Message sent not message received?

For many a woman, high on her expectations of a partner is that he be willing and able to share his feelings – and to understand and appreciate hers – as if a woman.  Alas it is likely that the man in question will unintentionally cause her disappointment time and time again.

Many relationships fail because we do not recognise that gender differences rather than lack of feeling love, caring and respect cause much of our misunderstanding and distress. All too often while women want a man to be masculine, we assume that he experiences things as we do when he does not.

In our relationships with men, we all too readily ignore the fact that our biology is different can be the cause unintentional upset. For example, awareness of feelings – be they his own or another’s – is not likely to be a guy’s strong suit when it comes to communicating with his partner and meeting her needs. 

When a woman is stressed and wants to talk to her partner about something of concern, it is likely that he will want to interrupt to give her advice and provide her with solutions rather than just listen. His response comes more from his head while emotions drive her talking. This can cause an escalation of the stress or distress felt by the woman when all she really wants – and needs – is to be heard.

Ring bells for you?