Women don’t even have to say a word to intimidate a guy because, sometimes, it’s just their look that scares men away from speaking to them.
The clean line
Some women look like they’ve left the house with a plan. They look as though they know exactly what they’re doing and when they’re doing it, which makes men freeze.
He’s not afraid because she looks mean.
No, it’s more because she looks completely put-together, from her hair right down to her shoes, and that’s pretty intimidating. It makes a guy notice everything wrong with him. His wrinkled shirt? His cheap joke? That doesn’t seem like it’s going to compare, so he doesn’t bother.
The packed table
All it takes is for a group of friends to change things. One woman might seem approachable on her own, sure, but it’s a different story when she’s part of a loud and happy table of five. He’s too scared to talk to her.
Instead, he’s hoping that there’ll be a moment when she breaks away, and he can shoot his shot. Doesn’t matter that her friends might be lovely. They probably are. He just doesn’t want to be the topic of conversation at the table after he tries to talk to her and fails.
The silent face
It’s fine. Some women don’t walk around with a huge grin on their face, and that’s perfectly acceptable. They don’t need to. Yet a lot of men don’t read a neutral face as a friendly face, and they’ll interpret it as a warning sign instead.
You know, the kind of sign that says ‘back off.’ She’s likely thinking about something completely harmless, but he doesn’t know that. He only sees the lack of a smile, and he gets too afraid to say anything.
The moving target
You’re not going to catch a woman who always looks busy. At least, not without feeling rude. She might be answering a text or holding coffee, but that’s enough to scare off some guys. They don’t think there’ll ever be a chance to edge their way in.
Instead, they’ll say nothing at all, or they might wait until she looks a little less busy. That moment probably never comes. She’ll be gone faster than he realizes.
The solo orbit
A woman’s independence can be really intimidating to some men because it takes away any opportunities they might’ve had to speak to her. No, she doesn’t need help with her bag. No, she’s not lost. He’s got no easy way in to strike a conversation, so he doesn’t bother at all.
That’s not a bad thing. Good for her for standing on her own two feet. However, for guys who usually use offers of help to start a conversation? There’s nothing to hold on to, and they’re left stranded.
The familiar face
You’ve also got some women who really seem to know everyone around them. It’s not like they’re the center of attention or anything. But they somehow seem to be familiar with lots of people, like the bartender who knows her drink or the friend who stops by to say something.
Guys see that and immediately think they shouldn’t say anything. They start doubting themselves. Who’s watching the conversation? What will she say to other people about it? It’s all too much, and that’s why some guys decide to quit while they’re ahead.
The front seat
Some women have the ability to run a group without even trying. They’re the ones who wave over the server and settle the debate over what to order. That sort of leadership skill isn’t something you can teach. People like it.
However, it does make guys hesitate because they see that she’s already got her own way of doing things. She knows how to run things. It makes guys question whether anything they say will actually be good enough. Probably not.
The glass-office look
A sharp work look can make a woman look maybe a little too professional. It could be the blazer or the laptop bag. It could be her neat hair. Either way, it sometimes makes a woman look colder than she actually is, and there’s nothing necessarily wrong with that.
But it does make men second-guess themselves. They now feel like they need a better opening line and cleaner shoes because, clearly, the usual way isn’t going to cut it. So they go back to the drawing board.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
