Husband’s coworker told the women to hang out while the men 'worked for a living' — one wife’s reality check made the room go quiet
Outdated stereotypes about women in the workplace still find their way into casual conversations and meetings today. Instagram creator Hailey Gibbons, who goes by @hg_leadtheway, shared a post on Monday, July 20, 2026, about one such experience. During a casual outing, one of her husband's coworkers made an assumption about her that she could not digest. However, she did not let it slide and responded in a way that left him silent.
Hailey explained that she had been spending the weekend with her husband and some of his new coworkers, who had also brought their partners along. After chatting throughout the evening, one of the men suggested that Hailey and his fiancée should spend time together "while we're actually working for a living." The remark caught her off guard as he assumed her husband to be the sole breadwinner and man of the house. She looked him straight in the eye before calmly replying, "Oh, I actually do work for a living." According to her, the room went quiet as the man instantly "crumbled" and looked embarrassed after his comment backfired.
She also wished she had said something more like, "Yeah, I actually do work for a living, and I make twice what you make." She laughed at the missed opportunity, saying she should have added, "Go do your cute little things." Viewers quickly flooded the comments with similar experiences. "I feel this so hard," wrote @pewpewgoddess. @chittypirate shared, "My favorite is 'Oh, is your husband in the Army?' No, Debi, I'm in the Army," recalling another common assumption women face. @erikadonley added, "You responded a lot nicer than I would have." Researchers say that outdated stereotypes still influence how women are viewed on the job. A 2024 review published in the Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior found that females are often judged against traditional expectations about gender.
People underestimate women's competence or make assumptions about their potential solely because of their gender and deem them unfit for various roles, promotions, and responsibilities. Those who believe that women can't handle chores and careers need a reality check. In another instance, a Gen Z woman had the best comeback when her boyfriend told his mother she wasn't the "domestic type," even though she cooked, cleaned, did the laundry, grocery shopping, and cared for their cat while working full-time. Instead of arguing, she stopped doing his laundry. When he eventually asked why his clothes had been piling up, she replied, "I thought you said I don't do anything around the house, so I figured I'd live up to the label." Much like Hailey, she refused to let the remark slide and had the perfect response.
You can follow Hailey Gibbons (@hg_leadtheway) on Instagram for more content on lifestyle.
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