When it comes to dating, men aren’t always vocal about what they’re after, leaving many women clueless with regards to the inner workings of the male mind. What do men value most? Does settling down frighten men as much as women assume? Have we all just forgotten how to communicate with each other?
Thankfully, AskMen.com is here to clear up any lingering questions you may have about the opposite sex with the results from our annual Great Male Survey. Read on for our fourteen most surprising results.
1. Men value stability.
Loyalty is the top trait that makes a man consider you relationship material. In other words, much like women, men look for relationships that bring a sense of stability to their lives. Other traits that will make him view you as relationship material include a sense of caring, a sense of humor and intelligence.
2. Pitts are the majority, Clooneys are the minority.
For most men, it’s at least somewhat important that you have “wife potential.” While your relationship isn’t doomed if you don’t as most men won’t break up with you over it, your potential as a life partner is definitely in the back of his mind. Again, much like women, most men are looking to find that right person with whom to spend their time.
3. Men loathe Mark Sanford and Jon Gosselin as much as you do.
Though men are often stereotyped as hound dogs, the truth as revealed by our GMS is that most men abhor cheating. Seventy percent of men admitted that though they may be tempted, they wouldn’t stray, either because they love and respected their partner too much or they object to infidelity on moral grounds.
4. Men want their wives/girlfriends to close their mouths and open their legs.
The top two things men would change about their partners are their attitude or moodiness and their sexual appetite. In other words, men wish you would stop focusing on the negative, like complaining about your boss, your best friend, the grumpy cashier at the grocery store, etc. and focus on the things you enjoy in life, including sex. And they may be on to something—being in a better mood will make you more likely to want to engage in sex and sex will put you in a better mood. It’s win-win.
5. Size doesn’t matter.
When asked if they would dump a girlfriend if she became fat, 52 percent of men said no. That leaves 48 percent who would. While that may seem like an even split at first glance, consider that men and women likely have different ideas of what constitutes fat. While a woman will complain she has become fat after gaining ten pounds, men won’t think you’re a whale until your blubber pushes your BMI past twenty-five. Additionally, two-thirds of respondents polled wouldn’t change the size of their partner’s breasts, so think of your girls much as you would his penis: as long as he’s got one, size doesn’t really matter.
6. The core pillar of chivalry is still standing.
An overwhelming percentage of AskMen readers felt that a man should pay for the majority of dates, either for the duration of a relationship or at least until one is established if you’re in the early stages.
7. He’s not snooping through your digital dirty laundry.
Most men have never read your email or personal communications without your knowledge, though nearly a quarter of our respondents admitted that they might if they felt you were up to something. Word to the wise: Do your man a favor and don’t play detective in inbox—unless you suspect he’s up to something, of course.
8. Marriages should have a running start.
Like most women, modern men consider co-habitation as a prelude of what’s to come were you to tie the knot. 63 percent of men believe that living together is a good test for your relationship before taking the plunge.
