25 Of The Most Unexpected Things Women Learned About Men

Despite men and women knowing each other since the dawn of time, there are still some aspects that remain mysterious to each gender. Our sense of empathy may have evolved so we can understand the subtle shifts in perspective of each gender, but according to one Reddit thread there are still so many unexpected facts about men that women weren’t fully cognizant of till recently. So when someone posted online asking the ladies to reflect on the most shocking realizations they had about men, netizens obliged with their most surprising discoveries, as listed below.

#1

Image source: MeowMeow9927, SkelDry

When I was in my early 20s I struggled with stomach issues and was always holding in farts. I was convinced no man would want stinky me. To my surprise, no man I dated has ever cared. When I told my first serious boyfriend I was so scared and said I needed to talk to him. He looked very worried. Then when I told him he roared with laughter and demanded a demonstration. .

#2

Image source: Easy_Indication7146, freepik

I hated learning just how much men’s emotions, especially crying from either sadness, stress or even profound joy are ridiculed and suppressed.

#3

Image source: Federal-Rhubarb1800, simonapilolla

Men can have super deep bonds with each other, even though they don’t show it at all. My grandpa was such a serious man: a shop teacher, a shipbuilder in Seattle during WWII, then he fished tuna from the boat he built.
After he had to retire from his boat, he did woodwork in the garage. He had a neighbor who would stop by the garage shop every single day and shoot the breeze with him.
His neighbor died suddenly. I can’t forget grandpa sobbed. He was the most stern person ever, but he sobbed at the loss of that daily visit with his neighbor, that his friend died. That daily visit was a lifeblood to him.
[Edited to correct “shopbuider” to shipbuilder. Added the stateside shipyard location, b/c not a veteran].

#4

Their innate goodness, they bear the brunt of so many things.

Most men, most of the time, are protectors, even protecting others from themselves and what they’re struggling with in the inside.

Their physical and mental strength can be amazing.

Image source: zaftig_stig

#5

Image source: BadMermaidCop, rawpixel.com

They’re really good at hiding just how sad they are.

#6

Image source: YSleepyHead, freepik

They aren’t good at getting hints. Most of the time they need to be asked directly to do something.

#7

Image source: violetcazador, krakenimages.com

They are extremely susceptible to compliments. You know those everyday compliments women give each other without a second thought, well men rarely get them. So when you do give them one it is a 100 times more effective. Want to have a man in a good mood all day, compliment him on something.

#8

Image source: writer978, user25451090

When you ask a guy what he’s thinking about and he says “nothing” believe him. He really is just not thinking about anything in particular.

#9

Image source: anon, freepik

How much abuse they take, and lack of support about it.

#10

Image source: Puzzled_News5270, freepik

That there are a lot of men out there who love and treat women with personhood and respect. I was abused as a child and teen by some ugly-hearted people and my father. It took an amazing boyfriend to show me the light. Thank you, babe ❤️ It sucks how our perspective on the opposite sex can be so marred by the abusive. Not all men!

#11

That in the US, men still have to register with selective service before 26. I knew it existed, because my dad was only a few numbers away from going to Vietnam, but I thought it had ended in the ’70s. Turns out, it had for a bit back then, but is active currently.

I was embarrassed that I didn’t know (no man around me mentioned anything, not even my very anti war ex), and felt angry that men still have to do it. I don’t think anyone should have to, and it should be ended.

Let the robots destroy each other.

Image source: 272027

#12

Image source: Kuromi-rika, zinkevych

That there are men out there that refuse to take care of themselves because they think it’s gay or feminine

(This could be about personal hygiene as well as mental health or anything really).

#13

Image source: giuli4, atlascompany

They fantasize about saving people, mostly people they love. Sometimes they save the earth by sacrificing themselves.
I giggled when my boyfriend told me, it’s cute.

#14

Image source: Suspicious-Gear-1736, freepik

Every man I’ve ever met really enjoys being a little spoon 😊.

#15

Image source: Lucifer_Davido, freepik

So much of the comments follow the pattern of “omg men are human too?!”.

#16

Image source: early_onset_villainy, svetochka-ru

That many of them would actually really like receiving flowers or something sweet that has generally been deemed “just for women” by society.

#17

That when a man shuts down during an argument, it’s not because he doesn’t care. It’s sometimes because he cares too much and is overwhelmed with “flooding” – increased heart rate/blood pressure, increase in stress hormones, etc. It’s such an aversive feeling that many men will withdraw from an argument so the negative physiological arousal doesn’t get worse. Meanwhile, women get frustrated because they think the guy is ignoring her, leading to a “demand/withdraw” cycle that can lead to nasty results. The moral: if your dude is withdrawing from an argument, let him be for a bit.

Image source: Ok_Minimum_5962

#18

Image source: Accomplished_Bug7431, gpointstudio

That their reasons for cheating are rarely because the mistress was hotter or something. It’s simply because they want to feel desired. Women waste so much time comparing their attractiveness to some other woman. For most men the most irresistible woman is the one who adores you the most ( unless it’s your mom).

#19

When they are staring off looking as if deep in thought…their minds are blank. Don’t ask what they are thinking because it’s usually nothing.

Image source: Ok-Noise4969

#20

That men have a full blown list of unspoken rules and protocols about using  urinals. Even if there are walls for privacy.

Image source: KiwiBoomSource

#21

Image source: anon, Toa Heftiba

Many of them actually are romantics and sentimental – they were just taught to suppress that and act ‘tough’ they’re whole lives.

#22

Upon reading the survey results, I was taken aback by the number of men who expressed a desire to become stay-at-home dads. It was surprising to learn how many men would like to take on the role traditionally associated with women.

Image source: Much-More

#23

Image source: Moona_Death_Trap, KamranAydinov

That I experience significantly less misogyny at my oilfield job than my friend does at her office job with more liberal men. Most of my girlfriends want to hear that I experience misogyny often and am out fighting the good fight for women’s rights but that’s just not really true. The s**t bags I’ve encountered are s****y to everyone so it has nothing to do with me being a woman. Most of the guys out here are happy to teach me stuff and want to see me succeed.

#24

Image source: Late-Let-4221, milanmarkovic

Strength. It was jarring and surprising to see childhood friend who is same age being able to lift me up and throw me into foam pit at the gym after being same strength just 3-4 years before. It’s incredible how once puberty takes off they get so much stronger while I bust my a*s in gym so much I cannot reach close to that level.

I guess it is what it is.

#25

That men can have a low libido or not always want sex. It took me a long time to accept that my husband’s lack of desire wasn’t specific to me, he just wasn’t feeling sexual at those times, because the societal expectation that men always want sex and will be ready to go whenever sex is initiated. It’s certainly held true with the majority of my male lovers, including and especially the one with ED. But it’s also normal to NOT be that way.

The societal expectation also shows up when the topic of his low libido comes up as everyone wants to help fix him. There is nothing wrong with my husband, his testosterone is fine, he’s not on meds that would stifle his libido, etc. He’s a perfectly normal, healthy human. With a low libido.

I’m a high libido woman, always have been but once I hit my 40s, hoooo boy did it get enhanced with the boom in confidence that came with the age. I recently asked my husband when was the last time he thought about sex, he couldn’t remember. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t have sexual thoughts. Many times a day!! So it’s hard to wrap my head around a brain that doesn’t. Not because there is anything wrong with it, it’s just completely different from how my brain works and how I expected a man’s brain to work.

Image source: O_mightyIsis