Next time a dude tries to convince you that you’re “too sensitive,” offer to open a door for him. Why? New research found that holding a door open for a man may lower his confidence and self esteem. Yeah. Now who’s the sensitive one?
Purdue University psychologists Megan McCarty and Janice Kelly conducted an experiment where, you guessed it, 196 people walked through doors and were immediately asked to rate specific statements based on how much s/he agreed with them. The statements related to self-esteem. Example: “I feel that I’m a person of worth, at least on an equal plane with others.” The answers were separated into four groups: men who had the door held opened for them, men who opened the doors themselves, women who had the door opened for them, women who opened the door themselves. The (not so) surprising results showed that men who had the door held open for them reported feelings of lower self esteem than men who opened the door themselves. Women’s esteem, on the other hand, wasn't influenced by door opening.
The research notes that the men may have felt inferior when the door was held open for them. Other studies have shown that men stress when they feel their masculinity is threatened. Apparently, this can happen pretty easily. Some theorize that there's a delicate nature to masculinity -- a dude can lose his ‘mancard’ too easily.
Okay, so It’s hard to be a woman, but it’s not easy being a guy either. Try to be sensitive to your brothers, cousins, friends, dates etc. in this sense. We’re all for equality, but if a dude really wants to open the door for you – just let him.
Image: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7149/6480297645_cac61264cd_o.jpg
