Women are using ‘orange peel theory’ on partners to test their relationship

A new relationship test dubbed the 'orange peel theory' has gone viral online and it's gone far enough to cause some couples to break up.

It all started when TikToker @jennaskates revealed that her boyfriend had separated egg whites from the yolks for her because of her long nails.

The small but thoughtful act led to others checking if their partners do small gestures for them without being prompted or are happy to do them when asked.

This is known as the 'orange peel theory.'

As explained by Anna Birmingham, it's 'when your partner does an act of service for you that's something you are perfectly capable of doing on your own.'

These small acts can be a simple as peeling an orange on your behalf, hence the name.

And it's sparked a conversation about what to accept in a relationship.

Anna explains that their response to you asking them to peel an orange, for example, 'reveals so much about their attitude towards you and your relationship.'

She goes on to say that her husband is the 'orange peel theory poster child.'

"He does little things every single day without me ever having to ask for them because he genuinely likes the way that I light up when he does them," she says.

Unsplash

But, as women test the theory for themselves, some men's refusal to help their partners has revealed a massive red flag in their relationships.

One woman shared her experience on Reddit, saying: "My boyfriend of seven months was sitting on the couch when I saw the TikTok video explaining the theory, and I decided I should try it out.

"Up to this point we were happy but now looking back on it I am not surprised by how he responded. I asked him to tie my hair up for me and he looked at me and asked me why I couldn't do it. At first, I thought that maybe he was intimidated by my long hair, however, he has had long hair in the past and knew how to tie it up."

She continued: "I asked him again thinking it was just a fluke but he told me that I could do it since I was in the kitchen and he needed to relax stating that he just got off work. I know what y'all are thinking 'Let that man relax he just got off' but y'all he works from home... and even if he was truly tired he has plenty of energy to play games and go out to the bar with his friends."

TikTok/@annabhamm

The woman said that she didn't want to end her relationship over something as stupid as a TikTok trend, but quickly started noticing his refusal to help out with other small tasks.

She later added that the trend caused her to reevaluate her relationship and she ended up breaking up with her boyfriend.

"I admit that I should not have taken advice from TikTok and that it showed immaturity to do so. However, the method worked and made me see that I do a lot more for him than he does for me.

"Our relationship is not going to end because of my towel not being warm or my hair not being up, but because I realise that I am just settling for a lazy man who doesn't take me out, doesn't help out with his baby and has no motivations in life except to live at his parents' house, play video games and drink."

What are your thoughts on the orange peel theory?