REALITIES
“Why don’t women approach men?”
Because women are often socialized to be more passive and demure when it comes to dating and relationships, while men are expected to be the pursuers, creating a power dynamic that makes it harder for women to feel comfortable taking the lead.
Let me explain further.
From a young age, many girls are taught to be polite, accommodating, and submissive in social situations.
They’re told to play nice, be quiet, and avoid drawing attention to themselves. This manifests in different ways, from being discouraged from roughhousing or being too assertive, to being praised for being quiet and well-behaved.
As girls grow up and begin navigating dating and relationships, these socialization messages translate into reluctance or discomfort with taking the lead.
Women feel like they’re supposed to wait for men to make the first move, or that being too forward or assertive will make them seem unattractive or “too much.”
