What Do Women Care About in a Man?

Women. The beautiful creatures men spend lifetimes obsessing over. From the moment we leave the womb, we do everything in our power to get them to talk to us. We trim those rebellious nose hairs and shave our messy five o'clock shadows for the slightest chance of them noticing us. But in haste to pursue women, men can sometimes forget exactly what women want, what qualities they care about in a real man. If you're a guy down on your luck, here are some tips you can use to attract the fairer sex.

Cleanliness

Guys who leave their houses wearing messy hair, dirty jeans and stained shirts send a message to society that they don't take care of themselves, and that, quite frankly, they don't care. So if you're not willing to take care of yourself as a man, you're probably not willing to take care of a woman either. This is something she'll pick up on quickly. Research from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, in conjunction with Psychological Science magazine, proves that people are unconsciously fairer and more generous in clean-smelling environments. This fact should resonate for any guy who plans on inviting a girl over for her first visit, and still hasn't bothered to do anything about those weird smells coming from his kitchen and bathroom.

Conversation

Women love to talk. According to female psychiatrist Luan Brizendine's new book, "The Female Mind," the average female uses 20,000 words in a day, 13,000 more than the average man. When trying to woo the lady of your dreams, conversation is key. Listen to what she says and add your input. Be considerate about her opinions and always stay engaged. Most importantly, remember to maintain eye contact. This will tell her whether you're truly interested in her or not.

Confidence

A confident man is a strong man, one who isn't afraid to stand up for what he believes in and never doubts himself. Confidence is evidenced in many forms: your posture, the way you speak, how you act among people. Women love confident guys who know what they want out of life and how to approach them. Studies show that women are 10 times better than men at reading non-verbal communication. That means a relaxed body: don't fidget, and give her a firm handshake during your first meeting. Be sure of yourself without being boastful. Cockiness can be as much of a turn-off as confidence is a turn-on.

Sensitivity

A study published by the online version of the health journal "Neuropsychologia" demonstrated that women outperform men in processing visual and auditory emotions. The ladies are more in tune with the feelings of others, and act more on emotion as a result. Show her that you're a caring, loving man who is genuinely concerned about her personal issues and concerns. Don't become too sappy, though. She wants you to treat her like a woman and to that extent, will want you to act like a man: sensitive, but manly in the right places.

Honesty

As the saying goes, honesty is the best policy. That can be applied to relationships as well. Openness with your spouse not only leaves you with a clean conscience, it strengthens your bond to unbreakable levels. A "Reader's Digest" poll on honesty between the sexes showed that 83 percent of women are most likely to start discussions with, "let's talk about us," while 57 percent of men think that their wives should always speak first. Guys, you need to be as forthcoming about your wrongdoings as your partners.

References

• "The Female Mind;" Louann Brizendine; 2007
• Tips on Attracting Women-3 Things All Men Need To Know
• Women Outperform Men When Identifying Emotions