Gender roles

If he doesn't care what women want - and we're pretty up front with what we want - then he's more than a jerk. I'm tired of all the literature on men and what makes them tick. We do. We make men tick.

Yeah...to me the 'what do men want' type books seem like a waste....but many women seem to want to 'figure things out', rather than just deal with men based on their behavior (if he doesn't call....it doesn't really matter why).

Regarding women being an 'open book'....so many women like to play the 'I'm not going to tell you want I want...you have to guess' game that it's become a cliche.

I'm not going to tell you want I want, jayjay, because I just don't know myself yet.

lol

I don't mean to imply....and don't think others who have posted mean to imply....that we want to make someone else change themselves to be what we're looking for or to tell them what they 'should' or 'ought' to be like. I'd guess that most of us are simply looking for someone who is a fit for our own particular personalities and desires.

Regarding women being an 'open book'....so many women like to play the 'I'm not going to tell you want I want...you have to guess' game that it's become a cliche.

I don't think anyone here was saying they wanted someone to change either. It's not just me, but my friends even acknowledge, I am "different." I was my Dad's girl all through my teens, and he just made me feel like I could do anything. I was about 4 years younger than my brother, so when he was off to college, Dad was having me driving around in trucks and working on construction sites! He also encouraged me to get my motorcycle license, because I used to be very afraid of bikes. He just had that "you can do it" attitude about everything with me, and I did it!

I am actually pretty lucky I am an athletic person at 46, so I can do things with my son (my daughter does not care about sports at all ) like triathlons and baseball.

But that being said, I am not manly, just because I do some things men do. One of my very favorite things to do is just nestle up under a man's arm and feel safe and loved and cherished, and I love to feel pretty and also love it when he notices.

It all comes down to the almost cliche statement "Accept me for who I am" and in my case, that particularly applies to gender specific areas. I guess the issue is I have come across a lot of men who feel threatened by some of my skills and talents. I know not all men are that way, because my Dad and my brother aren't! Also, some of my friend's husbands think I am pretty neat! Unfortunately, all these guys are taken!

Me too!

I think my dad wanted another boy, but he got Me instead! Growing up, I never had anyone tell me "Girls don't do that" or "Tomboys don't look like that", or expect me to fit into any kind of stereotype. But I'm very much a woman and really do like that feeling of being swallowed up in a man's arms.

I also have the issue of men being intimidated by my job. The job is downright frightening sometimes, and it's usually a pretty real threat. But knowing I have to be tough on a daily basis can make some men feel they don't measure up. Most don't want a girlfriend that appears tougher than they are.

Me too!

I think my dad wanted another boy, but he got Me instead! Growing up, I never had anyone tell me "Girls don't do that" or "Tomboys don't look like that", or expect me to fit into any kind of stereotype.

This may be going where angels fear to tread, but if your father really wanted another boy.....was he just expecting you to fit into a different stereotype than someone who wants to raise a girly?