There’s a big difference between complimenting your partner and making them feel like a piece of meat, and knowing that distinction is crucial to maintaining a healthy relationship.
When a man finds himself lucky enough to be with a stunning woman—one he might even consider out of his league—he may become unwittingly fixated on her beauty, sometimes to the point of obsession. Whether he’s showing off sultry photos to his bros, constantly commenting on how “hot” she looks, or even going so far as to install a stripper pole in the living room for his own private entertainment, his admiration can quickly cross into the realm of objectification. While all of his efforts might seem like flattery, recent research reveals that women don’t always like it.
Two separate studies, both published in Psychology of Women Quarterly, noted that, when a woman is treated like a walking thirst trap, it can chip away at her sense of influence in the relationship, like she’s more of a shiny plaything than an actual person with feelings, opinions and value. Yep, turns out that constantly being reduced to “hot” might not be so… well, hot. Researchers found that women who feel objectified in this manner are not fulfilled in their relationships. Even worse, it might inspire them to move on to a partnership with more depth and appreciation.
“I thought women loved the attention. Now I’m the bad guy for giving it to them?”
