Why Do Women Handle Emotions Differently Than Men

Each person brings who they are, including their masculinity or femininity, and that helps balance out the relationship.

It's always fascinating to explore the differences between the genders.

Let's face it, no matter what anyone says, men and women are similar, but yet so different.

In fact, there was a big selling book called Men Are From Mars and Women Are From Venus which spelled out very clearly what makes men different from women. These differences can cause so much confusion for people involved in a relationship.

Why do Guys Brush off Emotions and Close Up?

Phillip asked, "Why is it that women tend to have so much stronger emotions than men?"

And Michaela asked, "When guys get emotionally hurt, why do they just brush everything off and won't talk with you about it?"

Unfortunately, society has told men it's a sign of weakness to express their feelings while it's much more socially acceptable for women to talk about their feelings. That may be a reason why so many more men end up with heart attacks...they tend to hold everything inside.

While every person is different, women tend to be more emotional than men. There's nothing wrong with that. Each person brings who they are, including their masculinity or femininity, and that helps balance out their relationship. But while there are exceptions, it is equally true men tend to express their emotions differently than women.

Each side needs to do the best they can to understand and deal with the opposite sex.

Women Demonstrate Emotion

Women are more prone to talk about what they are thinking and feeling, and to demonstrate how they are feeling with their tears, facial expressions, hand gestures, and body language. Many women seem to be more comfortable figuring out how they feel by talking through it.

Men, generally speaking, tend to process their emotions inwardly. Many times, they don't know exactly how they feel, so they try to figure it out on their own...inside their head. Some men are afraid of their emotions and keep them buried inside in order to protect themselves from looking weak. Little do they know, that most women would accept and understand (and even appreciate!) an expression of their emotion.

Men Solve Emotional Problems on Their Own

Men are also more physical, and tend to work out their emotions by finding solutions, and doing things. The harm is when men keep stuffing all their feelings inside, letting them simmer and brew, and potentially eat away at them, eventually coming out as anger. There are tremendous benefits to getting your thoughts and emotions out in the open, in the context of a safe relationship, and not letting them destroy you.

There are differences between the genders. Each side needs to do the best they can to understand and deal with the opposite sex, rather than get frustrated about the differences. We ought to celebrate them. Just think, what if there were all women in the world, and no men? Or all men in the world, and no women? The world wouldn't be a very fun place, would it?

So, we handle our feelings differently, now how do I understand what my boyfriend or girlfriend is thinking?

Do I Have to Read His or Her Mind?

Robert asked, “I have found that girls tend not to speak their minds. Why is that? When you ask, 'How are you doing?’ They may say, 'I’m all right,’ when they’re feeling completely the opposite. Do I have to read her mind?”

I have heard that same question from both sexes. Everyone’s deepest desire is to be loved by someone who knows everything about us and still loves us!

So it would stand to reason then that our biggest fear is that someone would know all about us and reject us. So we go back and forth with someone we care about. At some moments we dare to show who we are. At other times we cover up what we think might not be met with approval.

The key here is good communication.  If you are feeling frustrated by always having to guess how he/she is feeling, or exhausted by trying to read his/her mind, try gently asking them what they truly mean. In fact, your effort to discover what they are honestly feeling might assure them of your desire to really know them.

It’s also important to express your commitment when they reveal vulnerable areas of their life. Tell them how much you care about them, and how you desire to understand them better. We all long to be listened to and understood. If you are confused by what they really mean, taking the time to ask for clarification instead of just walking away in a huff will show real love.

Are you wondering what the secret is behind a healthy relationship? Find out here.

Dawson McAllister
Dawson McAllister, also known as America's youth pastor, was an author, radio host, speaker, and founder of TheHopeLine. McAllister attended Bethel College in Minnesota for undergraduate work where he graduated in 1968, began graduate studies at Talbot School of Theology in California, and received an honorary doctorate from Biola University.
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22 comments on “Why Do Women Handle Emotions Differently Than Men”

  1. Are we absolutely positive that it's not something else - like maybe women feel emotions and men feel feelings? It's my experience that (for the most part) the genders experience these differently. The people who write these articles are "emotionally intelligent" men and women and biased toward their own experience. Emotions and feelings motivate people to act in all sorts of ways, good and bad.

  2. How is that a male and female can break up and the female is having a very difficult time dealing with it (has even sent messages expressing that she still cares) but the male shows no emotion or feelings what-so-ever (doesn’t even respond to the messages)?

    1. Why did they break up in the first place?
      The man is probably trying to overcome the woman, despite the woman wanting another chance or whatever.

      1. Yes, it all depends on what caused the problem. Sometimes it might be that when the issue started d male tried settling the issue and maybe the female has someone else after the person disappoints her, she starts to go back to d former she aboundoned

  3. Why do we say things to hurt each other in the heat of the moment even though there is true, strong love for one and other?

  4. what does it call when a man don't like giving his women money tell get a jobs or all u wanted do spend money when u know she has no job when u the source of income

  5. Men's emotional response is a lot more neurological, whilst women source much of their emotional response from hormones. Women get over emotional trouble faster this way because they remember the feeling but the initial hormones subside, while men are programmed to feel it. It also shows that while men may feel as strongly about a particular experience, it's internalized in their thoughts rather than expressed through their body.
    This is not intended to be a blanket statement, their are several variables to consider with these observations all they way down to the individual. Men have hormones too, and to different degrees; just as women have thought feelings as well.

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