Can men really be intimidated by strong women?

[mellie369]

I hear people say that (some) men are intimidated by strong women. I have an older male friend at the gym who tells me I'll be alone forever because I'm too strong - and while I just laugh at him, could it be true that men ~are~ intimdated by strong women? I don't get it. Why would they be? Sure, I lift more than 1/2 the men in my gym but if they'd train for a few months, they'd be out lifting me in no time! There's gotta be something I'm not understanding or something I'm missing... lol. (and I'm not talking about "me" in particular, I mean the whole intimidation thing, does that exist... and why?!)

[sweetkissees918]

I hear people say that (some) men are intimidated by strong women. I have an older male friend at the gym who tells me I'll be alone forever because I'm too strong - and while I just laugh at him, could it be true that men ~are~ intimdated by strong women? I don't get it. Why would they be? Sure, I lift more than 1/2 the men in my gym but if they'd train for a few months, they'd be out lifting me in no time! There's gotta be something I'm not understanding or something I'm missing... lol. (and I'm not talking about "me" in particular, I mean the whole intimidation thing, does that exist... and why?!)

I dont think they are but every guy is different. Some tend to believe that they need to be stronger than their wife/girlfriend so, yeah some would say it intimidates thems while others like a woman with some niice biceps : )

[SportyShorty89]

Yes it's true that some men may be intimidated by physically strong women for different reasons may it be their own fitness or just a natural insecurity etc. Other men may be intimidated by mentally strong women in fear that they may not always be in control. Everyone, male or female, has their own partner preferences so it seems your friend is reacting according to his own opinions.

I have many guy friends as well as a fiance and my guy friends have always been slightly intimidated by my athleticism and my napoleon complex, but those are the very same things that my fiance find the most attrative. There will always be someone out there for you. It is probably going to be someone who shares a similar lifestyle and someone who appreciates the journey you have taken in life to live healthier. Someone out there will be appreciative rather than judgemental.

[KyleAaron]

"Can men really be intimidated by strong women?"

Yes, but only the weak ones.

As you say, the ratio of strength tends to go,

trained man > trained woman > untrained man > untrained woman

though individuals will break the rules all the time, especially at extremes of natural build, physical activity background, etc.

Thus if a man wants to be stronger than a trained woman, he himself has to train. Or he has to have good self-esteem, so that he doesn't care if the woman is stronger, smarter etc than him. This is intimidating to weak lazy cowards with low self-esteem. So Mellie, I'm afraid you'll never date a weak lazy coward with low self-esteem. You'll just have to stick to men who are strong, hardworking, and/or brave and self-confident.

I hope you can handle that.

[Hannah73Louise]

I wonder that sometimes. Seems like it may be true for some guys

[digitalbath11]

I think some people overall (not just gender-based) can let their insecurities ruin a good relationship, or even the prospect of one (friendly or romantic based).

There are plenty of men and women out there who don't let this get in the way of getting to know and love someone.

[yaz_rulz]

may be true for guys who don't lift..

for me.. I get attracted to women in great shape.. but female pro bodybuilders.. no cuz they don't look like women anymore..

[sy2502]

Plenty of insecure men who get intimidated by women who are stronger, smarter, more educated, or make more money than them. BB.com has a higher share of these poor souls than any other forum I have been. Stick with the real men and feel sorry for the wimps.

[MountainSong]

Men fear what they don't understand. So, generally speaking, they are afraid of women.

[tha_deuce]

Men fear what they don't understand. So, generally speaking, they are afraid of women.

lulz

[ctgblue]

Okay, first, let's get this straight.

MEN are NOT intimidated by strong women, they are attracted to them (the strength, maybe not a hugely muscular physique).

BOYS can be intimidated by strong women. They are insecure about their masculinity and can see a strong woman as a threat to their "wannabee" dominance.

[mr_ben]

could be, if the man is weaker than the woman.

[nunu713]

Okay, first, let's get this straight.

MEN are NOT intimidated by strong women, they are attracted to them (the strength, maybe not a hugely muscular physique).

BOYS can be intimidated by strong women. They are insecure about their masculinity and can see a strong woman as a threat to their "wannabee" dominance.

^^love it! So true!

My husband has a lot of friends in the gym, and even though all of them know I'm his wife, they never come talk to me. Hubby says it's because they're afraid of me. Or maybe they're afraid of him? Don't know. Either way, they leave me alone - which is exactly the way I prefer it in the gym!

[sy2502]

Okay, first, let's get this straight.

MEN are NOT intimidated by strong women, they are attracted to them (the strength, maybe not a hugely muscular physique).

BOYS can be intimidated by strong women. They are insecure about their masculinity and can see a strong woman as a threat to their "wannabee" dominance.

This. There are people out there (men and women) who only feel big next to someone small, who only feel strong next to someone weak. Sad.

[wozzey]

I agree most men would be intimidated by stronger women. It's just how we are, we like to be the biggest, baddest thing out there (most of us). If I met a women stronger than me I'd probably be intimidated. Though I will never get why women do that though. No offence to them or their gains (which are amazing) but past a certain point women become too masculine and too muscular. It just plain becomes a major turn off seeing women like that. Just my opinion though, everyone is different.

[EliteBrah]

dunno if i would use the word intimidated. if a girl looks like she lifts then thats fine. if she looks like she cycles thats a different story. Too much muscle would be a signal of testosterone to men, to which they are "usually" unattracted to for biological reasons.
Would be pretty insulted if i turned down a pro bb female because of her size and she says its because im "intimidated" or insecure. nah its because its too much and looks unattractive to me. OP is fine but there is a limit for sure

[wozzey]

^ agree

[acrawlingchaos]

Interesting thread to resurrect.

This. There are people out there (men and women) who only feel big next to someone small, who only feel strong next to someone weak. Sad.

While I am sure that this is true to an extent, I find it borderline absurd that if someone doesn't find a certain quality in the opposite sex appealing, they must be a hater, weak, coward, or whatever else you would like to call them.

Some people just are not attracted to muscular women. Sometimes it is nothing more than that.

Sure, I lift more than 1/2 the men in my gym but if they'd train for a few months, they'd be out lifting me in no time! There's gotta be something I'm not understanding or something I'm missing...

This comment illustrates why some men don't want to date a muscular woman. Why do they have to outlift you? Why can YOU not accept them as being physically weak? If it is OK for a woman to NOT be attracted to a physically weak man, that it should be OK for a man not to be attracted to a physically strong woman.

[Miranda]

I find it borderline absurd that if someone doesn't find a certain quality in the opposite sex appealing, they must be a hater, weak, coward, or whatever else you would like to call them.

an interesting take on that would be that why would anyone care at all that someone doesn't find something about them attractive? it almost seems as if they are projecting their own insecurities somewhere under there.

[acrawlingchaos]

an interesting take on that would be that why would anyone care at all that someone doesn't find something about them attractive? it almost seems as if they are projecting their own insecurities somewhere under there.

When we speak, we tend to speak in absolutes, but seldom mean them. I am not attracted to obese women. This doesn't mean that I think obese women are lazy, or ugly, or even that I would never date an obese woman. It just means (generally speaking) I don't find this quality attractive... without hate.

We all have our preferences. If I was to speculate on WHY I was rejected by every woman out there, I would probably drive myself mad. I simply accept that I am not attractive to that person and carry on.

I think it is far more telling when people make generalizations on why THEY are not attractive to the opposite sex. I am personally secure enough to understand that not everyone will find me attractive.

[sonti]

I think the vast majority of women who bitch about this tend to just be new into the lifting thing, won't shut up about it, and project insecurity about their image (or, IMO, perceived self-image since most of them don't look like the she-hulks they proclaim to be).

OP Mellie is an exception (yes I know this is an old thread), she certainly looks strong and where we live here in Quebec, "strong" is not really an admirable quality by many (the "skinny" look is very ideal, moreso than other places in North America)... so yes I can see it. Which is why I tend to just hang out at powerlifting meets or gyms intead

[Karl_Hungus]

Some men may be intimidated by a physically strong woman, but my guess is that it has less to do with strength and more to do with perceived attractiveness (i.e. she is in better shape, and therefore more attractive etc.).

[rdferguson]

When we speak, we tend to speak in absolutes, but seldom mean them. I am not attracted to obese women. This doesn't mean that I think obese women are lazy, or ugly, or even that I would never date an obese woman. It just means (generally speaking) I don't find this quality attractive... without hate.

We all have our preferences. If I was to speculate on WHY I was rejected by every woman out there, I would probably drive myself mad. I simply accept that I am not attractive to that person and carry on.

I think it is far more telling when people make generalizations on why THEY are not attractive to the opposite sex. I am personally secure enough to understand that not everyone will find me attractive.

I'm on spread with you.

On the topic of actually getting intimidated by a strong woman, I normally think I'm really secure about my strength, but I suspect that if a cute girl were to walk into the gym and outlift me, my testes may disintegrate ever so slightly.

[sy2502]

Though I will never get why women do that though. No offence to them or their gains (which are amazing) but past a certain point women become too masculine and too muscular. It just plain becomes a major turn off seeing women like that. Just my opinion though, everyone is different.

Maybe because to these women, satisfying the popular aesthetic standards isn't the most important thing in their life? Just a guess... Not everybody lives his/her life for the sole reason of looking pretty for others. And considering that huge roided guys aren't considered attractive either by the average woman, why do you think Branch, Kai, Phil & co do it?

[discdoggie]

I think the vast majority of women who bitch about this tend to just be new into the lifting thing, won't shut up about it, and project insecurity about their image (or, IMO, perceived self-image since most of them don't look like the she-hulks they proclaim to be).

OP Mellie is an exception (yes I know this is an old thread), she certainly looks strong and where we live here in Quebec, "strong" is not really an admirable quality by many (the "skinny" look is very ideal, moreso than other places in North America)... so yes I can see it. Which is why I tend to just hang out at powerlifting meets or gyms intead

Yes

[wozzey]

Maybe because to these women, satisfying the popular aesthetic standards isn't the most important thing in their life? Just a guess... Not everybody lives his/her life for the sole reason of looking pretty for others. And considering that huge roided guys aren't considered attractive either by the average woman, why do you think Branch, Kai, Phil & co do it?

Never said everyone did that, and yeah "most" girls don't find insanely huge guys like Ronnie attractive. There's no need to get angry, was just voicing my opinion.

[sy2502]

Never said everyone did that, and yeah "most" girls don't find insanely huge guys like Ronnie attractive. There's no need to get angry, was just voicing my opinion.

Who's angry?

[EllenRipley]

I truly believe they are - whether you lift more or gain more money or have more guts in particular situation.

[acrawlingchaos]

I truly believe they are - whether you lift more or gain more money or have more guts in particular situation.

Yes yes... we are all jealous haters. Haterz e'erywhere

[Alphamale1000]

I hear people say that (some) men are intimidated by strong women. I have an older male friend at the gym who tells me I'll be alone forever because I'm too strong - and while I just laugh at him, could it be true that men ~are~ intimdated by strong women? I don't get it. Why would they be? Sure, I lift more than 1/2 the men in my gym but if they'd train for a few months, they'd be out lifting me in no time! There's gotta be something I'm not understanding or something I'm missing... lol. (and I'm not talking about "me" in particular, I mean the whole intimidation thing, does that exist... and why?!)

Well i am not the one to be intimidated only because a firl who has been training for sometime can lift heavier than me. Nonetheless, i would prefer such women to mentor me to help me going through the initial stages to cut fat and gain mass!