What Men Want in a Girlfriend

What do men want? A question pondered by many a woman throughout the eons. Many women think all men want is sex, which, unfortunately, is true for some men, but a small percentage. A study by the Kinsey Institutes shows otherwise: here. While sex is a very important measuring tool, many other general factors play into a woman's attractiveness to a man. Some of these are tweaked from person to person, but many are universal to men around the world looking for a healthy relationship. Many women think they know exactly what men want, and that these are shallow and easily reachable needs. Not so. If you have a superiority complex when it comes to men you'll have a very hard time getting a lifelong partner, believe me.

1. Men want a woman who respects him.
Despite what many women may think, not all men are sex machines. They have deep thoughts, and profound wishes. Many times a slight joke that degrades or demeans the intelligence or respectfulness of men can hurt a man and cause him anger. If you feel a detrimental comment bubbling up within you, do your best to keep it down, and ask him to do the same. If you drop stereotypes, and genuinely listen to what your man has to say, and let him know that you take him seriously and don't think of him as an amusing toy to condescend once in a while, he will be much happier and more content, trust me. Ask him what he's working on, or how he feels. It will make a huge difference in his day if he knows you treat him like an equal.

2. Men want a woman who cares about how she looks in public.
Now, this is really true for most women, so that's why I'm keeping it short. Don't think this plays into the "men are superficial" idea, because it doesn't. It's just like how woman don't want their man looking like a slob when they go to the movies and what not. Men like to, for lack of a better word, "show off" how beautiful and their wife is and how lucky they are to have such a wonderful person that cares for them.

3. Men like a women who exhibits exemplary motherly characteristics.
Many men like to downplay this, but subconsciously, all men desire a women who resembles their mother in some way or form, because, before their wife, their mother was the woman they loved most in this world. Men, when they see a women who acts innately maternal, feel instinctively attracted to them, because such a woman would insure a good future for offspring. They want a woman who cares deeply for them as well, and has an actual interest in their likes and dislikes, their comforts and their pet peeves. Occasionally making him a sandwich or getting beers for him and his buds will go a long way.

4. Men like a women who isn't demonstrative, who isn't overly controlling.
Women who tend to nag all the time drive men crazy, let me tell you. Just because he doesn't enjoy everything as neat as you do doesn't mean he's a lower life form. I'm not saying that you shouldn't occasionally ask him to clean up his side of the room, but reprimanding him every time he leaves a pair of socks on the floor or a dish in the sink unwashed is a definite no-no. Now, this silence is in moderation. If the man in your life comes home at 3:00 every morning and never keeps up any hygiene, that's different. Just don't scold him like a child over every small thing. Trying to have power over every part of his life, such as how he dresses, how he eats, who he hangs out with, or even how he eats, will make a man feel trapped and confined. If a man has left you, it's probably because of this. Let him be himself! Having poker night with his buds or a night out isn't bad!

5. Men want a women who enjoys his presence, who lights up when he appears.
Women, just a smile on your face when your man staggers in from a shitty day at the office will erase the filthy hours past. Make him feel welcome, don't just give him a monotonous, generic "hello" when he comes in through the door. Now, this also comes with it's limits. Don't be overly obsessive if the relationship is new, don't call him every hour when he's gone, and so on.

6. Lastly, men want a woman who is sexually compatible with him.
Now, as I said, sex is a very good measuring tool for men who are looking to see how comfortable they will be with a woman. Don't always be controlling in bed, let him take the reigns once in a while. Let his sexual fantasies play a role sometimes. Yet again, equalization is the key for a good relationship.

There you have it. What Men Want. Like I said, it will be a little different from man to man in how much of each category he enjoys, but if you observe him and care for him, and ask for him to do that same for you, your relationship will flourish.