Why do some straight guys require that their girlfriend/wife be less intelligent than themselves?

Question

And, perhaps more importantly, why do some otherwise very smart straight women accomodate that need by acting dumb and giggly around guys?

Answer 1

Some men lack confidence and need to feel they are superior in most or every way to their girlfriend. And I know when I was growing up I heard over and over that "boys don't like girls who need glasses"; in other words, boys didn't like girls who were smarter than them, so if you were smart girl, you'd better not show it.

And think about how many dumb, giggly "babes" are on ads, tv shows, and movies, who are also gorgeous, and getting the guy? The smart woman with all the answers is not exactly chased after in popular media.

Answer 2

I think the real question is "Why do feminists make these negative stereotypes of men, as if they were true?"
I've never met a man like this... but the acting silly and giggly is a natural part of seducing another. It shows passivity, and the same holds true to men. I nice considerate man, who laughs and doesn't act overbearing(or with an attitude of "I'm better than you, intellectually or in any other manner") will get along with women better as well.

Answer 3

I believe firmly that some men are threatened by intelligent women. They still have that "good old boy mentality" where the man is the king of the house and the little woman is there to kneel by his side and make him look good but for Gawds sake don't open your mouth and actually have an opinion...Why do women fall into that , they have a need to be "part of this man, even if he treats he like a second class citizen". I can remember back in the 60s when guys would actually chain their girlfriends to their bikes while at Bike Week in Daytona or Sturgis and the women would submit...It all comes down to the man self esteem and what his buddies might say. I would like to think that that has gone out with the dark ages and that women will now stand up for themselves but I know it still goes on more than we would like to acknowledge..I never did well with that kind of guy, they just torks me right off..LOL I hope this helps.....

Answer 4

This is a stereotype that I've always heard and yet never encountered (yahoo answers set aside). Even my father swears there are guys like this out there but every guy I've ever been friends with/dated has been really rad and feminist. Granted, I wouldn't tolerate that sort of attitude in my friends but still...I haven't really encountered it.

I can't imagine why straight ladies with an ounce of self-respect would tolerate it...

Answer 5

I'm not aware of such a requirement.

In fact, I'm checking the Straight Guy Handbook right now, and I find no mention of lower intelligence as a prerequisite for dating.

Common interests - Yes
Nice boobies - Check
Sexy hips - Yep
Friendly personality - Yeah
Eyes that light up a room - Ya
Sense of humor - Uh huh

...Nope, no such requirement - not in the SGH, at any rate.

So your second question is the relevant one, and my question in response is "why do so many of women's issues originate in women's heads?"

Answer 6

Just about all the guys I've known roll their eyes at airheads...they prefer intelligent women, because it's easier to have an intelligent conversation with someone. My husband's such a guy...he's never cared for airheads.

Answer 7

Smart women want a man as smart or smarter. It goes both ways.

Answer 8

I don't know why some guys like this other than a power thing, but it's lamentable. They're easy to spot, so don't worry too much about it.

Answer 9

These are the guys who are so desperate to hang onto their male dominance that they have to dumb women down. Keep in mind that these guys aren't worth a look. The girls who don't know this, however, are usually so desperate to be with a man that they'll resort to self-denial for one.

Answer 10

It goes both ways, you know. There are a lot of women who are petrified by the idea that a man could be smarter than them. They only have eyes for idiot men.