"Girls are emotional wrecks."

"Girls get way too invested."

"Girls are so needy."

At least, that’s the stereotypes I’ve heard my entire dating life. It seems everybody puts emphasis on how women are high maintenance, taking all your hard earned money, only to spend it on something frivolous, like shoes. Even some wedding cake toppers have the bride dragging the groom to the altar, his face frozen in a look that says "I give up".

But lately, I’m beginning to realize how wrong this whole perspective is. It seems to me that women aren’t the ones who are all those stereotypes I mentioned above, but men are.

Take, for instance, a solitary date.

By itself, it’s not that big of a deal. You go, grab coffee or get dinner, and leave. Either he texts you after, or you text him. If no one texts, then it’s safe to say that the chemistry you thought was there isn’t.

But some guys don’t get that.

You want to turn to them and say ‘Uh, I’m fine without ever seeing you again’, but then that opens the door for more unneeded conversation. So you simply stay quiet, letting them whine about how unfair it is and how much of a terrible person you are.

See, these guys seem to think they’re owed an explanation as to why you’ve moved on, as to why you’re not talking to them anymore. It’s almost an affront to their manhood, as to why you don’t see this progressing any further than a date. You allow your good name to be dragged through the mud, all because you didn’t feel like giving this first date a shot.

And it doesn’t have to be just dates. Texting works just the same; you fall into a conversation with someone, you stop talking, and they keep hounding you to know more.

What’s so bad about the story ending there? Why can’t I just decide that I don’t want to make “this” into a thing?

Maybe my reasons for not continuing on are personal. What if it’s actually a ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ scenario? What if I don’t think you and I would fit together?

Or maybe, my reasons are purely ego based. What if I don’t like you because of the way you sound? What if I just don’t like your haircut? What if I think you walk funny?

Either way, I’m not obligated to tell you any of this. It’s my decision to what I fell is right, and if it’s not you, than please don’t keep after me wondering why.

Seriously, get over it. Or rather, get over yourself.

The world does not end because one girl decides she doesn’t have strong feelings for, what appears to be in your mind, god-like features. In fact, the world would probably not even end if she decided not to text you back afterwards, or stands up for herself when she feels you’re taking advantage of her good mood.

Guys, if anyone here is high maintenance, it’s you.