In a society that increasingly values respect and equality, it’s still possible for harmful attitudes to lurk beneath the surface. Recent statistics across the world show that approximately 9 out of every 10 individuals continue to be biased in their gender. In the U.S., the perception of gender roles is still highly polarized, as a lot of Americans think that there are inherent differences between men and women in terms of abilities and behaviors.
Due to these consistent beliefs, some of our daily actions, particularly subtle in nature, can indicate a man’s latent dislike or unease towards women. The following are 15 actions that can reveal he secretly dislikes women, even when he claims to like them.
He insists on male dominance constantly
Meet Sarah, a marketing director, who realized that her boyfriend always reminded her that she was the one wearing the pants when she made decisions about their apartment. It even turned into a power struggle when deciding on which restaurant to go to.
This is behavior that transcends old-fashioned thinking. The findings of a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology suggest that men who consistently strive to prove their dominance often harbor insecurity when it comes to allowing women to achieve independence. It makes them insecure about female independence, and they counter it by reminding everyone of their alleged superiority.
He dismisses women’s opinions openly
Lisa, a software engineer, proposed her technical solution at a group meeting. Her male workmate just added that it would not work and didn’t even listen to her idea. It was brilliant, the next time another man proposed the same solution five minutes later.
Research conducted by Harvard Business Review has shown that women are interrupted more often than men during workplace conversations.
Watch for patterns. Does he always overlook or downplay what women say? Does he now, all at once, begin to be more attentive when a man comes into the conversation?
He uses stereotypes to justify disdain
“She’s just being crazy.” “Women are too sensitive.” Oh, that is so very feminine.
These are not innocent observations. They are guns masquerading as critique. According to a report done by the American Psychological Association in 2023 about the problem of gender stereotyping, men who regularly apply such labels perceive women as essentially defective instead of people with legitimate feelings and opinions.
Dr. Jennifer Saul of the University of Sheffield states that stereotype-based dismissal is not gratuitous: this is how men can avoid encountering the fundamental issues of women, diminishing them to easily recognizable cliches.
He reacts with anger to rejection
Emma believed that she was being polite when she rejected a date invitation from one of her colleagues. His response? A series of enraged messages calling her names and challenging her makes.
A study conducted at the University of Queensland indicates that men who react violently to being rejected in love usually interpret the independence of women as an attack against them. In their opinion, women exist to please men and turn aggressive when they are reminded of this fact.
He objectifies through catcalling or harassment
Street harassment is still very common despite several decades of awareness initiatives. According to the research conducted by the Stop Street Harassment organization in 2024, 82 percent of women between 18 and 25 years old reported having been sexually harassed, mostly in public.
The thing is that, in this case, men who catcall do not attempt to compliment women or initiate a chat. A study at Cornell University has shown that these acts are meant to exercise power and remind women that they are powerless in the streets.
Note the response of men when you state that you are not comfortable with such behavior. Individuals who downplay or excuse it usually share common grounds regarding the right of women to live in peace in society.
He refuses commitment or mocks marriage
Jake was a boastful guy about the lack of commitment in his life, and he referred to marriage as a trap and mocked his married friends as whipped. However, his history revealed everything: he did not want any duties or obligations, only the benefits of a relationship.
According to the research conducted by sociologist Dr. Michael Kimmel, men who have a habit of mocking commitment tend to perceive women as a burden, but not a partner. They desire emotional and physical access to women, working without any obligation to return or consider the women’s needs for security and companionship.
It is not regarding the choice of casual dating. It is concerning that the perception of females who want commitment is often viewed as manipulative, rather than legitimate.
He displays dual personalities
Maria referred to her former boyfriend as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He would be kind and amiable in society, and frigid and savage in his private life. It was a mystery which version I had to get.
The 2024 research of the National Domestic Violence Hotline revealed this tendency in 67 percent of abusive relationships that are based on emotions. The change in personalities is not a mere huff and puff. They are manipulated actions that are supposed to make women perplexed and helpless.
Male misogynists usually disguise their aggression using charm, particularly when other people are around. The lack of consistency is not without merit: it prevents women from trusting their own impressions and makes it more difficult for them to seek help.
He enforces unequal treatment
Take the case of Rachel and how they gets together with her boyfriend. Men were sitting in front of the TV, whereas women were expected to cook, serve, and clean. When Rachel proposed that the men assist, her boyfriend told her that she was being a hardship and destroying family tradition.
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Report, the unequal treatment in the domestic environment is often reflected in the rest of society’s attitudes concerning the role of women. Male perpetrators of these inequalities perceive women as physically fit to serve them and not to be equals, but to be accorded respect.
The act does not stop at domestic tasks alone. It entails varied regulations on exiting, varied anticipations on vocational priorities, and varied principles on demeanor.
He competes excessively with women
Tom was unable to accept the fact that his girlfriend earned more than he did. The man would make snide remarks about her success, downplaying her achievements, and always striving to show that he was more intelligent or competent than she was.
A study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that the more the success of women is perceived as a threat to men’s status, the more they tend to adopt subtle forms of sabotage. They view life as a zero-sum game with the gains of women being equal to the losses of men.
Good relationships rejoice in the successes of one another. Unhealthy ones create competition in everything they achieve.
He punishes women emotionally
Kate disagreed with her boyfriend about his choice of movies, so he left her without saying a word after three days. He even forgot to congratulate her when she was promoted. He was also too busy when she needed him to lend her a shoulder during a family crisis.
Emotional punishment is one of the types of psychological abuse of women. Instead of being a natural form of care, affection, attention, and kindness, these men use them as rewards and punishments.
He spreads misogynistic rhetoric online
On the one hand, Alex appeared usual, but on the other hand, his social media spoke otherwise. He was repinning the posts of the men’s rights groups, joking about the female drivers, and putting memes where he mocked feminism.
Men who use anti-woman content on their page are not merely giving opinions. They are even engaging in movements that aim at reversing the gains made by women and making hostility towards women normal.
Be involved in listening to what men talk about when they believe that you are not watching them. Their online character will tend to show their fundamental attitudes.
He dismisses women’s experiences
When Jennifer said she does not feel safe walking alone at night, her male friend shook his head and told her she is being paranoid. He told her, when she narrated how she was discriminated against at work, that she was playing the victim.
A 2024 study, done by the Pew Research Center, on the perceptions of gender has revealed that men who continuously dismiss the experiences of women display significantly lower levels of empathy for challenges that affect women. They perceive the issues faced by women as a far-fetched response to reality, rather than a genuine reaction to the actual problems.
This rejection is not in vain: it allows these men to avoid confronting unpleasant facts about the experiences of women in a male-dominated world.
He justifies violence or abuse
What would be most chilling is probably when men justify or downplay violence against women. Something must have made her deserve it. The guy must have been having a bad day, probably. “Why didn’t she just leave?”
The 2024 report by the World Health Organization on violence against women indicates that the higher the society is characterized by victim-blaming, the higher the prevalence of gender-based violence. Men who excuse abuse end up providing a platform on which it can thrive.
This is evident in these attitudes of rather insensitivity toward the suffering and safety of women.
He avoids responsibility
Mark always managed to blame his girlfriend whenever issues arose in the relationship. She was being oversensitive in case she was out of sorts. She was being irrational in case they got into a fight. He did not even investigate his own actions or contributions to conflicts.
Researchers at the Gottman Institute studying relationships discovered that men who do not accept responsibility in a romantic relationship tend to apply the same approach to their interactions with women in general. They perceive women as inherently problematic, rather than as complex individuals who deserve understanding and respect.
Such conduct does not allow real closeness and development in relationships.
He undermines women’s achievements
When Susan was praised for her volunteer work, her husband made sure to comment on how the other people had assisted her. He wanted to double-check her job when she was using a computer at home and resolved a problem.
The male ego often threatens the achievements of women by their male counterparts, who have continually discredited women in every achievement attained by them. This is a defense of their ego, which involves depreciating the abilities and input of women.
These men are unable to properly applaud the achievements of the women since they see them as threats to masculine dominance.
Key takeaway
By being aware of these 15 behaviors, you can identify the hidden hostility before it develops into more severe issues. We do not mean bad days or little wrangles. These are regular trends that depict a more serious disposition towards the value and rights of women.
It is a worrying image brought about by the statistics about contemporary misogyny, yet what we know is power. By being able to distinguish these red flags, you will be able to protect your emotional health and make good choices about the men in your life.
Additionally, remember that healthy relationships are founded on mutual respect, support, and equality. When a person consistently exhibits these hostile behaviors, they reveal their character. Have faith in them, do as they say. The calmness and security of your life is greater than attempting to alter somebody who regards you as inferior.
Disclaimer–This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
Don’t Swipe Until You Read This: The 7 Best Credit Cards for 2025 Ranked by Rewards
The 7 Best Credit Cards for 2025 Ranked by Rewards
There’s this moment that sticks with me—standing at a checkout line, swiping my old card like I always did, and thinking, “Wait… why am I not getting anything back for this?” I wasn’t traveling on points. I wasn’t getting cash back. I was spending. Sound familiar?
Look, the truth is, credit cards can work for you—if you choose the right one. And in 2025, you’ve got some advantageous options that can actually boost your bank account. From travel lovers to grocery haulers, there’s something for everyone.
Let’s break down the best credit cards out there this year—the ones that actually give back.
16 Grocery Staples to Stock Up On Before Prices Spike Again
16 Grocery Staples to Stock Up On Before Prices Spike Again
I was in the grocery store the other day, and it hit me—I’m buying the same things I always do, but my bill keeps getting higher. Like, I swear I just blinked, and suddenly eggs are a luxury item. What’s going on?
Inflation, supply-chain delays, and erratic weather conditions have modestly (or, let’s face it, dramatically) pushed the prices of staples ever higher. The USDA reports that food prices climbed an additional 2.9% year over year in May 2025—and that’s after the inflation storm of 2022–2023.
So, if you’ve got room in a pantry, freezer, or even a couple of extra shelves, now might be a good moment to stock up on these staple groceries—before the prices rise later.
