man help: Why do women put up with so much from men? - Help.com

Why do women put up with so much from men?

And not to be sexist, why do men stay with women who treat them like dirt? Is it low self esteem, apathy? Id really like to know? Do they value themselves so little they will allow this to happen to them?

This open post was written 9 months, 3 weeks ago | V/U/S: 765, 49, 11 | Edit Post | Leave a reply | Report Post

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Since writing this post sherryn may have helped people, but has not within the last 4 days. sherryn is a verified member, has been around for 11 months and has 16 posts and 474 replies to their name.

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Janeywaney offline Verified User (10 months, 2 weeks) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
Crickadarn, Y9, GB | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (2 minutes after post)

i think it is definately down to low self esteem, ive been there, why else would they stay? I think if everybody had high self esteem the world would be a much happier place,

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hotdog321 offline Verified User (1 year, 2 months) Long Term User Shouts: 14 #
An Unknown Location | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (16 minutes after post)

Speaking as a man, I could ask you the same questions regarding women. I will, however answer your question about going back after being mistreated. This applies to both sexes. Nobody ever wants a relationship to end so we give another chance to be sure that all hope is not lost. It really has nothing to do with low self esteem. If you’re in a bad relationship which you repeatedly go back to, THEN you may have a self esteem issue.

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Naska offline Verified User (1 year, 8 months) Long Term User Shouts: 6 #
Honolulu, HI, US | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (38 minutes after post)

The fear of regret from not giving the relationship everything I could. For me it had nothing to to with low self esteem. It was more pride then anything but at some point in my life I learned to cut my losses and move on.

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hotdog321 offline Verified User (1 year, 2 months) Long Term User Shouts: 14 #
An Unknown Location | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (41 minutes after post)

Well said, Naska. This proves self-esteem or lack there of has nothing to do with it.

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Janeywaney offline Verified User (10 months, 2 weeks) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
Crickadarn, Y9, GB | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (48 minutes after post)

thats what i was talking about hotdog, why stay in a relationship thats poop, yeah i understand trying to make it work but if ur really unhappy in the relationship… why would u stay? If ur being mistreated?

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OliveOil offline Verified User (1 year, 3 months) Long Term User Shouts: 2 #
An Undisclosed Location | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (51 minutes after post)

I think people get used to being treated a certain way and don’t realize it - whether they are a man or a woman. I think in some cases some people don’t wish to see that they are being abused emotionally or otherwise and only look back see the good in the one they love. They convince themselves they can’t live without that person and put him/her up on a pedestal - tune out the bad stuff that is always just lying underneath it all. As I have gotten older once I realize when I am becoming a victim to bad relationship. I honestly try to pull myself away a.s.a.p. before I get used to living with hurt.

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OliveOil offline Verified User (1 year, 3 months) Long Term User Shouts: 2 #
An Undisclosed Location | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (53 minutes after post)

Oops! ( all one sentence) *”As I have gotten older once I realize when I am becoming a victim to bad relationship I honestly try to pull myself away a.s.a.p. before I get used to living with hurt.”

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Janeywaney offline Verified User (10 months, 2 weeks) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
Crickadarn, Y9, GB | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (56 minutes after post)

yeah and i think its all down to having bashed around self esteem, i have been there, i was so unhappy in my relationship but stayed with it, then one day i jus snapped and that was it, id had enough, and my confidence and self esteem soared.

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anabeaver offline Verified User (11 months) Long Term User Shouts: 0 #
An Undisclosed Location | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (1 hour, 7 minutes after post)

I think that we all have various levels of crap that we can put up with, what you can handle may be different from what another person can handle…or wants to deal with. I have heard stories about what another man or woman did and say “I wouldn’t put up with that crap”, but it may not be that big of a deal for thier partner. I think that it all depends on who we are and what we are willing to deal with, of course there are those things that no one should put up with, and I think that those are clear.

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Ggjett92 offline Verified User (9 months, 3 weeks) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
Norwich, NY, US | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (1 hour, 7 minutes after post)

when u have a low self esteem or u think that if i lose the person i got now there wud be no hope for me in the future so both men and women sacrafice their lives to feel in place with the society

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sherryn offline Verified User (11 months) Long Term User Shouts: 27 #
Brookdale, 08, AU | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (1 hour, 7 minutes after post)

If you didnt have low self esteem why would you put up with someone treating you so badly though?

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Ggjett92 offline Verified User (9 months, 3 weeks) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
Norwich, NY, US | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (1 hour, 9 minutes after post)

well even though people dont have low self esteem they feel that maybe their spouse is the best looking and many other people are attracted to them so they just stay with that person so that they can have some sense of pride and so that every one else can envy them

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Nothere12 offline Verified User (11 months) Long Term User Shouts: 46 #
Chicago, IL, US | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (1 hour, 9 minutes after post)

The issue is more complicated than low self esteem. There are all sorts of other factors at work. People may prefer certain types of men subconsciously, because of familiarity. Like say a man is dependent on women because of his relationship with his mother, so he feels most comfortable with someone with qualities like his mother. For women it is the same way, given their own experiences.

Also, when a person attempts to break up with you, you will have a temporary incease of “love.” Basically, the breaking up process is followed with this feeling, which is why some people say they are still in love with someone after they break up.. because technically they are. But obviously the feeling doesn’t persists or isn’t very strong while in a stable relationship for some. Some people are addicted to the feeling of love from breaking up.

There are other things.. You know there are tons of books on modern psychology on this stuff…. I don’t feel like getting into it. Some of the theories don’t are obviously connected and etc.

Janeywaney offline Verified User (10 months, 2 weeks) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
Crickadarn, Y9, GB | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (1 hour, 22 minutes after post)

ggjet, that is low self esteem, if u cannot bear to finish with someone because they are sooo good looking, that is low self esteem, sacrificing your own happniess just to be swith someone good looking.

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Ggjett92 offline Verified User (9 months, 3 weeks) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
Norwich, NY, US | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (1 hour, 26 minutes after post)

i totally inderstand what u mean but some people dont have low selfesteem but they like the attention they get when their with their spouse.

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Nothere12 offline Verified User (11 months) Long Term User Shouts: 46 #
Chicago, IL, US | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (1 hour, 27 minutes after post)

Human beings subconsciously evaluate social status with appearances, even people with high self esteem will be wary of dating someone that is completely out of their attractiveness level. They have done plenty of studies on this.

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Nothere12 offline Verified User (11 months) Long Term User Shouts: 46 #
Chicago, IL, US | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (1 hour, 43 minutes after post)

I am the same way. My interest in psychology is mostly because I have a strong desire to not be like other people around me. I grew up with a strong moral code that was completely disconnected from conventional values.. or rather what or whom screamed the loudest.

Knowledge is power.. Or so I once incompletely thought.

It has been shown that awareness of subconscious processes doesn’t help most people change their behaviors…. But the keyword is most. And I always remember the saying about the rock and drops of water. “Even drops of water can drill a hole in a rock within a thousand years.”

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hotdog321 offline Verified User (1 year, 2 months) Long Term User Shouts: 14 #
An Unknown Location | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (2 hours, 11 minutes after post)

Sherry, who are you to deem someone has low self esteem because they choose to stay with a relationship? There are many types of abuse ranging from physical violence to mental abuse. Speaking for myself, I was in a bad relationship but before I let it go (along with all I put into it), I had to give it another chance. Trust me, I didn’t have low self-esteem! Let me clue you in…I’m still in this relationship and we’ve been happy for 7 years.

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Naska offline Verified User (1 year, 8 months) Long Term User Shouts: 6 #
Honolulu, HI, US | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (5 hours, 3 minutes after post)

sherryn wrote:
If you didnt have low self esteem why would you put up with someone treating you so badly though?

As I look back on my life I regret only the things I didn’t do, not the things I did. Low self esteem had nothing to do with why I stayed in the bad relationships that I did. If anything, it was due to high self esteem that I felt that I could handle the situation and still have a good outcome.

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sherryn offline Verified User (11 months) Long Term User Shouts: 27 #
Brookdale, 08, AU | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (14 hours, 48 minutes after post)

hotdog, I am nobody, I dont look down on anyone or judge them, Im just curious as to why somebody would allow somebody else to treat them badly. Also why would somebody treat somebody else badly if they are supposed to love them?? Im glad that you are happy in your relationship, more power to you. Oldfart…. I would give up a limb for a man like you. I just want a man who will treasure me and treat me accordingly. Nothere12 I totally agree with you about being attracted to the familiar, but I have never before heard it described so well.

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hotdog321 offline Verified User (1 year, 2 months) Long Term User Shouts: 14 #
An Unknown Location | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (18 hours, 37 minutes after post)

sherryn wrote:
Im just curious as to why somebody would allow somebody else to treat them badly. Also why would somebody treat somebody else badly if they are supposed to love them?? Nothere12 I totally agree with you about being attracted to the familiar, but I have never before heard it described so well.

Sherr— I can certainly understand why you’re puzzled about relationships…most people are. I’ve tried to explain that not everyone wants to just give up a relationship based on abuse. If somebody beat me or if I felt there was no hope in saving my relationship, yes; I’d have to cut my losses and move on. Not ALL relationships can thrive. It really depends on the individual’s situation. I also believe you’ll find the man of your dreams by treating him the same way you’d like to be treated.

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Janeywaney offline Verified User (10 months, 2 weeks) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
Crickadarn, Y9, GB | 9 months, 3 weeks ago (19 hours, 11 minutes after post)

but that is what we were talking about, we mean, when someone is being mistreated, why do they stay? Obviously absue is not always the reason.

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hotdog321 offline Verified User (1 year, 2 months) Long Term User Shouts: 14 #
An Unknown Location | 9 months, 2 weeks ago (22 hours, 9 minutes after post)

Janey:

I believe if you reread all the posts a little more carefully, you will find that your question has been answered many times. Sometimes, love can orerride socialology.

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Janeywaney offline Verified User (10 months, 2 weeks) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
Crickadarn, Y9, GB | 9 months, 2 weeks ago (22 hours, 11 minutes after post)

i totally agree with u, I was explaining that we were on about abusive relationships in particular, that is all.

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allengraihcompany offline Verified User (1 year, 2 months) Long Term User Shouts: 12 #
An Undisclosed Location | 9 months, 2 weeks ago (3 days, 20 hours after post)

There is a bit of a misconception here. Not all men treat women in a poor or disrespectful manner. There is a line that a man draws towards how he treats a woman. When he feels violated or crossed, men tend to respond aggressively.

check out this link -

http://ezinearticles.com/?Men-are-Fro…

This book pegged the relationshiop between my wife and myself so accurately it was hillarious.

Read this book - It should answer your question and more

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Janeywaney offline Verified User (10 months, 2 weeks) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
Crickadarn, Y9, GB | 9 months, 2 weeks ago (3 days, 20 hours after post)

I know not all men do, my fella is amazing, I just mean, when its consistently bad, no matter how nice ur to them.

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hotdog321 offline Verified User (1 year, 2 months) Long Term User Shouts: 14 #
An Unknown Location | 9 months, 2 weeks ago (3 days, 22 hours after post)

Janeywaney wrote:
I know not all men do, my fella is amazing, I just mean, when its consistently bad, no matter how nice ur to them.

jANEY—To ngeneralize an entire species such as you and sherryn have done is wrong. By doing so, you’ve4 left out the guys out there (such as ALLEN and myself) who know how to treat our partners in the fashion that is only befitting. I’m glad you have this guy in your life that’s so “amazing”. Are you gonna say he has no self esteem because he’s still with you? BTW–Have you noticed you’re fighting this issue by yourself…gee, where’s sherryn? If you really wanted answers from people who are currently in an abusive relationship AND have low self esteem, this shoukd have been noted earlier in the post.

Because this was never stated, posts have been made which explain various reasons for staying in a less-than-perfect relationship….in case you still haven’t figured it out..LOVE is the answer.

Despite that, I still wish you all the best in 2008.

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Janeywaney offline Verified User (10 months, 2 weeks) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
Crickadarn, Y9, GB | 9 months, 2 weeks ago (3 days, 23 hours after post)

ur just being absolutely ridiculous now, in the first place, it was simply about women who are treated extremely badly by their partners, i.e, mental, physical abuse and why they stay with them. I was not generalizing anyone, i understand that everyone is different and its not always the same situation with everyone which is why I was only talking about those specific instances. Please explain to me how I am generalizing because I do not see how I am. I understand that ‘LOVE’ is the reason people stay in a relationship but also, if you u are happy in yourself and have high self esteem, no matter how much u love someone, if they are beating you or mentally abusing u, ur gunna leave, obviously love is always a factor but sometimes no matter how muc you love someone you are going to leave, i was in an abusive relationship and loved my boyfriend to death but i left for my own mental health. may not be every situation but it is what i have seen in general.

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hotdog321 invited 2 users to read this post 9 months, 2 weeks ago.

hotdog321 offline Verified User (1 year, 2 months) Long Term User Shouts: 14 #
An Unknown Location | 9 months, 2 weeks ago (4 days, 6 hours after post)

Just how long did it take you to throw away everything in your reolationship before you left nyour former boyfriend…and if you didn’t immediately leave him…what reason did you stay. BTW–I do not think it’s right for you to call me “ridulous”. I have not made lables for you (although I have afew but out of respect, I don’t use them).

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Nothere12 offline Verified User (11 months) Long Term User Shouts: 46 #
Chicago, IL, US | 9 months, 2 weeks ago (4 days, 7 hours after post)

… Keep the peace.

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Janeywaney offline Verified User (10 months, 2 weeks) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
Crickadarn, Y9, GB | 9 months, 2 weeks ago (4 days, 22 hours after post)

hotdog, get a life, i said ‘your being ridiculous’ not that u actually were a ridiculous human being, I didnt ‘throw’ my relationship away, i broke up with him for my own mental health as i was being treated very badly and there was no longer anything good in the relationship. Do you really think I should have stayed with him?? If anybody has been rude during this post it is u.

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Janeywaney offline Verified User (10 months, 2 weeks) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
Crickadarn, Y9, GB | 9 months, 2 weeks ago (5 days, 3 hours after post)

Oh and i was with him for three years by the way, and i guess i stayed with him because, a. yes, i loved him, b. i did not like myself very much. I would be interested to hear what these labels you had for me are aswell hotdog, shout me whenever u like.

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hotdog321 offline Verified User (1 year, 2 months) Long Term User Shouts: 14 #
An Unknown Location | 9 months, 2 weeks ago (5 days, 21 hours after post)

Ya know something, I am the ONLY person that you’ve been harrassing. I will not stoop to your level any further. PLEASE JUST LEAVE ME ALONE

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hotdog321 offline Verified User (1 year, 2 months) Long Term User Shouts: 14 #
An Unknown Location | 9 months, 2 weeks ago (5 days, 21 hours after post)

If you continue this, I will report your behavior so I repeat…Leave me alone. Trust me, you will most definitely NOT hear from me in any fashion…I’m above that.

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hotdog321 invited 12 users to read this post 9 months, 2 weeks ago.

~LazyDaze online Verified User (1 year, 4 months) Long Term User Shouts: 224 #
Colwyn Bay, 90, GB | 9 months, 2 weeks ago (5 days, 22 hours after post)

If you are in a relationship where you or the other person end up worse, be it mentaly or physically, then it should end, no excuses of “but I love him/her” no amount of love is worth your heart dieing and someone who loves you the same back would not torture you enough to loose the person you used to be.
Some people take a little longer to realise this and will cling onto the relationship with the false dreams that it will al change and all get better, but the reality is to change the way the relationship is you need to change either yourself or that person and that is impossible. Also some people will bring the worst in yourself out into the open and you have to face facts that some people are just not meant to be together.
You can’t fix something that was not broken, if a relationship starts off well and then falls, maybe by slim chance you can get it back but if you start a relationship and it has always beein this way , well it was always doomed.

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