Venus and Mars

After a conversation with my male friend, actually after many conversations, it is so clear how differently women process things than men. I know this isn't new news, but it is really time that we all stop being in denial about it.

Last night, my friend asked me about the show Big Bang Theory since I watch it regularly and he doesn't, and an episode was on. He asked if the guys had girlfriends. My response was in the latter seasons they do, but in episodes such as the one that was on they didn't. Well, my answer was too long for him. He wanted a simple yes or no. To me it required some explanation, but for him it required one word.

That brought about a debate, like other conversations, regarding how I respond. So I told him, again, that women deal in details. He said men do too but he was expecting me to answer how he wanted me to answer. I laughed and said he never responds how I want him to, so why expect that from me. It really is this - my answer may not be simple, but it really is simple just to know that. Boom

Although men and women have similarities, I think our socialized gender roles keep us at odds more than we should be. Men are just as sensitive as women, but modern society makes then handle it in interesting ways. We are upset and we let it out, no holding back. They are upset, they withdraw. If they do let it out, some how it ends up being our fault...lol. Our species is not new to their species, yet we still have complications getting along even after many many many many years.

Where our thoughts are also different. A man and a woman could be having a conversation, yet talking about two different things. This happens a lot with my brother. But let me use another conversation with my friend as an example. We were discussing another show I regularly watch (I need to cut back on my tv time) and he has seen a couple of episodes from a previous season. It is a reality show and I was explaining how the stars of the show are portrayed. As I was breaking down the different personalities, he made one of the stars the focus of the conversation. So I went more in depth about how she is on the show. He kept talking about her looks. That is when I said, "we really are having two different conversations." He laughed and agreed. Again, I was talking details and he was talking external appearances. The simple thinking of men.

But I had to realize it is that simple. Understand that I am not going to talk or think like a man and he is not going to talk or think like a woman. Once we get that understanding straight, then we are able to move on. How many arguments have men and women had that were so petty about something so small surrounding misunderstandings....too many. Relationships end over too many misunderstandings that could have been talked through. Relationships are harder than they have to be.

Men are beautiful creatures, but we have to understand that we will not always be on the same page and we can't hold that against them....well not all if the time :-)