1662. Show Unconditional Respect for the Male Gender


Her Highness Anonymous asked at post 1660, “What are some examples of how one shows unconditional respect for the male gender? What about to boyfriends/husbands?”

Put simply, unconditional respect acknowledges and shows regard for masculine characteristics that are highly esteemed by men. Men sense it when women show they agree with men’s convictions about their gender and expectations. For example, men are convinced:

  • They are the dominant sex. They only have to show or impose it when they are not sufficiently respected—as a person first, man second, and boyfriend/husband third.
  • They consider ‘duty’ as an obligation for which appreciation is neither earned nor due. Man-think says this: Do your duty and get on with life, because it’s the right thing to do. A man’s job is his ultimate duty, because it enables him to provide and protect his family. The reverse isn’t possible, because in masculine logic his family can’t provide and protect his job.
  • They produce, protect, provide, problem solve, and are particularly handy to have around. They far outshine women doing those things. In return, men expect it as a woman’s duty to show appreciation for her man’s accomplishments by helping him recover from today’s battles and prepare for tomorrow’s. Her help puts him back on the ‘firing line’. (Wives crave more affection than they get. But man-think sees so much of what women do as duty that they don’t render the appreciation much less the affection expected by woman-think. Not trying to alibi for men, just saying that part of the shortfall to display affection comes from what men perceive as duty without considering that women see duty as deserving of recognition and reward.)
  • Men compete to control life events. Mostly against Nature and other men, but they also compete with women for a couple’s first sex together. (Otherwise, they don’t compete with women out of fear they will suffer defeat and embarrassment by the weaker sex.)
  • Men don’t appreciate unearned gifts, so women show more respect when they give in recognition of what a man does or did rather than who he is. Specific citations impress the most, such as gift for helping sick child to recover, frequently serving wife breakfast in bed, or housekeeping while wife was away. (Men need self-admiration, which comes from accomplishments other than fulfilling obligations considered to be duty.)
  • Overly expensive gifts can insult a man. Men see themselves as very capable decision makers about cost of something against its useful worth. For example, never give a man a new lawnmower or car (as if likely). He intuitively knows he could have made a better deal. Moreover, the deal was a competitive event that could lead to a major accomplishment and add to his significance. An overly expensive gift takes that opportunity away from him.

Women and especially wives modify those masculine expectations to be more agreeable and female friendly. When they do, unconditional respect for the male gender deteriorates. Better ways exist than going up against the male nature.

Men are born hardhearted, but a small amount of the milk of human kindness oozes out when they can help a woman or child to whom they have no other obligation. You’ve heard of it this way: Men love to rescue damsels in distress.

  • Give men opportunities to look good to a woman. Don’t be so quick to rescue yourself from distress. Show more dependence than self-sufficiency. Don’t wait for modern men to ‘man up’ and help you. Boldly ask for their assistance. Suggest, request, and let men do things for you, especially strangers in public. If you spill packages, let them help you. If you stumble/trip/break a heel, then expect the nearest man to escort you to a seat. Wait politely for men to open doors, seat you at table, allow you to proceed first, and reward them only with a warm smile.
  • (Whatever the man does for you, he considers it a duty. So, a “thank you” isn’t nearly as impressive as this: “Men are never more handsome than when they help a lady.” Also, women are never prettier than when they flash an appreciative smile at a man who doesn’t expect anything more than that. It’s his duty to help her and a smile is quite adequate. Women don’t think that way, and many men have been feminized to expect “thank you” as required for every situation.
  • Unconditional respect means treat him like a man rather than like a woman, so an appreciative smile counts for more than words. It also adds mystery, which a ‘thank you’ doesn’t. I’m not saying not to give a “thank you.” I’m trying to say that it leaves the impression of conditional rather than unconditional respect. It also ranks far behind “A man is never more handsome than when he…” and an appreciative smile. Men recognize appreciation in a woman’s smile, so her sincerity is vital.)
  • This will test your grit and determination and help a guy to ‘man up’. Don’t just let but gently insist that your date choose and place the order for your food. Give him a hint if you’re allergic or can’t physically tolerate certain foods. Let him gnaw on it while he studies the menu and makes his decision. If he tries to dodge the responsibility and get you to order your own, say this: “But men are never more handsome than when they know the right thing to do for a woman. I’ll accept and enjoy your decision as much as the food. It’s a promise.” You’ll soon find out if he’s el-cheapo or not, has radical taste buds, or if he goes head over heels to please you. How does he handle opportunities that you present, to please you or himself? Whether you do or don’t eat what he orders, don’t complain and don’t explain. Smile as if all went well and expect to see him ‘man up’ proudly after a few repeats.
  • When men speak to you, look directly in their eyes with an interested countenance. If they have to repeat something, watch their lips to confirm it in your mind.
  • If a man talks to others, he says something important. So, listen by looking at him.  If boyfriend/husband speaks to others, especially before an audience, keep your eyes admiringly on his face. A glance at you can reinforce his confidence. Don’t be looking around. It diverts listeners’ attention from him, reveals a weaker respect of you for him, and lessens the influence of his words at a time when he expects his words to impress or influence.

Unconditional respect has two sides. She admires masculine differences, but it’s only possible in her female heart if combined with moral behavior. He perceives her admiration as special significance. It triggers his heart to generate the foundation of love for her, namely conditional respect for her and unconditional respect for her gender.

Consider this traditional concept. Our foremothers dominated cultural values. They did it by showing unconditional respect for men doing all the moral things in life but condemning immoral behavior by refusing to both respect and associate. The more morally ideal a man lived his life, the more highly regarded and sought after he became. As one would expect, women had many men of quality character with whom to mate.

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20 Comments

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20 Responses to 1662. Show Unconditional Respect for the Male Gender

  1. anonymous

    Fantastic article! This helps a lot! I can’t wait to try the food ordering idea! And I particularly like the “A man is never more handsome than when he…” idea, but I have a hard time pulling it off. Any suggestions on how to become more comfortable saying this to men or how to pull it off without them and spectators thinking I’m a creeper? Strangers and the ones with whom I associate on a regular basis? I get embarrassed because I think they assume that I’m hitting on them/flirting.

    Your Highness Anonymous,

    First, practice it before a mirror until it spills easily off your tongue. Smiling all the time.

    Second, say it boldly as if you don’t care if someone presumes you’re flirting. Keep reminding yourself that you’re not saying they are handsome, they are reading something into it that you aren’t saying. Let them jump to the wrong conclusion. It makes you stand out ever more boldly.

    Third, keep reminding yourself. Action cures fear. Boldness cures timidity. Practice cures discomfort. And, caution turns the advantage to the other person.

    Guy

    • anonymous

      Hehehe talking to myself in the mirror makes me feel ridiculous. I will keep it up and get over it though! Can I say ” a man is never more admirable than when he…” instead of handsome? Or does that not have the same effect?

      Your Highness Anonymous,
      Sure you can use admirable, but it has a much less favorable effect on men. They don’t think in terms of being admirable, but they do think about and love to hear references to “handsome.” But use admirable for awhile and then shift over.
      Guy

  2. Melanie

    I just love this post. I was raised to be an independent woman and still can be if need be. But I see the wonderful value in accepting the gift of kindness that is a man’s pleasure to help a lady. It took me a long time to realize it, but at 45 I’m learning to let a man be a man — nay — encourage and expect it.

    Welcome aboard. It’s a great day when another pretty woman joins us on this cruise to WhatWomenNeverHear.
    Guy

  3. Lady Nemesis

    Hi Guy!

    How does this post relate to the “beta male”? Or men that don’t overtly have a lot of the traditional Alpha male traits? How do you show respect for a man who is of the “male gender” when he does not display (at least to my thinking) male-gender-traits? I find it very easy to show respect for manly men, but easier to disrespect men who have more feminine traits. This is a real problem for me since my fiancee is a very gentle, Beta guy. And I am a sanguine type A female. I know the changes must begin with me. But there is something inside of my that dispises his “over-gentleness” even when it totally benefits me. How does a woman respect a male wimp? Or even worse, how does a woman begin to see a man as “not a wimp”? Because ultimately, how can I tell the difference between my perception of him, and his reality?
    Or here it is put another way: How can I make him more manly so I can respect his manhood? Its kinda hard to respect what is not there.
    Or if it is, how can I better learn how to identify it?
    Thank You Guy!

    Your Highness Lady Nemesis,
    You have always posed very challenging questions. I’m preparing for a vacation so look for a delay in my response, probably Tuesday or Wednesday.
    Guy

    • Lady Nemesis

      Enjoy your vacation Sir Guy! It will be exciting to hear what you have to say! Looking forward to it.

    • A.GuyMaligned

      Your Highness Lady Nemesis,

      Restudying your question I conclude that you ask for the near-impossible. It’s far easier to find another man. However, if you want to try, figure out how and then perform these functions with devotion:

      1. Sit down and make a list of his benefits and blessings to you. List everything you hold as valuable. List all for which you are grateful. DON’T list or even think about anything that registers negatively in your heart or mind.

      2. Decide in your heart and mind that you already see greater and affirming value in him. Grind and work your thoughts around so that you see yourself as far more grateful for who he is and what he does. Work to always give him more credit and respect than previously.

      3. Promise yourself that when you draw any negative conclusions or opinions about him, you will immediately and assertively find something of value that you appreciate, for which you are gratitude, and then disclose it to him as your expression of gratitude. The process should pressure your imagination to search, your mind to judge, and your heart to register gratefulness for his value to you.

      4. When he does anything that registers negatively to you, cite to yourself how grateful you are for who he is and what he does.

      5. Continue with a vengeance to buffet negative thoughts about him and turn them into positive perceptions.

      6. Go back to the top and update everything to make it better and you more grateful. Continue around the loop until you get what you’re after.

      Best of luck,
      Guy

      • Lady Nemesis

        Hi Sir Guy!

        You are right as always. And as a self defined “recovering negative thinker”- I am up for the challenge to improve myself and therefore my life. However, I was a bit disturbed by the introduction of “you ask for the near impossible..” What exactly is nearly impossible regardign my request? Are you saying that it is impossible for women to respect Beta males? I just wanted to clarify. I don’t think it would matter what kind of man I had ultimatly, if I have a ungrateful mind- even the prince charming of my dreams I would find something wrong with. No, I have found what this blog calls: Mr.Good Enough, and its my duty to become a more grateful and humble person in general, thus generating more real love in my relationship that is less self centered. Thank You guy!

        Your Highness Lady Nemesis,
        I wrote “near impossible” while thinking of your gender doing what would be required. Most couldn’t live with trying long enough to resolve your dilemma. I knew you had the capability, and so I finished the response with details.
        Guy

  4. boomer babe

    NEVER GIVE EXPENSIVE GIFTS TO A MAN:
    What GOOD advice! I’ve seen this before with people. Her buying a guy something over 100 dollars for Christmas, etc. I TOLD her not to do it but she went and did it anyway. Saying ‘she could do it with her money’ etc. This is what GUYS do or supposed to do with people they love. Heck the girl was even giving him her body along with the gift. I got so MAD and didnt speak to her for awhile

  5. boomer babe

    i just saw something on another site; that guys may be using the book called THE RULES on women these days against many young girls. I remember guys werent this ‘aloof’ years before the book was out. It seemed like guys were more ‘affectionate’ in public before.

    Your Highness Boomer Babe,
    You’re observant. What you perceive proves that girls chase guys too much. Why should guys chase girls when girls do all the chasing? It’s natural that everyone takes the easy way to something. Why create challenges for yourself if you don’t have to?
    Guy

  6. Anne

    This is small point, but you mention that men do not consider gratitude necessary for “duty” performed. What when a man considers so many things a woman’s “duty” (ie, the housework, childcare, etc.) and therefore does not express gratefulness very often? Is there a way to repackage one’s “duties” as not duties so that the man will express more gratitude?

    Your Highness Anne,
    Your question rates a daily article, so see 1668 posted today.
    Guy

  7. Catherine

    “Men compete to control life events. Mostly against Nature and other men, but they also compete with women for a couple’s first sex together. (Otherwise, they don’t compete with women out of fear they will suffer defeat and embarrassment by the weaker sex.)” – Guy

    Sir Guy,
    May I read more about how to neutralize unintended competition (among singles)? For example, a man invites me to play darts and I accidentally accrue enough points to win. Is it better to decline invitations to play?

    Your Highness Catherine,

    No, don’t decline. As long as you’re single compete simply and honestly without rubbing his nose in his defeat. Smile and encourage him.

    He plays darts to get you in bed the first time. So, don’t make it easy for him. After his conquest, however, it’s better to withdraw or don’t compete at your best.

    Guy

  8. Michelle

    This is my first time visiting your blog. I feel like I’ve fallen into another world and it is amazing. Although it does sound like my Grandparents lives. I’m a youngin’ but have spent my entire life surrounded by men from my best friend to my family.

    Your Highness Michelle,
    Welcome aboard. It’s a great day when another pretty woman joins us on this cruise to WhatWomenNeverHear.
    Guy

  9. Sir Guy, I have a question about this that is a follow-up to Lady Nemesis’ question. While I see only good coming from showing unconditional respect, what does one do if there are things about a man a woman is not married or engaged to that she genuinely does not respect? Is such a lack of deep respect itself a red flag? You said it’d be easier to just find another man.

    It seems kind of like losing one’s temper. You should never do it, regardless of what someone else does to evoke it; but at the same time if someone is always making you angry, that’s its own problem that needs to be addressed. And so, we should always show respect, and never disrespect, regardless of what faults we may find in the men around us and particularly the one with whom we are involved. But is there reason to spend much time attempting to shore up respect for men that isn’t really there? (outside of being married or otherwise seriously committed)

    I ask because I’ve found that women have an immense capacity to love men they don’t really respect, and this causes all sorts of problems. Is the best way to avoid that to only become serious with and marry men whom a woman can easily respect? The other side of the coin is that women can be overly critical and judgmental and thus have a lower opinion of a man than he deserves. But assuming the woman is not being overly critical (and is not married/engaged), should she just move on?

    I also believe that unconditional respect calls out the best in people and that a man might rise higher in response to a woman treating him with unconditional respect. So that factor complicates the question it seems.

    Thanks!

    Your Highness Denise,

    I will move from bottom to top of your questions. I too believe that unconditional respect calls out the best in people. However, it works differently between man and mate. “A man might rise higher…” provided they’ve never had sex together. After his conquest, don’t expect it.

    “Is the best way to avoid that to only become serious with and marry men whom a woman can easily respect?” Look at it this way. We can’t give what we don’t have. If she doesn’t respect him, how does she show him respect? You realize full well, a man expects respect for who he is. When he doesn’t get it, his respect for her falls, interest in her declines, and his love follows suit. Also, without her showing respect of him, her gratitude for what he does likely falls on deaf ears.

    If a woman associates with a man for whom she has little or no respect, she hoists but can’t see the red flag. She effectively makes herself prey for his aggressiveness, temper, and even violence.

    For any relationship to succeed, both parties should receive more respect than they think they deserve. Couples don’t always start that way, but few things help more.

    Guy

    • Hi Denise!

      You stated: “… women can be overly critical and judgmental and thus have a lower opinion of a man than he deserves..”

      I wanted to share in following up to the comment I had left before, that I realized that your quote was exactly the problem I was experiecing myself. I have a hunch that it is more often the case than not with women, so many of us, in my opinion don’t have realistic expectations to start with when it somes to men. I quickly learned that I was one of them and remedied the problem by a reality check (humility) which brought a genuine sense of gratitude. It is from this that my respect flows now.

      What it boiled down to was some serious “contrast therapy” and realizing that I am NOT “All That”- and that if I have flaws, then he gets to have them too and that should have nothing to do with respect. Me and my man will be married by the end of the year and I could not be happier. I find that the concept of respect to be somewhat subjective, but one thing I know for sure- that it can’t exsist where there is a bad attitude to begin with.

      • Dawn, congratulations! And thanks for sharing.

        • I wanted to add that I agree that gratitude and honest self-reflection are paramount. It seems, also, that a man’s devotion comes into play, in that if he is not genuinely bringing good into her life (provide, protect, etc.), then she’ll have trouble coming up with much to be grateful for. So maybe it comes back to the question that underlies many posts, “Is he or is he not devoted (or becoming increasingly so)?” If the answer is “Yes” then you have something to be grateful for and can build from there.

  10. Dearest Sir Guy,
    you mentioned in your article gift giving. With Valentine’s day right around the corner, i have observed that literally ALL the girls i know go out of their way trying to buy their boyfriend the perfect gift, but then get all upset when their boyfriend doesn’t surprise/lavish them with super expensive dates or buy them something equally expensive.

    I suspect that maybe their intention in this whole gift giving sham is a way of hinting to men how they would like to be treated in return, and that their ‘gift’ is not always a sincere gift for their partner, but actually a something they do for themselves, hoping to gain something equally ‘valuable’ in return. I really doubt it that any man would be turned on (or even appreciate it) when his gf buys him heart shaped candy, showers him with rose petals or buys a set of matched mugs with little hearts on them.

    My questions:
    1) Do men really care if they get anything for V. Day?
    2) Does buying them a gift on this occasion ensure he will reciprocate?
    3) What gifts would make men happy?

    PS: I love your whole work on this blog! May God bless you and your wonderful family with lots of health and happy years to come!

    Your Highness Wind in the willows,
    Your questions and my responses:
    1) Do men really care if they get anything for V. Day? Not particularly. Too rich a gift for the current phase of their relationship or for her financial ability makes him respect her less. He knows he hasn’t earned it. Men don’t express love so openly, and tend to dislike V. Day because it adds pressure to them that they do not like. Also, she shows poor judgment about his interests. Token gifts work much better with men.
    2) Does buying them a gift on this occasion ensure he will reciprocate? No, especially if it’s too rich for their relationship or too rich for his wallet to match her gift.
    3) What gifts would make men happy? Impress him by dressing up gorgeously and special for him. Show admiration more than love with whatever the gift. Men tend to resist reciprocating love offerings.
    Guy

    • Thank you, Sir Guy, for your lovely insight! After reading your answer and a few more posts in which you mention gifts, it all makes sense! It had never dawned upon me how different men can be in this regard!

      What i would have interpreted as a cool gift actually had the effect of leaving my ex boyfriend cold, because of the fact that it was never appropriate for the state of the relationship!Then i would be left wondering why i wasn’t getting this vibe from him, that he was happy for getting something he really really wanted. In his mind, he hadn’t earned it, or he could have felt more satisfied by actually buying it himself.

      A cringe-worthy illustration: I recall being in Italy once and buying him all this stuff worth more than 100€, as a gift for… well, for just because i was on a trip and wanted to surprise him when i got back: a soft Italian scarf, 3 silk ties, a bottle of cologne and some local candy. All this, 3 MONTHS in the relationship!I feel so enlightened now, after having realized this. And stupid… really, really stupid. Oh well. Probably ONE simple, non-kitschy souvenir would have been more appropriate…

      On the other side, I would have never considered just ‘dressing up gorgeously’ as him interpreting it as a gift. I felt like i was doing it more for myself, because i enjoy dressing up and he wasn’t getting anything out of it. Just the looking part. I used to think that this doesn’t count as gift, or pampering, or whatever.

      I find it so admirable that you take the time to answer the questions your readers ask. It shows you really care about us!!

      PS: Get well soon! :)

      Your Highness Wind in the Willows,
      I roughed a response to your next to last paragraph and it ended up too lengthy for posting here. So, look for ‘dressing up gorgeously’ in an article SUN or MON.
      Guy

      • anonymous

        My boyfriend always says how he loves it when I get dressed up when he takes me to dinner, but not because I look good (although that’s a bonus), but because, “I do it for him”. Why do we dress up for job interviews or church? Sign of respect. Seems to me that men like it when their woman dresses up for them because they like to be respected by her. But I am still confused as to why it would be interpreted as a gift …. Can’t wait to read the article!!

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