That is what most of us do, because that is what we are expected to do. It is a concept which is gender-neutral, in these days of modernity. Yes, there was a time past, where the female species was given somewhat of a “pass” if she showed weakness or lack of endurance; that, somehow, and for whatever reason, our ancestors referred to women as the “weaker” gender.
No longer. Women are just as capable (was there ever any doubt of that?); women are just as strong; women are just as X. And so, the result is that women are also expected to “tough it out”. Whatever the context of such an expectation, the problem with always trying to tough it out is that it can be a self-defeating proposition. It is not always in one’s best interest to tough it out.
For Federal employees and U.S. Postal workers who suffer from a medical condition such that the medical condition prevents the Federal or Postal employee from performing one or more of the essential elements of one’s Federal or Postal position, toughing it out may actually be harming your case. Consult with an OPM Disability Attorney who specializes in Federal Disability Retirement Law, and consider whether or not you might want to consider an exception to the societal expectation of always “toughing it out”.
Sincerely,
Robert R. McGill
Federal Disability Lawyer
OPM Disability Retirement, Et Cetera… 