What Men Just Don’t 'Get' About Women

Males of the world, I am here as a representative of women who want to put you out of your misery.

We know that you “just don’t get women”, but maybe the next few hundred words (the shortest lecture you’ll ever hear from a woman) might help to clear a few things up.

Our Infinite Number Of Bobby Pins

I am sure the parents and boyfriends of teenage girls would prefer our hair accessories remain in one place. This, however, is unrealistic. We have hundreds of bobby pins; we cannot put a tracking device on each and every one. So, we make no apologies if you find a hair tie on the door handle, a bobby pin infestation by the bathroom sink, or a collection of ribbons gathering dust on the bedside table. Although not a subconscious action, some individuals have theorised that women never lose hair accessories; rather they strategically place them for emergencies. Who knows when we’ll need a last-minute bobby pin as we rush out the house?

Our Makeup Strategies

I’ll be blunt: men, you just don’t understand makeup. Firstly, we rarely (if ever) wear it to impress you. Sorry. We wear makeup because we like to shamelessly look in the mirror, pull 'winky' faces and say to our flawless reflection, “Damn girl, you’re looking fine tonight!” Secondly, sometimes women opt for the good ol’ “I-don’t-want-you-to-think-I’m-wearing-makeup” makeup, so we wear the tiniest flick of mascara and the smallest dab of foundation. You can still call us pretty but please don’t insult her intelligence by saying, "See, you don’t need all that makeup to be beautiful”. She already knows. Sometimes women just enjoy the satisfaction of on-point eyeliner and a mastery of subtle blush.

Our Eternal Lack Of Having Something “To Wear”

You should also know it is perfectly acceptable for us to have “nothing” to wear. It’s exactly the same as when you and your buddies can’t decide on a video game to play (CS:GO vs GTA is a tough decision) or whether you should play cricket or footy at the park. Guys, please be patient and understanding when we take a long time finding the right outfit. And don’t judge when we feel the need to go shopping again. An empty wardrobe can be temporarily fixed by retail therapy.

Our Differences

The last thing I want men to understand about women is that we’re all different. Not every woman accepts chocolate as an apology. Not every woman enjoys rom-coms (as a horror movie-buff myself, please never assume this). Not every woman wants to go out partying every weekend. These specific bits of advice – even the ones I’ve mentioned above! - will not even apply to every woman. To learn what she enjoys, talk and listen to her. Understanding will come with compassion and communication.

Congratulations to Victoria for winning this writing challenge, answering: What Boys Just Don't Understand About Girls. Victoria wins a $50 Westfield gift card for her submission. For your chance to win, check out our latest writing challenges in our Comps section. Also, be sure to follow this guide on how to win the writing challenge!