Seriously, Patrick Dempsey? Here's What "Spread Thin" Looks Like for Women

Let us just dust off this soap box for a second.

Eyewear, Hair, Vision care, Glasses, Sunglasses, Trousers, Coat, Shirt, Outerwear, T-shirt,
(Image credit: Getty)

One day after he and Jillian Fink announced their divorce on January 23, Patrick Dempsey said this: "It would be nice to be one-pointed and not spread so thin sometimes. I think where I'm going is to really streamline and be much more specific in balancing things a little bit better than I have in the past."

Huh. Doesn't that sound completely unlike anything you've ever heard a woman say before? And we have to point out—dun dun dun—the double standard here. What sorts of comments would a woman get if she said she wanted to "streamline?" You're being selfish. Think of the children. Think of your husband. Think of your career.

To use one guy to prove a larger point about attitudes that should really have been eradicated by now, let's make a brief comparison between Patrick Dempsey and Women Patrick Dempsey Has Worked with Before: 

Patrick Dempsey: actor, racecar driver, husband, father

Nose, Lip, Eye, Hairstyle, Chin, Forehead, Eyebrow, Beard, Collar, Facial expression,

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Kate Walsh, Patrick Dempsey's former Grey's Anatomy costar: actor, founder of lifestyle and beauty company Boyfriend LLC, writer, director, spokesperson, ocean conservation and reproductive health advocate

Ear, Lip, Hairstyle, Earrings, Chin, Forehead, Eyebrow, Beard, Eyelash, Collar,

(Image credit: Getty)

Reese Witherspoon, Patrick Dempsey's Sweet Home Alabama costar: actor, producer, wife, mother, founder of a lifestyle company, board member of the Children's Defense Fund, Avon spokeswoman

Clothing, Hair, Hairstyle, Eye, Collar, Beard, Coat, Jewellery, Blazer, Facial hair,

(Image credit: Getty)

Shonda Rhimes, the saint who gave Patrick Dempsey a job/arguably revived his career: screenwriter, director, producer, single mother, showrunner, and creator of six TV shows

Clothing, Eyewear, Hair, Glasses, Vision care, Sleeve, Sunglasses, Outerwear, Coat, Style,

(Image credit: Getty)

Jillian Fink: celebrity makeup artist, mother, jewelry designer, sculptor

And that's not even counting the unofficial titles most woman have beyond their professional selves: sister, therapist, hairdresser, housekeeper, chef, best friend, semi-close friend, see-you-once-a-month friend, etc., etc.

You should also check out: 

Ivanka Trump's New #WomenWhoWork Initiative Tackles the Myth of Work/Life Balance Head On

Is Doing It All the New "Having It All"? A Look at the Changing Face of Women's Careers

Confessions of a Kiss-Ass: How Being "Perfect" Almost Ruined My Career

Chelsea Peng
Assistant Editor

Chelsea Peng is a writer and editor who was formerly the assistant editor at MarieClaire.com. She's also worked for The Strategist and Refinery29, and is a graduate of Northwestern University. On her tombstone, she would like a GIF of herself that's better than the one that already exists on the Internet and a free fro-yo machine. Besides frozen dairy products, she's into pirates, carbs, Balzac, and snacking so hard she has to go lie down.