While a lot of this may be true, the flip side of the coin is women may not initiate most of the things you mentioned but they are expected to maintain what the guys have started.
For example: The dude has to work out and look good enough to approach the lady for a date, ***, etc. but it is expected of the women to, not only look their best, but continue to do so the rest of the relationship. Guys can let themselves go somewhat after they have landed the woman, but if the woman does so she risks him cheating on her or leaving her.
Honestly, I'm not so sure about that.
Numerous studies have shown that women believe physical appearance to be more important to guys than it actually is - and have a distorted view of it.
A girl who is beautiful after hours of preparation will, often, look just as beautiful with tangled hair after waking up in the morning and after gaining a few pounds. The underlying structure is what the man is attracted to more so than the frills.
I think women stress over appearance far too much.
On the other hand - both men and women tend to underestimate how important physical appearance is to women. I've seen countless cases of women running off with a better looking guy. It's much more rare to see a man run off with a better looking woman.
A woman gets a confidence boost from the 'settlement' guy, and there are plenty of single guys who are good looking who know they look better than said 'settlement guy.' If they have a better job and/or have a personality that makes her wet between the legs... it's a very rare girl that will stay with the guy she has. Especially if she's younger than about 28.
Also you have the whole baby thing. We do the deed and our part is done. It is the girls who have to carry that parasite(and I use that as an endearing term)around in their bellies for 9 months....Then labor (oh gawd I am traumatize by what i've seen)
That's why older women, statistically speaking, don't run off with the pool boy. She invites the pool boy inside while the provider is at work and gets both the strong genetics she was looking for and the excellent care provided by her current husband. Since her current husband has only a vague idea of when she is ovulating (even the woman often doesn't know), she regularly mates with him, as well, in order to dominate his time (so he doesn't run off with another woman - at least, not if he wants a legitimate child).
The young girls typically haven't had a taste of the real world, just yet, and will be foolish enough to run off with guys that are fun and exciting but who are horrible husbands. Guys who are decent husbands get a lot more respect, later, after girls have had a reality check and realize that food is a pain in the ass to work for.
When it comes to ***, Yes the guy does the work and it takes longer for a female to climax....no I take that back. A female's climax is largely dependent on how mentally stimulated she is as well as physically. Sure guys can do the deed, Climax and it's over. But the female is looking for more than just "the deed" they need to feel desired and there are things that guys loath doing to a females *** organ that would make them climax in an instant. I will stop there with that point as it is getting a bit steamy for this Forum
I'd actually say that this one is a mixed bag.
A guy can screw a teddy-bear for all the same physical satisfaction he gets out of it.
The only unique thing the female adds to the experience is the fact that she can experience pleasure, as well.... the fact that she -should- experience pleasure, as well.
You want to strip the balls out of a guy really fast; tell him that he's bad in bed and that you'd rather rub off on a bar stool than be with him. Fears of premature ejaculation and overall poor sexual performance are very prominent within the male community.
Why?
Because if your girl isn't reaching a climax and a quivering mess for fifteen minutes afterward... with you... what's the probability that she'll turn down a guy who can give her that?
There's a lot of pressure on a guy to perform. And if you actually look into relationships that are successful versus relationships that fail - you'll find that women more frequently leave a relationship because of dissatisfaction with the ***. Men tend to leave the relationship for lifestyle incompatibilities.
So all and all I would say the male has more to do when it comes to the initial courting of the other, but it's the female who has to maintain what is established once she has chosen.
While this will always depend upon the specific relationship... it's my experience that guys are expected to maintain the status quo.
While older women are not -as- needy as younger ones... the fact is that women want to feel needed and desired. That's a sensation the guy is expected to establish and maintain. If the woman feels like interest has been lost - she'll often accept attention from other guys. Interestingly - this acceptance of other men's attention is often intended (initially) to provoke a jealous and possessive response from her partner.
In many cases, if you don't become the possessive prick condemned in feminist media and go reinforce your claim... she decides you're not interested anymore and before you know it, she's running off with some other guy.
Generally - most cultures where there are somewhat more males than females have this problem. Girls don't have to compete for guys nearly like guys have to compete for girls.
The problem is reversed in regions like Australia. Australia's ports are legendary among U.S. servicemen... because the girls, there, are not used to the type of treatment U.S. men are used to having to provide simply to be recognized as alive. Hold doors open. Give a girl flowers. Listen to her and provide intelligent feedback to what she's saying... guys there don't bother with that - if a girl expects that kind of treatment, the guy will just pick up another one because there is no shortage of single females.
Of course... get married to her and bring her back to the U.S. - and now every guy around her treats her like a goddess... then you're not as special anymore.
Seen that happen, too.
It all boils down to this:
A girl has, roughly, 20 years through which she is fertile. Men, fertile for over twice as long, are all trying to convince women within this time-frame to shack up with them and accept the carrying of a few 'parasites.' Then, they are expected to be able to keep the female entertained while providing for the family.
The woman simply has to be sure she doesn't shack up with an abusive person or one who will load her up with more parasites than he can afford. Even if he flips out and leaves because she refuses to be barefoot and pregnant - he is still legally forced to pay child support - even if she is cohabitating with another man.
In the U.S. - it's primarily the men competing for the women.
That's not to downplay the role women have in a relationship - or the expectations that are placed upon them... but it's generally the guy who is expected to handle the relationship and convince the girl he's worth being with. Again - in the U.S.
