| The inclusion of women in the workforce has | | | | If that's not enough to set off an alarm in |
| brought tremendous advancements to our | | | | the male psyche, the latest information |
| society as a whole. | | | | released by the Australian Bureau of |
| | | | Statistics provide proof of the changes on a |
| However, it has also changed the dating | | | | much larger scale: |
| scene. | | | | |
| | | | - 1/3 of all marriages now end within five |
| Until a few decades ago, a stereotypical role | | | | years. |
| for women in a Western society was to take | | | | |
| care of the home and rearing of any | | | | - In 1976, marriage rates for the entire |
| offspring, while the men went out and worked. | | | | population were 63 in every 1,000 men and 61 |
| | | | in every 1,000 women. By 2001, this had |
| Because of this, most women had no source of | | | | declined to 31 and 28 respectively. |
| income and depended entirely on men for their | | | | |
| means and survival, which created a definite | | | | Not surprisingly, men - after having complete |
| need for marriage to exist and to work. | | | | control of the reign for millions of years - |
| | | | are a little intimidated by all of these |
| Fast forward to 2007 and women are working in | | | | changes. |
| powerful positions in society, which often | | | | |
| require traditionally masculine behaviours | | | | In addition to being intimidated by these |
| and psychology: | | | | changes, men are also increasingly unsure |
| | | | about how to behave around modern women in |
| - Leadership of others. | | | | social situations. |
| | | | |
| - Assertiveness. | | | | One of the main reasons has been the |
| | | | prevalence of socially masculine behaviour by |
| - Decisions based on logic, rather than | | | | women. To illustrate the point, here is an |
| feelings. | | | | example of masculine behaviour in action: |
| | | | |
| - Direct communication. | | | | If a group of friends are sitting together at |
| | | | a cafe and one of the women wants to leave, |
| TV shows like Sex and they City have done an | | | | she will traditionally structure her language |
| excellent job of characterizing a new | | | | in a feminine, indirect way to avoid taking |
| generation of women who: | | | | on leadership of the men and women. |
| | | | |
| - Often don't need the financial support of | | | | "Guys, I'm getting bored of this place." |
| a man to survive. | | | | |
| | | | She will then usually wait for someone to |
| - Can spend large amounts of money on a new | | | | respond with a suggestion that they leave the |
| dress or shoes. | | | | cafe. However, a man in the group will |
| | | | traditionally structure his language in a |
| - Can succeed in high-profile positions that | | | | more direct, masculine way. |
| were previously dominated by men. | | | | |
| | | | "Okay, let's finish our coffees and head off. |
| - Have their own life and dreams. | | | | I'm bored of this place now." |
| | | | |
| - Put of getting married and 'settling | | | | I use the word 'traditionally', because it's |
| down'. | | | | now becoming very common for women to |
| | | | communicate in a direct, masculine way in |
| - Get in and out of dating relationships; | | | | social situations. |
| often into their late 30s and 40s. | | | | |
| | | | As mentioned at the start of this article, |
| If a man turns on the radio these days, he | | | | the fact that women have become more |
| might also hear this new generation of women | | | | masculine in their behaviour and psychology |
| singing about how he is no longer necessary | | | | has brought tremendous advancements to our |
| to their survival. | | | | society as a whole. |
| | | | |
| Ouch! | | | | It's not a bad thing at all. |
| | | | |
| Song lyrics released into the airwaves in | | | | But it can be for women, when it comes to the |
| 2006, from artists such as the Pussycat Dolls | | | | dating scene. |
| and Beyonce Knowles demonstrate this very | | | | |
| well. | | | | A consistent complaint from modern women is |
| | | | that they are rarely approached by men these |
| Pussycat Dolls: | | | | days. To quote some of the women spoken to |
| | | | during the research: |
| "I don't need a ring around my finger to make | | | | |
| me feel complete...you know I got my own | | | | "If a guy does work up the nerve to approach, |
| life...and I bought everything that's in it." | | | | he will usually be really intimidated by me |
| | | | anyway...and that's such a turn off." |
| Beyonce Knowles: | | | | |
| | | | "There must be something wrong with me, |
| "You must not know about me. I can have | | | | because men hardly approach me." |
| another you in a minute. So don't you ever | | | | |
| for a second get to thinking you're | | | | "I am a confident girl - and yes, I'm |
| irreplaceable." | | | | assertive...I just need a man who is more |
| | | | confident than me. |