropriate/necessary speaks volumes. NTA

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Some users emphasized that this wasn’t about excluding men but about rewarding contribution.

firestar126784 − NTA, they had plenty of warning. Make sure that this continues to be the tradition going forward. One question, you said Tim helped out so he wasn’t kicked...

In this case instead of women only thanksgiving, it’s people that participated in helping Thanksgiving. This is absolutely understandable - if everyone helps it’s a shared load that is quickly...

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vivid_prophecy − NTA. The expectation was that all adults who want to eat should help. They did not help, which means they didn’t really care about eating. They thought they...

The community also brought some lighthearted humor, poking fun at the men’s misstep.

YouthNAsia63 − The men didn’t believe the words coming out of your mouths. Oh, well, sucks for them. You know the saying. The men fucked around. And the men found...

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AlarmingResist3564 − NTA. Omg this is hysterical. From a female who spent every effing Thanksgiving as a kid in the kitchen while my brothers watched football thank you! !! Hopefully...

Some users connected the story to larger trends of women reevaluating holiday roles.

NewGoatFish − NTA. From your post it sounds like this was the culmination of many holidays where they sat around doing nothing. Tell them that for Thanksgiving, you were just...

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NikkiDeVries − NTA It’s disheartening that it came to this but I understand. Once everyone calms down, maybe try to have an open-hearted conversation. I myself has stopped organising things...

perfectpomelo3 − NTA. You told them what would happen if they didn’t help and they chose to sit on their asses instead of pulling their weight. Hopefully next time they...

ApatheticMill − NTA. Many women are "cancelling" holidays because they're tired of the thankless work and labor. They're running around all day and no one takes photos with them,

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and they barely have a chance to eat. People are over doing thoughtful and time consuming tasks for people who don't appreciate it or contribute.

What makes it even more complicated is how the community’s reactions show a shared frustration with outdated holiday norms, blending humor with a call for change.

This Thanksgiving tale shows what happens when boundaries are tested and consequences follow. The women stood their ground, creating a memorable holiday that sparked both laughter and tension. While the men learned a hard lesson, the story leaves room for reflection on how families can better share the load.

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What do you think—did the women go too far, or was this a fair response to being taken for granted? Share your thoughts below!

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