[HitmanLV]

The 'women like bad boys or jerks' is a strawman - it's mostly repeated by men who consistently don't do well in attracting women and sexually exciting them.

It's used primarily to give nice, lonely men the moral high ground - despite their inadequacy, they can be assured they are deep down a better quality of man.

It's mental illness, as far as I am concerned.

[Carolinamom]

Smart women LIKE smart men.

[Huntress]

The 'women like bad boys or jerks' is a strawman - it's mostly repeated by men who consistently don't do well in attracting women and sexually exciting them.

I agree with that statement to a point. Not all women like "bad boys" (I'm proof of that), but there are a lot of women who do. These women will put up with all kinds of bad treatment from their loser men "because I love him." That's what I don't get. It seems to me they would want someone who treats them better.

[Fred Hayek]

"The 'women like bad boys or jerks' is a strawman - it's mostly repeated by men who consistently don't do well in attracting women and sexually exciting them."

I one time had a designer working for me who did have a thing for "bad boys" and jerks. She was extremely attractive, and otherwise quite intelligent. It was just every once in a while (well, more often than that) she would show up at work with bruises on her face. Yep, the latest Mr. Sleaze she just found beat the cr@p out of her.

[FierceKulak]

I have observed the "girls don't like nice guys" phenomenon and believe that it's better described as women preferring a bad guy who's tough over a nice wimp.

[hinckley buzzard]

The 'women like bad boys or jerks' is a strawman

Actually there is a contingent of women who are attracted to the aggressiveness displayed by rebellious guys, who like a little sense of danger in their relationships, or who are just plain dependent and mistake aggression for strength. They are the ones who grow up to marry alcoholics and abusers and such. No, it is no myth that SOME women like "bad boys."

[thombo]

Not sure i follow you HNY. "It's used primarily to give nice,loney guys the moral high ground...""It's mental illness?What,being nice guy?

[Melas]

I disagree entirely. I know a lot of "nice guys" who don't do well with women, and the things they have in common are just amazing. They all give too much of themselves and expect little if nothing in return. As a result, they wind up being perenial givers and rarely takers.

I admit it, I was a jerk when I was dating. I routinely gave women false numbers and often times didn't even use my real name, becuase honestly, I didn't plan on calling back and didn't want her calling me either. A behavior that used to infuriate my nice-guy buddy, and life-long best friend. He went out of his way to be nice, and couldn't score if the goalie went for popcorn. I was a jerk who just wanted to get laid, and I rarely went without.

[rwfromkansas]

What about the "guys only care about boobs and butt and sex" stereotype etc. as well?

Women aren't immune from this problem.....both men and women have their own explanations for why they fail with the opposite sex, whether it is that guys are frightened of independent/intelligent/funny/fun (fill in the blank with whatever you think you are, hot stuff) women or if it is that women only like bad guys.

Now, in my experience, girls do like a bit of excitement and unpredictablity. You will not go very far if you are boring and stale. But, at the same time, it is just not true that all girls are into bad guys (though I must say, I was surprised when listening to a conversation before my mass media writing class in which most of the girls, even "nerds" were talking about how they liked wild, bad boys....and this is a Christian college...)

[hopespringseternal]

The 'women like bad boys or jerks' is a strawman

Beauty and the Beast Tale as old as time Song as old as rhyme

[Glenmerle]

The 'women like bad boys or jerks' is a strawman - it's mostly repeated by men who consistently don't do well in attracting women and sexually exciting them.

Yes! Thank you! Lord, I HATE this cliche. What a cow muffin. I'm sure there are some damaged (and usually very young) women out there who like grief and trouble, but adult women want adult men -- and being an adult does not mean being a "bad boy."