Kiran Athar
Strong women have always been an integral part of society, and today more than ever women are free to create their own lives and make their own decisions.
But unfortunately, many men are thrown through a loop – they don’t know how to interact or behave around women who are independent and outspoken.
If you’re one of those guys, you’ve come to the right place.
I’m going to share 10 things men do that drive strong women crazy so you can be aware and understand how your behavior is affecting the strong women in your life!
1) Talking over them
Want to know the easiest way to drive a strong woman crazy?
Cut her off mid-conversation!
Look, this would drive anyone insane, but to a strong woman, it’s highly disrespectful.
It shows that you:
- Don’t value what she has to say
- Have no respect for her opinion
- Can’t wait a couple of minutes to have your turn to speak
And the bottom line is:
A strong woman knows the value of her opinions. She respects others in conversation and she expects the same treatment in return!
So, whilst you may interrupt her because you’re excited or eager to share your thoughts (perhaps in an attempt to impress)…know that it could backfire!
2) Treating them like damsels in distress
Fellas…we’re in 2023 and strong women are on the rise.
Whilst we love being given a hand now and then, we can actually do most things on our own.
So, when we share our problems with you, it’s because we trust you and want a sympathetic ear to listen.
It’s not so you can jump in and save us!
Even if you have good intentions, it can feel patronizing.
Strong women work really hard to be independent and build resilience, if you swoop in and take that away from them, it’s no wonder they’ll get crazy annoyed by it!
3) Undermining their accomplishments
Another thing men do that drives strong women crazy is undermining their accomplishments…
So what does this look like?
- Implying women have had help to get where they are
- Making snide remarks about their successes
- Reducing their accomplishments to being “lucky”
The bottom line is, this is uncalled for and unfair.
If a man is the CEO of a company, no one will question his integrity or how he got the job. But if a woman fills the role, she’s often subject to sneaky remarks or even blatant sexism.
So, whatever the accomplishment, no matter how big or small, give credit where credit is due!
Strong women pride themselves on all their achievements, and there’s nothing quite as frustrating as a man coming along and belittling them!
4) Assuming they’re always emotional
Ah, if strong women had a nickel for every time they were told they were being too emotional, they’d all be rich!
This is a common misconception but it’s not true. Yes, some women are more emotional than others, but the same can be said for men.
And the fact is, most strong women have put in a lot of self-work to be in control of their emotions. They don’t act irrationally, nor do they break into floods of tears every time something doesn’t go their way!
So, the next time a woman is venting or expressing her opinion, why not try listening rather than writing her off as an emotional wreck?
You may realize that she’s simply making valid points and is passionate about doing so!
5) Not pulling their own weight
Another thing men do that drives strong women crazy is refusing to pull their weight…
I’ll say this once and I’ll say it clearly – strong women don’t want to be your mother!
They’re not going to waste years of their lives nagging you to do the basic chores around the house.
They’re not going to pick up after you like a child.
And they’re certainly not going to support you while you delay getting a job and contributing to the household!
You see, strong women want an equal partner. Someone they can grow with.
They’ve worked too hard to now spend their lives looking after a man-child…and while that might sound harsh, it’s reality!
So, if you’ve got a strong woman in your life, stop driving her crazy, take responsibility for yourself, and make her proud to call you her man!
6) Belittling their intelligence
Ever heard of mansplaining?
This is when men explain things to women, often uncalled for, and with a condescending, patronizing tone.
Believe it or not, strong women are intelligent enough to work things out by themselves…and if in doubt, they don’t let their ego get in the way of asking someone to explain!
But when men come along and take it upon themselves to explain a very simple thing, it can leave women rolling their eyes and sighing in frustration.
Instead, let women take charge, especially in their own areas of expertise. Don’t assume that just because you’re a guy, you know more. And when it comes to women’s issues and anatomy?
Unless you’re a professional, you absolutely don’t need to be passing judgment or explaining things about women’s bodies…to women!
7) Expecting them to conform to traditional gender roles
Now, another thing men do that drives strong women up the wall is imposing traditional gender roles.
Sure, some strong women might actually like this, in their own way.
But the vast majority of strong women want to have a say over their lives and how they structure these roles.
If she’s a high earner, it might make more sense for her husband to stay home and help out with the kids. If both partners are working full-time, doesn’t it seem fairer if both split the chores at the end of the day?
When discussing gender roles, it’s important to listen to both sides.
Don’t assume that what worked for your grandparents will work in today’s world, especially when women have taken tremendous steps to be independent individuals with their own rights!
8) Disrespecting their boundaries
Boundaries are a strong woman’s best friend.
They allow her to thrive and flourish, without others overstepping the mark and disrespecting her.
So, it will come as no surprise that when men do cross the limit, they drive strong women absolutely crazy!
To the point where she will consider removing you from her life.
Here’s the thing…A strong woman has spent time practicing setting boundaries. She’s gone through hard times when enforcing consequences on people who disrespect her boundaries.
And she’s sure as heck not going to throw that all out of the window for a guy, no matter how cute you might be!
So, do the respectful thing.
Accept her boundaries, and be sure in the knowledge that she’ll do the same to you.
9) Taking them for granted
Having a strong woman in your life might feel great, but if you stop appreciating her and start taking her for granted, you will drive her crazy.
And just like with the last point, she won’t stand for it.
Look, the truth is, many men (and women) get too comfortable in their relationships. They stop saying thank you. They forget to show their appreciation.
But strong women know what they bring to the table. And if they’re being taken for granted, they’d rather be alone than with someone who doesn’t recognize everything they do!
The bottom line:
She’s not a doormat. Strong women stand up for themselves and they’ll happily walk away from a toxic situation.
10) Being unsure of what they want
And finally, being unsure of what they want is another thing men do that drives strong women crazy…Why?
Because strong women DO know what they want.
They have goals and dreams and they work towards them. They know what they want in a partner, in a family, and in their careers, and they keep this vision at the forefront of everything they do.
So when a man comes along and plays her around?
She’s naturally going to feel frustrated and most likely, turned off!
Strong women want strong men. Men who can respect them and see them as equals.
It’s not too much to ask for, is it?
Hopefully, the points in this article will make you think differently about how to approach strong women…but they do also apply to ALL women.
So, if you want to be a strong, respectable man, start by checking your behavior and ensuring that you’re treating all women with the respect they deserve!
