Do you have a hard time getting guys to respect and admire you for who you are and what you achieve? Because of stereotypes and sometimes sexism, women can be despised in society. It's time to get that power back and show that you should be taken seriously, not treated as incompetent or vulnerable. There are a few simple steps that will empower you to be treated appropriately by your male friends, colleagues and acquaintances. This can make work, hobbies and daily interactions easier and less stressful. In order to be taken seriously by men, you must try to love yourself, radiate confidence and follow your goals and ambitions.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Loving Yourself
Step 1. Respect and honor yourself
If you know your own worth, other people can learn to recognize it too.
- If you ever feel despised or unimportant, remind yourself that you are a useful, valuable and unique person.
- You are not just an object, you are a human being. You are not just a body or like a beautiful thing to look at. You have amazing thoughts that you can share with others.
- Respect yourself by making responsible choices that benefit you or others and do no harm.
- Respect yourself by treating yourself and taking good care of your body. Various ways to treat yourself well include: eating healthy, getting enough sleep, exercising, relaxing, and engaging in safe creative or recreational activities.
Step 2. Pay attention to your values
Know what you believe in and value and stay true to these values. These values can cover things like: freedom, empowerment, equality, respect, justice, family, love, and stability. Focusing on those values can help you make better decisions and ultimately get others to take you seriously.
- If you are unsure of the values you value, make a list of all the things you care about. These things are part of your value system. When you get new ideas, add them to the list.
- If you are not respected by others, pay attention to your personal values. Remind yourself of what you feel is important and act in harmony with these values. For example, if someone treats you badly and you feel the urge to yell at them, you can remind yourself of your core view of respect. If you yell at someone, chances are you're not showing them respect.
- Avoid any activity that conflicts with your personal value system (such as stealing, disrespecting others, or treating yourself badly).
Step 3. Accept yourself
Some women can be unhappy with themselves despite their many positive qualities, which is a sad reality. However, if you truly love and accept who you are and your efforts, you may be able to make other people accept you too. This effort always starts with yourself.
- Focus on your strengths on a daily basis. You can list these advantages in a journal or a Word document on your computer. Make a list of things like: ambitious, loving, compassionate, friendly and athletic. Do you see that some of these advantages can match your values? The two are very often in touch.
- Realize some of your shortcomings and try to accept everything as it is. These flaws can make you unique, and maybe even people like you for your flaws. You can also love those flaws. Perhaps seeing it as a unique trait rather than a flaw can make you different and attractive.
- Avoid comparing yourself to others. This can cause you to feel unworthy or lacking.
- Use mindfulness to encourage self-acceptance. Start by sitting in a comfortable position. Focus on any criticism you have of yourself, such as "I feel fat and ugly." Take a moment to feel these thoughts without judging them. Then accept the flaws nonjudgmentally by thinking or saying, "I'm not perfect. I can accept myself without judging myself." Be aware of any additional thoughts you have; simply observe these thoughts without judging them (whether they are good or bad thoughts). Thoughts can come and go and are always changing.
Step 4. Take care of yourself
Appearances do matter, and in order to be taken seriously you have to work on your appearance.
- Body care, personal hygiene, physical fitness, and regular health checks are a must.
- Makeup is a controversial subject when it comes to whether or not women should wear makeup in order to be successful. It's honestly a matter of taste. Some sources say that men prefer women with natural beauty or use little or no make-up. However, some women feel more confident with makeup.
Step 5. Don't let other people treat you badly
Several studies have shown that doctors may treat male and female patients differently with regard to the physical pain they experience; women may be underestimated and not taken more seriously than men.
- Ask guys, or anyone in general, why if you notice any prejudice or bias against you.
- Choose your friends wisely, keeping any personal difficulties and defeats to yourself and a group of close friends and family you can trust.
- Getting support from other people (other women, family, friends) can help you overcome personal difficulties or deal with prejudice.
Method 2 of 3: Showing Confidence
Step 1. Communicate appropriately and confidently
While all of the above steps can be applied in anyone's life, one of the key success factors for men to take seriously is being intelligent and well-spoken. The way you talk aligns with the way you carry yourself (self-esteem and self-confidence). Correct grammar and intonation, as well as how often you speak can make or break success at work, among new acquaintances and in various recreational activities. Even though all women have different voices (high, low, soft, etc.) it's important to remember that you can be judged by your tone of voice, how much stress you put on each word, and your laugh.
- Record yourself to change the way you present yourself in front of others. For example, if you allow your voice to slowly fade at the end of a sentence, this indicates that you are not confident and can reduce your skills when it comes to conveying important messages.
- Speak in terms of specific outcomes and consequences.
- Be firm. Say what you think and feel politely. Be firm but polite. Ask nicely for what you want. Say no when you have to. Be warm, friendly and kind to others. Respect other people's opinions and be willing to compromise. Examples of assertive or assertive words include, "That's a great idea and how about we do this too…" or "I can understand your reasoning, but I'd really like if…"
Step 2. Educate yourself
A woman who is knowledgeable about a variety of topics has a better chance of being taken seriously by men (and other women).
- There are many ways to become "smart" but in most cases pursuing higher education is usually a good place to start.
- Watching educational programs, reading books, and keeping up to date with the latest news are easy and usually affordable ways to increase your knowledge.
- Watching movies, playing video games, and familiarizing yourself with information about various sports teams will also make your conversation topics more diverse.
Step 3. Use body language
It's important to pay attention to body language in addition to paying attention to your words. If you walk around with your head drooped low, people may think that you are negative and lackluster. On the other hand, the way you carry yourself can convey honor and power.
- Stand tall and tall. Don't bend over. You can practice improving your posture by lying flat on the floor or standing with your back against a wall.
- Give a firm handshake. A weak or messy position can make the person you shake the hand think that you are not confident in yourself.
- Show your strength by keeping your arms and legs open and occupying more space. Avoid fidgety movements that can make you look nervous or uncomfortable.
Step 4. Dress properly
The way you dress says a lot about your self-confidence and self-image. Men are constantly inundated with sexual images of women on television and other media formats. Unfortunately, if you dress in a sensual, stimulating or revealing manner, you may be giving the wrong impression. If you really want to be heard, try to appear professional and well-groomed.
- Dress appropriately for the event. If in an office environment, you should avoid short skirts or tops that show cleavage. Try wearing a knee-length skirt, trousers or a suit.
- As a general rule of thumb for women in the workplace, to check if your outfit is appropriate for the environment or suitable for an interview, check it by bending over. If you notice a visible cleavage or if your skirt rises too high at the back when you bend down to touch your toes, it may not be suitable for a work environment. If you're in doubt, don't take the risk. Your reputation is more important than looking cute or stylish in the middle of an important business transaction.
Method 3 of 3: Following Your Ambition
Step 1. Be motivated
A woman can influence people more if she shows motivation in her life. Women with aspirations and commitment can be very attractive.
- Be intentional and specific about your goals and aspirations.
- You can create daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals. Write down these goals and remind yourself regularly. Change goals if necessary as you go along.
- One way to become motivated is through creative activities. Try to describe your goals. What do you want for life and for yourself?
Step 2. Be proud of your achievements
If you smile, laugh and talk enthusiastically about what's going on in your life--guys can see that you're motivated and confident enough to take you seriously. Keep in mind that this can depend on how long you've been doing the task. If you are constantly changing your goals and are not firm with what you want out of life, this can leave doubts in people's minds.
- If you have children, discuss their recent success at school with a smile and comment on how proud you are of them.
- Discuss any new business ideas you may have, or creative thoughts if they seem interesting. Are you working on a new piece of art? Write a poem? Completing a degree? Taking a new yoga class? You already have so many interesting things to talk about.
Step 3. Make sure the ambition comes from yourself
In addition to having self-esteem, self-confidence, motivation and competitiveness; You have to ask yourself for every aspect of your life, "Why am I doing this?" if your goal is to impress a guy or guys in general, it looks like you're doing it for the wrong reasons. In the same vein, trust your instincts; only you can make decisions about your life and where you are going, no one else.
Step 4. Become an expert
Experts are taken more seriously than beginners. Whatever you end up doing or mastering, become an expert in that field. Learn as much as you can about the topic, and gather various experiences.
- Do some research. Spend some of your free time exploring and learning more about your field of education or work. This can make a huge difference in the business world; if you try your hardest and go the extra mile, people will be able to acknowledge you more.
- Do what you have to do. Focus on your duties and obligations and don't make mistakes. Becoming a true expert is all about being someone people can rely on and trust.
- Prepare yourself. If you're giving a big speech or presentation at work, don't wait until the last minute to prepare. Give yourself plenty of time so that you can appear confident and gain knowledge about the topic.
- Help others. When you become an expert, you help others to understand or get the job done. Help as many coworkers, colleagues or classmates as possible. But don't overdo it and remember to always maintain a balance. You have to be able to get the job done on your own before you can help others.
- If you have the resources and financial means, you can earn an extra certificate or degree in your field. Some companies even pay their employees to get advanced degrees.
Step 5. Join healthy competition
Men tend to enjoy healthy competition among themselves. Connecting with men at their level can help in increasing the sense of unity, solidarity and equality. Be sure to show excellent quality and give your best effort when you take part in these activities. Even if you're not a professional sportsman or hobbyist, by opening yourself up to new challenges and putting your best effort into something men can respect you for that.
- If you enjoy a hobby that requires physical strength such as rock climbing, swimming, playing basketball, running or cycling, share those hobbies with a male friend.
- Finding a balance by trying different methods that work and those that don't will ensure you become more comfortable with yourself and therefore comfortable hanging out with guys.
Warning
- Be careful when sharing your success with others. A confident and passionate woman may be seen as a threat to other women.
- Compliments and temptations are natural reactions between men and women. When two people share the same hopes and aspirations and can enjoy good conversation and competition, romantic attraction can emerge. Keep your goals, achievements, reputation and self-worth in mind. Think carefully about the consequences of your actions before doing them. You don't want to lose respect by making bad choices or being too reckless with your heart.
- Being successful and being taken seriously requires sacrifice. Accept that not all men will respond well to your personality or efforts to achieve success for yourself in this world.
