8 Things A Man Does That Show He Has Genuine Respect For His Woman
1. He loves listening to you talk.
He loves when you share your opinions. It’s one of the reasons he’s attracted to you. Whether you’re talking about the weather or the fate of humanity, he listens with a smile. He asks for your thoughts on topics because he likes hearing your passion and truly respects what you have to say.
2. He respects your boundaries
Respecting personal boundaries is crucial in any relationship, and a respectful man recognizes and honors a woman’s personal boundaries.
A respectful man understands that consent is mandatory in all aspects of life, be it physical intimacy, personal space, or emotional availability.
He never crosses the line, pressures, or coerces you into doing anything you are uncomfortable with. Instead, he creates an environment where you feel safe, secure, and respected.
3. He encourages you to succeed
Having respect for someone makes you feel like you’d do anything to help them succeed. You admire the traits that make them who they are, you like feeling proud of them and you want to encourage them toward further success. This is even more prominent at the beginning of a relationship when those very things are what attract you to someone in the first place.
If your guy often throws cold water on your enthusiasm, isn’t interested in encouraging or discussing your goals or, worse, sabotages efforts to improve yourself, he isn’t displaying respect. More than likely, he’s jealous and trying to keep you from spreading your wings, so you’ll fit better into his own plans. That’s your cue to fly away.
4. He doesn’t let jealousy control him.
Everyone gets jealous, but a respectful guy won’t let jealousy consume him. If he can’t deal with it alone, he’ll talk to you about it before the problem overwhelms him. He won’t pout and create drama when it’s not necessary. At the end of the day, he trusts you and knows you wouldn’t purposely hurt him.
5. He’s honest about relationship expectations
Whether you’ve only had five dates or you’re about to hit the year mark, a man who respects you will openly discuss your relationship. Sometimes though, this might mean he’s honest about the fact that he doesn’t want anything serious right now.
However, as long as he’s putting that on the table, you’ll know he respects you. He’s not interested in deceiving you about his feelings, just to keep you hanging in there for his own pleasure. In that case, it’s entirely up to you to stay, or go, if his ideas don’t match your own.
He won’t be scared of discussing where you stand in terms of exclusivity, regular weekend plans, or when to meet each other’s parents, either. No matter what comes of the discussions, a guy who respects you will offer honest, open opinions, to the best of his ability.
6. He gives you his full attention.
When you’re together, you’re 100% together. He’s not staring at other people or checking his phone every 10 seconds. You have his undivided attention, especially when you’re in a conversation. That’s important!
7. He lets you be yourself.
He hates your taste in music but he’ll deal with it. The point is, he doesn’t force you to change. He’ll watch horror movies and go to dinner with your girlfriends because he knows how much it means to you. He wants to make you happy!
8. He doesn’t try to control you
When you think about controlling behavior, whether it’s from a guy, a boss, or a parent, the foundation of it is generally fear or insecurity. For example, a boss might throw his or her weight around because they’re on a power trip that covers up their self-esteem issues. A parent may try to control your actions because they’re fearful something bad will happen to you.
In the case of relationships, controlling men use the behavior as a form of protection, for themselves. While this often manifests in a display of power and strength, it comes from a deeply ingrained place of fear, insecurity, or feelings of unworthiness. In the beginning, controlling you might mean simple actions like ordering your meal without asking what you want or trying to influence your decisions.
Already, this shows a lack of respect because a guy who cares trusts that you know how to run your own life. Over time, these small actions can turn into jealousy, possessiveness, manipulation, and even violence. Always respect yourself enough to keep control of your own life, firmly in your own hands.
