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