We’ve picked thoughts from a female psychologist published on PsychologyToday.com, and added our own take—starting with the fact that it’s simply impossible to make a statement that fits every man or every woman in every situation.
Men Just Don’t Care
Men tend to care far less about what women say, while women often worry too much about men’s opinions or words—writes Professor Gina Barreca.
Interestingly, she adds, this worry doesn’t hold when the man in question holds real power, like a leader in a community whose decisions might impact our personal lives.
What do we think? Finding balance isn’t easy—especially when we’re still in charge of our own lives but want to listen and respect others. Maybe this is something everyone should aim for, regardless of gender.
The Question of Smiling
The author notes that men’s smiles aren’t really tied to situations—they just smile. Women, on the other hand, smile for a long time, even when they’re not happy, until they reach a point where they stop faking it—even in photos. But when truly happy, women can laugh out loud.
Based on this, smiling is a distinctly feminine trait.
Our take? Studies show that in professional settings, women smile less to distance themselves from their feminine side and be taken more seriously.
If you want to learn more about the power of a woman’s smile, check out how Turkish women reacted when their deputy prime minister said it was immoral to publicly show happiness!
Different Consequences
If a man challenges a woman—whether mentally, physically, playfully, or to show off—he risks being seen as aggressive or rude. If a woman does the same to a man, depending on the place, religion, and history, she might fear being stoned in the village square—the author points out.
What do we think? It’s clear how we feel about places where women have fewer rights than goats. But we must be careful that while fighting for gender equality in developed countries (there’s still work to do…), we don’t slip into passive-aggressive behavior against men. Feminism is about equal opportunities, not power grabs!
Alcohol and Emotions
A woman can easily tell her friends she loves them, then after a few glasses of alcohol, playful teasing begins. For men, it’s the opposite.
Our thoughts? Boys are taught that crying or playing with dolls is girly, so they bury their emotions deep. Girls are taught to always be gentle and caring, never to make a scene if someone’s rude, or admit when they just want to hit someone. Both genders face challenges learning how to openly and healthily express their feelings.
