In no particular order, that they be intelligent, funny, caring, tender, strong, protective, sentimental, generous, a good provider, great at sex, understanding, compassionate, able to remember birthdays and anniversaries, brave, as unaddicted to sports as possible, cultured, well-read, handsome, experienced, fit, loving, fond of children, foresighted, helpful, able to read the woman's moods and mind, forthright, considerate, upright, honest, ambitious, etc.
What do men want of women?
In no particular order, that they be willing to have sex.
Wealthy and mute! (lol)
Women don't want men that they perceive may be better than they are. Women want men with obvious flaws... and that have serious a**hole tendencies. And I don't know why.
Yes Yes, go ahead women of this forum... tell me how wrong I am! :) Keep in mind I'm talking about a particular generation of young women. You see, like men, women only learn from experience. Under 30, women do want the a**hole. ... now that I've finally broken the 30 barrier I have women coming out of the woodwork (not pursuing it though for stated reasons). I haven't changed much, I think the age of the women I'm around has. Once your 30, being a "nice" guy has value... under 30 you aren't worthy to shine their shoes. I'm sure you all can understand that being dissed in youth because of the same traits that they now find attractive... is disconcerting and frankly disgusting. So to the women out there... yes men can be shallow... but women are just as shallow...just not as shallow based on appearance.
A typical veiled slam against all men. Not all men think with the "small head". The only issue I would take with your first list is the "able to read women's moods and minds" bit. Men may be able to do that to a point, if they're paying attention, but it's not right to demand that they "must" be able to do that or they are imperfect. A man will get better at doing so with a woman he is close to, as in marriage, but it doesn't come naturally. Women need to understand that they are sometimes a complete mystery to men, and it frustrates us when we are castigated or belittled for not knowing what seems so obvious to them. It works both ways...men can be equally as frustrated over a woman's inability to see things from an objective point of view, rather than emotionally. Rather than see those traits as negatives, both need to see them as traits which add to the other's view of the world, and of their relationship. Too many people go into marriage without a clear idea of what it means to meld two lives into one relationship, one common life, having a common set of goals and desires.
Your first list was pretty good. If that is what women say they want, why do they settle for so much less? The disconnect here is not that men are such low-lifes, it is that women settle for so much less than what they really want. It is completely unrealistic for a woman to say she wants those things, then get involved with a man who is far less than that with the idea that she will "change" him. Why not find a man who is already the way you want him to be? It's a lot less work, and a lot more enjoyment for both. The onus is not on the men, it's on the women. It's the women who need to quit being such self-centered, whiny, contradictory wimps and respect themselves more.
Men are not stupid. We will take the path of least resistance, but that is because we have enough challenges in our lives without having to fight the battles at home, too. A man wants his home to be his safe haven, his respite and refuge from the world, not the central battleground! Men want to feel wanted, appreciated, useful, protective, and safe with the woman he chooses to open up enmotionally to. Too many women betray a man's trust with demands, petty bickering, unreasonable expectations, and strife, and then wonder why he looks elsewhere for what he needs. Too many women are stuck on "I want", "I need", "Why can't you be more...", "I shouldn't have to tell you...". Men automatically tune that out, because we see it for what it is: a no-win scenario, and men don't like to lose. That's just the way we are, ladies. Make us feel like winners, and we'll move heaven and earth to try to make you happy. Make us feel like losers, and it's "Bye, see ya!"
In no particular order, that they be willing to have sex.
Err, now tell us what do men want of a wife.