Oh, Men
Ask any woman, and they probably have more than a couple stories to share about their bad experiences with men. Whether it's a guy who couldn't take no for an answer or an ex who was a serial cheater, men are often pretty disappointing creatures who never seem to change their ways. It's not hard to see why women are tired of being the more mature, responsible ones in a relationship. If you're a fella who thinks you're different from the rest and know how to treat a gal right, you'd better be sure you're not doing any of these 20 deplorable things.
1. They Cheat
Infidelity isn’t always the result of a miserable relationship. In fact, more often than not, some men cheat on their partners simply because they want to: an opportunity appears, and they decide to take it. Even the most gorgeous or supportive women have been cheated on for exactly this reason.
2. They Lie
Not only will men cheat, but they'll also lie about their actions or emotions without feeling an ounce of remorse. Worse yet, as long as they don't get caught, they'll continue lying until the truth finally comes out. Considering trust is so important in a relationship, it's no wonder why men who are chronic liars will always disappoint women.
3. They Don’t Take No for an Answer
A no is a no, but men often think a no means yes. Alas, even when they've been rejected, they'll continue to push or flirt or disrespect a woman's boundaries. Women shouldn’t have to become angry for their words and limits to be taken seriously.
4. They Make Everything About Physical Attraction
While women often take personality into account, men typically focus on one thing: physical attractiveness. That means, instead of appreciating women for who they are, they'll reduce them to a number between one and 10.
5. They Assume They Know Better Than Women
Some men can't seem to fathom that women know better than them sometimes. Instead of being curious and asking questions so they can learn more about a subject, these types of men will attempt to assert their know-it-allness by mansplaining, dismissing any female expertise.
6. They Expect Loyalty They Don’t Always Return
We've already mentioned that men cheat, and tend to do so much more often than women, but the same men who commit infidelity are sometimes the ones who expect complete loyalty from their partners while giving themselves considerably more freedom. That double standard can leave women constantly defending themselves against rules that don’t apply equally.
7. They Keep Backup Options Around
Not only will some men cheat, but they may do so with several women in rotation. Some may continue messaging former partners or build new, flirtatious connections, keeping their options open "just in case" their current relationship doesn’t work out. Even if nothing technically actually crosses a line, the intention alone is disrespectful.
8. They Make Promises They Don't Keep
A man may swear he’ll communicate better or finally take a concern seriously—only to then fall back into the same patterns. Men who aren't a man of their own word should never have the right to feel defensive when they get called out for breaking promises again and again.
9. They Blame Bad Behavior on "Being a Guy"
"That's just who I am," they might say, as if being a guy excuses all bad behavior. Women, too, have eyes, and yet they know to keep their hands to themselves when in a committed relationship. But men? Even the married ones will still look at other women (or even flirt with them) when they can.
10. They Hold Women to Standards They Ignore Themselves
A man may criticize a woman’s appearance while putting minimal effort into his own, judge her romantic history while proudly discussing his, or demand constant communication while disappearing for hours himself. But newsflash: if you're going to make rules at all, make sure those expectations apply in both directions.
11. They Act Differently Around Their Friends
Some men are considerate when alone with their partners, only to become a whole different person once they're around friends and family. The worst of the lot may even belittle their partners in public, just because they want "approval" from the group. The kicker? When they're called out for their actions, they'll gaslight and act as if they did nothing wrong.
12. They Leave Women to Handle the Emotional Work
From important dates to conflicts, men tend to rely on women to do all the remembering and all the emotional work. Angry parents? She's responsible for placating them. Kids who won't listen? She knows how to discipline them. But a relationship shouldn’t require one person to manage everyone’s feelings and social obligations.
13. They Leave Women to Handle the Physical Work
The imbalance doesn’t stop with emotional responsibilities, either. Some men, even now, still expect women to do all the cooking, cleaning, and childcare at home, even when these should be shared work. And the same men who don't do anything but laze about are the ones who try to act clueless when women call them out.
14. They Lose Interest Once the Chase Is Over
Some men are incredibly charming and seem to know all the right things to say—that is, until they've got the girl and don't need to try anymore. Once commitment arrives, he might put in only a quarter of the effort, whereas before the relationship was secured he was putting in 110%.
15. They Dismiss Women’s Concerns as Overreactions
Calling someone overdramatic is a great way to dismiss their feelings. It's also a great way to make them hate you. Men should put themselves in a woman's shoes: imagine doing most of the emotional and physical work, then being told you’re overreacting whenever you're rightfully angry or stressed.
16. They Get Defensive Instead of Apologizing
Hey, fellas, remember that time you were proven wrong? Did you apologize for it, or do you, 'til this day, still think you were in the right? Funnily enough, while men get all stuck-up and defensive when asked to admit to their mistakes, they're the first to demand apologies from others.
17. They Want Credit for the Bare Minimum
You might think you should be given a trophy for washing the dishes or taking out the trash, but these chores shouldn’t require a standing ovation. After all, why should you get credit and praise for doing the bare minimum when women take on far more responsibilities every day?
18. They Can Be Possessive While Demanding Freedom
A man may dislike his partner talking to male friends or receiving attention from others, but then fiercely defend his own independence. But you see how that's unfair? Trust should go both ways: your partner should be allowed the same freedom you expect for yourself.
19. They Assume Attention Means Interest
Friendliness is not automatically flirting, yet some men interpret almost any warmth as romantic encouragement. That means even a simple smile or compliment can suddenly be proof that a woman must be interested. Sometimes kindness really is just kindness.
20. They Never Change Their Ways
Perhaps one of the most disappointing things men do is that they never change their ways. They might acknowledge they need to do things differently, that their behavior is unacceptable, then repeat the same pattern again. At a certain point, repeated apologies stop sounding meaningful because the outcome never changes.
