Have you ever asked – what attracts women to men? Perhaps it’s their charisma, physical attributes, assertiveness, or something more than meets the eye.
Even though what attracts women to men tends to be unique to each women, there are a few universal agreements on what traits Mr. Right should have and how he should behave. Some of these preferences include contradictions which can be confusing to men at times.
There are particular traits that some just can’t help but find irresistible. These traits might even surprise you as they’re not mostly physical as you might think. While physical attraction does play a part in what attracts women to men, it’s a combination of characteristics, values, and physical attributes.
What do women really love in men?
When you’re putting yourself out there, it’s easy to assume that what women want is purely physical. So while looking good and dressing neatly has its perks, that isn’t everything for what attracts women to men.
Women value other more significant traits in men that aren’t just defined by how good-looking or tall they are *although those are attractive traits too*. Instead, if women are looking to date a particular guy, they will have a set of standards related to his personality and values.
Maybe it’s his work ethic, charisma, or the way he handles his finances. We know that there’s a notion that women are complex creatures because they don’t even know what they want in the first place.
But this isn’t true. In this feature, you’ll soon begin to realize precisely which traits women value in a man. Of course, this doesn’t go for all women, but we are speaking for the majority of women out there.
What attracts women to men
Now, there is no exact formula for men to make themselves attractive to most women. This will serve as a handy guide to understand which male characteristics women place value.
So if any male readers have preconceptions on the matter, get educated on the things that attract women to men.
1. Financially wise and stable
It is a common myth that wealth is the primary trait that makes men attractive to women. In reality, women place greater value on financially smart and stable men. Any amount of wealth is useless if a man cannot manage his finances and does not know how to live according to his means.
This is because being financially stable is a must on the chances that your relationship has great potential. It’s undeniably an attractive trait in a man.
Women prefer to date a man capable of supporting himself, a family, and any financial difficulty. Otherwise, this will cause financial burdens and stress later on. [Read: Your guide to growing up and facing life like an adult]
2. Assertiveness and leadership
If there are particular traits men are known for, it’s assertiveness and leadership. An assertive man knows how to get what he wants in life. This quality goes hand in hand with leadership. This is the ability to provide appropriate direction to a group of people.
Women love men who are comfortable with taking charge, especially when it comes to a relationship. Indecisive men are seen as weak and incompetent. They won’t be considered as a suitable romantic partner. If you’re a wishy-washy guy, take note. [Read: 15 reasons why nice guys finish last all the time]
3. Passionate and driven
If you’re wondering what attracts women to men, it’s their passion and drive. When they speak about the things they love and know exactly what they want, that’s an irresistible trait to women.
Be it in their work, art, hobby, or relationship, women are attracted to men who have dedicated themselves to something they love and are uncompromising in pursuing their passion. On the other hand, women see men who lack drive and passion as boring, unproductive, and won’t achieve anything in life.
4. Has a personal sense of responsibility
Ah yes, responsibility. It seems that men tend to run away from responsibility, which is precisely why this is one of the admirable traits women value in the men they meet. When a man knows how to be responsible in everyday life, he’s a keeper.
Women stick to men with a sense of personal responsibility and know their limits, and make the right life decisions. In addition, responsible guys own their mistakes and are reliable in times of difficulty.
It makes them excellent candidates for a future husband and father. In contrast, a man afraid of responsibilities is not dependable and doesn’t know how to be accountable for their wrongdoings.
5. Sensitivity and empathy
Needless to say, no woman wants to end up with a man who doesn’t care and recognizes her emotional needs. This makes sensitivity and empathy a must-have for all women. If you’re wondering what attracts women to men, it’s empathy.
It’s their ability to connect with her emotionally and validate her feelings, even when they don’t understand her. That’s powerful stuff. A sensitive and empathic man recognizes any emotional distress and reacts accordingly, making them ideal long-term life companions.
This is because a woman tends to break down her walls for a guy when he naturally is empathetic, compared to someone cold and aloof. [Read: 20 questions to ask a girl that’ll reveal your sensitive side]
6. Good listening skills
Listening skills are also connected to what we mentioned above on empathy. After all, a man can’t be a good listener without emphasizing first. Women value good listening skills because being heard without judgment is a sign that they are valued and respected.
Women gauge a man’s listening skills from his ability to know when to stop talking in a conversation and how he tends to remember information that she just told him. Even on a friendship level, women are closer to men who are good listeners. They feel more validated, acknowledged, and most importantly, understood by a good listener.
7. Genuine and honest
It seems that honesty is such a rare trait nowadays when liars and cheaters surround the world. So in the question of what attracts women to men, it’s genuine honesty. While there are no perfectly honest guys, they go for those who are honest in moments that matter.
They prefer guys who don’t lead fake lives for the sake of appearances and those who don’t fall trap to pretentions. Even if they hurt her with a lie, that’s a better option than comforting her with a facade.
It’s an admirable reflection of their character when men are naturally honest and authentic. [Read: 25 signs and qualities that make a really great boyfriend]
8. Maturity
There’s a saying that women mature faster than boys and in a way, this is an accurate statement. We’re not just referring to maturity by age, but emotional and mental maturity. To summarize, women prefer men, not boys. Mature men have fewer hang-ups in life and have all the qualities on this list.
Of course, women want a stable life partner and not a man-child to raise that will cause them undue stress. It’s exhausting to play all these games with boys, so it’s attractive for women when they find someone man enough to handle relationships and life as a whole.
9. Possesses a good sense of humor
Humor is one of the most attractive traits in men, and it’s why women tend to go for the funny guys. Make no mistake, it’s not just about cracking the wittiest jokes or pulling the most clever pranks.
It’s also about not taking life too seriously and having the courage to be the subject of his own joke. Life is complicated enough, and women don’t need men who are too serious all the time. [Read: Different types of humor and how it affects relationships]
10. Home-capable
Another attractive quality is a guy capable of maintaining a home. The more capable he is than her, the better. She prefers someone who can cook, clean the house, take care of the pets, do the laundry, fetch the groceries, and of course, fix stuff.
It’s their litmus test to determine if a man is good enough to marry or not. This also comes back to responsibilities. What attracts women to men is when they know how to do things at home and aren’t just all about fun and games.
11. A gentleman
Whoever said that chivalry is dead? No matter what, chivalry will continue to be one of the most attractive traits seen in a man. Women still go head over heels for men who practice chivalry.
They appreciate the special treatment from men who still know how to offer their seat to them in public transportation, open doors for them, and shows their arm in support when walking with them on the street.
They appreciate being treated like the queen they are by their man. [Read: 15 gentlemanly moves that all women find charming and attractive]
12. Romantic
It’s no surprise that women fall for the romantics. She prefers a man who knows his way with words, surprises her with sweet little gifts, remembers essential moments in the relationship, and takes effort to keep their flame going even though they’ve spent so many years together.
In comparison, a man who’s lazy to put in the effort and is complacent isn’t someone she wants to be with. That’s a relationship that she’ll get tired of quickly.
13. Good-smelling
Believe it or not, the way a man smells is a pretty big deal for women. It won’t matter if you have the face of a Hollywood idol or the body of a model if you have poor personal hygiene. If you smell good, you look good in a woman’s eyes.
You don’t have to spray the most expensive perfume in the world, but you do know how to groom and care for yourself properly. In other words, looking neat and presentable in her eyes is irresistible for her. It sounds like the bare minimum, but it’s true!
14. Bad boy side
You might’ve heard the saying that women love bad boys. It sounds quite contradictory to this list, but this is an accurate statement. Whether it’s because bad boys tend to show more confidence, manliness, sex drive, and assertiveness, or they just think that overly nice guys come off as dull, we will never know.
It could also be because he provides her with the adrenaline and mystery that she’ll never get with a nice and sweet guy. You know what they say – nice guys finish last. Sad yet true. [Read: Here’s how to be a bad boy and drive her wild]
15. Personal sense of style
A man with a personal sense of style knows what best suits his body and personality. He does not fall pressure to trends. Men with this characteristic keep a carefully curated image, fashion sense, and behavior that is not pretentious.
He doesn’t force himself to follow every Instagram fashion trend, but he has his own style that represents who he really is – and that’s what attracts women to men. It’s impressive when he knows how to dress purses for himself and not others.
[Read: The qualities of a good man that sets him apart from lesser men]
So, what attracts women to men?
When considering what attracts women to men, it’s all about their values, personality, and physical attributes. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, but most women would agree with everything we’ve mentioned in this list.
There are individual preferences when it comes to knowing what attracts women to men. But most women would agree that they’ll find the traits mentioned above irresistible.
