Thank you to everyone who took the time to send in a comment in response to my last post. There were many comments by both men and women. Most, if not all of the readers, are in agreement that the comment was not a good representation of most men.
Although my readers are not a fair representation of the world at large, I believe they are a fairly representative sample of people trying to have healthy relationships. A couple of readers were curious as to why the person who made the comment was on my site in the first place. I choose to think he was looking for a little relationship advice since his way was likely not working :-).
Many people were supportive of men as a whole, I’m happy to report. Men and women alike believed most men don’t think that way. Even those who thought there are men out there who mostly think of women as objects, the consensus was that those men are the exception rather than the rule.
My advice to women who come across men who are contemptuous of women or who view women as objects rather than partners is to run. Run away fast and don’t look back. Do not try to change a man who thinks in either of these ways. Move on and be glad you didn’t get caught up in a bad situation. Most people are fairly transparent when it comes to how they think. Believe what you see, take what you hear at face value and don’t assume they’re someone other than who they say they are.
My advice to the men in the world is to realize that when men talk poorly of women it really does give men a bad name. Men need to step up for women to other men who degrade them. Standing up for any woman is the best thing you can do to help your wives, sisters, mothers and — most important — your daughters. The more men speak respectfully of women and the less locker room talk is encouraged, the more men will actively begin to create a safer future for all of our daughters and women in general.
The more women stand up for themselves and not sell their souls for attention, the more we help our daughters to not sell theirs. Creating a healthy relationship requires that both men and women treat one another with respect, admiration and the utmost regard. When we don’t, we hurt not only our relationships but also our world.
CHALLENGE: Pay attention to what you are putting out into the world and make sure it is what you would like to get back. When in a relationship with someone, always remember to: believe what you see, take what you hear at face value and don’t assume someone is different from what they say they are. If they don’t act healthy and respectful–they’re not. Move on and don’t look back.