Posted on: October 5, 2010

5 Things Men Must Know about Women

There are 5 things that men must know about women. Women desire to “feel” these things, not just know them logically.  In her book, For Men Only, author Shaunti Feldhahn goes into great depth addressing these five, and a few others men need to know.

Men must know that:

1.    Women want to feel loved.  Many women feel insecure about our love for them.  There are two things we men can do about it.  First, reassure her.  In times of conflict with our wives, we should tell them we love them no matter what and that everything will be okay—“I love you.  We’ll get through this.” When she’s upset, she doesn’t need space,” she needs a hug and to be held.  Second, pursue her.  Women need to be pursued throughout the relationship, just as we pursued them before we got married.

2.    Women want to feel understood.  Women need us to understand how they think and feel, even though that is virtually impossible.  It would help us to understand that most women’s thought lives are like computers, with multiple windows open and processing all at once.  Unlike men who can only process one thing at a time, women are constantly juggling multiple thoughts and emotions all at the same time. On more than one occasion, I’ve watch my wife, daughters and their friends having a conversation where three of them were talking at once about three different things.  And guess what, they all understood each other! So, hopefully, if we can generally understand how women think, we might be better able to understand how they feel.

3.    Women want to feel emotionally secure.  Women want security.   Yes, financial security is important, but it comes second to emotional security.  Women do think about the house, bills and tuition, but feeling emotionally connected and close to us; and knowing we are there for her, no matter what, is what really matters.

4.    Women want to feel listened to.  Men, she doesn’t want us to fix it, she just wants us to listen.  She doesn’t want or need our solution to the problem, even if she asked for our opinion.  She does want us to understand how she’s feeling about the problem and identify with her in that feeling—“Thanks for sharing that with me.” or “I’m so sorry that happened.” might be good words to consider saying to her.

5.    Women want to feel beautiful.  She needs to know, deep within, that we find her beautiful and that we only have eyes for her.  She doesn’t just want to know, “Am I beautiful?” but, “Am I beautiful to him?”  There may be many mirrors in your home, but the mirror that means most to your wife is you.

  • Nobiora1

    Great thoughts in this article. The men in our lives should for ”God and Love sake” abide by these five things men must know about their women, it is just explicit and straight to the point. Remain Blessed in God’s presence.

  • Peazer21

    Mark, well said…while I subscribe to the points you made it is reasurring to read them and know that I’m on the right path…

    I especially liked the point regarding pursuing…we need to continue to let them know that we love them as much today as the day that we met them…

    Love the site…

  • Anonymous

    As a women, I say that you are “right on” with these 5 things! Thank you for sharing these with other men. I’ve encouraged my husband to subscribe to All Pro and I’m glad that he will be reminded of these as well ;) (although he does a pretty good job with them already :) )

  • lady

    SO TRUE! All incredibly important to me in a relationship! Well said!

  • Man Wondering

    What do you do if you have done all of this and all your wife wants is Facebook?

  • paco

    Sorry to hear you have a difficult time in your marriage. May I suggest you read the book 5 love languages by Chapman. We all have different ways to understand love and your way of comunicating it may not be what the receipient love language may be. I pray that love will bear its fruit in your marriage.

  • Lovenlife64

    I love this article… As a women we must also remembe that our guys can’t be responsible for making us happy… the way they treat us does help but we must be proactive in the giving too.

  • db

    Glad to see this in print. You have hit the nail on the head. 13 years and I’m just now starting to realize how much I have failed my wife in these areas, and even though I ‘feel’ that way, I don’t show it. Look forward to joining and being a part of your blog. I encourage the fella out there with the wife stuck on face book to join in too……..don’t destroy the computer (verbally or physically), but construct a means of communicating with your wife on a level she needs……evidently, face book has found something to distract her. Get constructive, and be loving in everything you do.

  • Shannonfabulous

    Try reading Love and Respect by Emerson Eggrich as well. The 5 love languages will definatley help you figure your wife out and then love and respect will seal it all in.

  • Delk403

    I can do this!

  • Kidperson30

    A sixth thing: we want men to be the “strong one”. We would love for men to be the cement and the rock during the tough times.

  • Pingback: 5 Things Men Must Know About Women | Doing Life Together

  • Edp959

    I totally agree, just went through a divorce after 27 years.

  • Laytow

    God created man, then thought to himself I can do better than this and created woman.

  • http://pasaila.com Esteban Swanger

    great article and great techniques! Very informative… Keep up the good work!

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    Edp…so sorry to hear that…it must be painful.

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    db, thanks for joining in. Please have your friends visit us as well!

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    lovenlife…that’s a very good point!

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    Peazer…glad you love it! Please share the love with your friends!

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    Man Wondering, how about printing this blog post, sharing it with your wife and ask her if you do these things as a husband. It may jump start your conversation and open up an opportunity to share how you’re feeling.

  • kimberly quinn

    Number 4 is especially true for me. I am constantly telling my husband, “just grunt so I’ll know you’re in the conversation” We need you to be listening in a way that tells us you are listening. Eye contact is huge for me, a touch that lets me know you are engaged with my thoughts, even if they don’t make sense.

  • Charles Reaves

    These are all good insights into the female psyche. It does force men to lie to women, though. I hate to say that, but it’s true. #s 2 & 5 are especially difficult for men to pull off. A man may love his woman who has beautiful ways but otherwise is quite plain or even homely. But when she demands that her man rate her on par with Halle Berry is just a lie she wants to hear her man tell her. Same thing with making her “feel” understood. It is most amazing when well educated women with strong cognitive abilities demand that man make her “feel” understand when she knows he does very well. It forces the man to take responsbility for her feelings, which is unrealistic and unfair to expect from a man. This is why I am still single — I just don’t have the patience for this b/s!

  • Melissa

    I agree with everything except if my husband tries to hug me when we’re in a conflict I’m going to dodge him and be angry he even considered touching me. I don’t argue and cuddle at the same time!!! ;)

  • manulife87

    thanks for all these.. these are really very helpful especially right now that my wife and i are struggling a bit in our marriage. Im so thankful, really. Now i know what must i do to become a better husband and partner. This is just so right and in great timing! God bless..

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    Manulife, she may want to read today’s blog post on what women must know!

  • manulife87

    hhhmm that would be a nice idea but, i think i wanna surprise her with the changes that il be making… then il tell her next time about this blog… do you think it’d be great?

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    Sounds like a plan, Manulife!

  • guest

    Great article! I think it is important for women AND men to remember that we are human…only God is perfect!

  • PGal

    Owaooh! what an article. I hope it is powerful enough to change our husbands’ attitudes. Blessings to all men.

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    You got that right, Guest!

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    PGal, I hope it is too! Check out today’s blog post for the ladies.

  • guest

    AGREE!!

  • glimpse

    nice one Mark! il be looking forward to your new articles!

  • manulife87

    hei mark.. know what, when i arrived home last night, after i changed clothes i immediately asked my wife how was her day, if there was ANYTHING that had happened to her through out the day, and i told her that i wanna let her know that i will be just right her to listen to whatever she will share…. guess what she told me? i mean, she was really very surprised and she asked me back if something happened to me or will i ask something in return or what.. hahahah i was just laughing inside me… and i just thank the Lord for you and i just pray that many husbands will be able to realize what i just did.. Thanks a plenty!!!! May God bless you and your future blogs..

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    Wow…that’s so encouraging, Manulife! I really appreciate you sharing this with me.

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    Glimpse, just let me know any topics you’d like for me to address. Thanks for chiming in.

  • manulife87

    in fact mark, im so excited right now to go home early later and just surprise her again and again/… all the time… thanks really for the help.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4HCX2E23BNYNPCYBVNDEXFTXQY Hermie

    thats true ! men would not need much effort in doing things for women ! emotionally . . . thats a simple thing ; financially . . . thats a different thing . . .

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    All…my wife, Susan, asked me last night if I do these 5 things. I’m going to read my own post again and think about it. I’ll report back and let you know too!

  • Scrappygg

    I would like to ask why can’t we be the strong one, arn’t we talking about person type inner emotional strength right? A man is always there to show us mussle/strength, but I would like to be on a more equal spot WITH him WITH my strenght using it together. We’re in this together.

  • Lnovak

    Nice, short and concise…I am sharing with my women and men friends!!

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    You go, Manulife! Keep impressing her!

  • guest

    Making someone feel understood doesn’t mean taking responsibility for that person’s feelings (unless it is your actions/behavior that have caused them). If your woman is ticked off because her boss is a pain in the butt and she just wants to vent about it, listening to her vent and saying something like “Yeah, I see why you’re ticked. Your boss Is a pain in the butt,” would make her feel understood quite well. Relating to how the person feels and letting them know you can relate is what it’s about…it’s not about taking responsibility. I think you are confusing the two things.

  • Mimisuep

    Charles you have a point there. Everyone is responsible for their own feelings. I loved your last sentence but it sounds a little like a recent burn. Good luck.

  • Mimisuep

    Lady: A women who doesn’t have any fun. I hate the word lady, that is a title, not who we are. Such pressure. gigs

  • http://twitter.com/farmboy1571Andy Andy Gilkison

    Mark, I love this article on knowing what women want.. I would propose an addition I learned the hard way.. I let one slip away from me because when she said, “I Love You”, I ran the other way.. At the time I loved alcohol and being irresponsible much more.. Now, things with me are different thanks to the Lord, but I chalk it up also as a lesson learned.. Don’t take love for granted!! Andy

  • Ngumeh

    Your honesty is refreshing

  • guest

    a wife also wants #5 – to feel beautiful not just for sex…..

  • guest

    a wife also wants #5 – to feel beautiful not just for sex…..

  • http://twitter.com/epicparent epicparent.tv

    love this post Mark!