I want to know how men REALLY think about women and sex

[On the Road]

63. I Think the *Range* is Probably a Lot Greater

than might be anticipated. "Men" includes male individuals you respect and admire as well as those you don't.

A lot of the criticism of males IMO has to do with the social dynamics of groups of men and boys. Callousness and attempts to personally dominate others are tools used to gain standing, respect, or leadership. This is expressed most frequently within the group but also towards women. When women talk about men acting like pigs, I think a large of what they are justly complaining about is wolf pack behavior.

Some men are able to navigate the terrain without becoming misogynistic -- Obama and Carter seems like good examples. Some men do not hang out with groups of males with this dynamic -- they may be loners or socialize in mixed company or perhaps religious circles where this is not part of the culture. Like racists, sexists may drop a loaded comment into a conversation to see how another man will respond before going full chauvinist. As a result, many men may see chauvanistic behavior only occasionally at a distance.

As far as how men think about sex: Men experience the whole range of emotions women do, although certainly not in the same proportions. If there is one difference that might be overlooked, it the attitude towards physical sex apart from love. My impression is women tend to think of sex as an expression of love, and that love without sex is sad or meaningless. For a man, physical sex can be extraordinarily important. To an adolescent male, sex is difficult to separate from the meaning of life. Sex with an attractive partner is tantamount to justifying one's entire existence. It doesn't mean the sex is mindless or bestial, just that the emotional component is not a required element.