Dating is TOUGH, especially in this day and age.

But personally, I can only speak to my experience dating as a woman.

So when Reddit useru/jayrod699asked, “Whats been thehardest partof dating as a man?”

A scene from a film with two men at a bar, one woman standing; the woman is telling the men that "girls with asses like mine do not talk to boys with faces like yours"

I was super curious to see what it’s like from another side.

And some of the responses were actually super sad.

Here’s some of what the guys had to say.

A boy in a crowded dining hall holds out his bowl to an adult, appearing to ask for more

“The constant rejection.

Get rejected a thousand times and you get more than a little gun-shy.

The worst is when they assume it must be a joke.

A woman and man are conversing in a pool; the woman appears contemplative, with text: "They never gave you a real chance"

Because you have to be joking if you think she might be interested.”

Lady, guys get rejected all the time we know how it feels."

It’s been a month, and some of my messages are still marked as unread on WhatsApp."

Ryan Reynolds from "Spirited" saying "I'm not a monster" to Will Ferrell

u/LuphineHowler

2.

And frankly, she wasn’t 10/10 or close to it, either.

“I was lucky to get five mystery likes a week on Tinder.

Aladdin and Genie from "Aladdin" with the Genie saying he has to be more confident about what he has to offer, and Aladdin asks, "What do I have to offer?"

u/proud_NIMBY_98

3. u/CarlJustCarl

4.

“You have to initiate everything.

Unsure if shes being nice or friendly?

Scene from a film on a bridge with a man asking a woman out and her declining; when asked why not, she says "I don't know, because I don't want to"

Thats on you to figure out.

If you do approach them and it’s unwanted, then you’re an entitled creep.

The risk isn’t worth the reward.”

Two characters from a TV show engaged in a conversation, close-up shots of their emotional expressions, with the young woman saying ""First date stuff — candy, flowers —that's easy" and the young man, confused, saying "Candy, flowers, right"

u/ur6an_r00ts

6. u/TheEmperor0fNothing

7.

“How difficult dating is for an individual man depends on many factors.

So a big part of it is the numbers game not being in young mens favor.”

Will Ferrell as a detective in "The Other Guys," saying "It's exhausting!" to someone else

However, its bad for men because physical appearance is far more important in these methods of dating.

“There is also a massive gender imbalance in both online dating and social spaces like bars or clubs.

This exacerbates the problem, as some women have so many options, they end up with choice paralysis.

Nathan Lane from "The Birdcage" wearing a robe in a dressing room next to a mirror and saying, "That's all I am to you — a meal ticket!"

They struggle to commit because they have the perception that theres always a better/more compatible guy out there.

“Ultimately, dating has become worse for both men and women.

People are now forced to date total strangers, which is deeply unnatural for humans.

Though I think its fair to say its harder for men on average.

u/failingupwards4ever

8.

“I cant speak for the majority.

But ever since I stepped foot out of college, dating has become sort of…transactional.”

“Through nonwork social/networking/private events, they say I look like a ‘one-night’ kind of guy.

“Though work events, I always sense that they just wanna use me for my internet.

Its just more wholesome to meet people without introducing yourself as ‘XYZ from XYZ industry.’

They judge you as who you are without the added spice.”

u/[deleted]

9.

“To me, the hardest part about dating as a guy is making others comfortable.

u/Apotatos

10. u/Leonardodapunchy

11.

“The hardest part about dating as a man is that you’re never good enough.”

u/Crusty_Dingleberries

“It’s also often impossible to navigate the frequently contradictory requirements.

u/Vandergrif

12.

“You always have to perform.

The times when your confidence is low, you wont be able to date.

You cant doubt yourself openly or be open about any insecurities or vulnerabilities.

u/Lengthy_Miso_Dreams

13.

“It’s the amount of competition.

Now you’re competing with every male within your specific age range within a 50-mile radius or more.

Also, your profile needs to be exciting and interesting enough.

When I started online dating before I was married, you just needed a couple of photos.

u/ARocHT11

14. u/iggybdawg

15.

“All the marriage risks are on men.

u/Ichbin99nichtzuHause

“This right here makes me legitimately question if I want to get remarried.

u/cast-away-ramadi06

16.

“I’ve always found it annoying that essentially ZERO women ask guys out.

They don’t have to put forth any effort.”

u/Split10_1

17.

If they didn’t envy you, they didn’t have time for you.

This was a direct and outright admission from some of them, LOL.

u/amadeus2490

18.

“I make over $500,000 as a physician.

Before I met my wife, I dated countless women who thought my income was THE standard.

These are women who worked at Walgreens, waited tables, were teachers, and other below-average-income jobs.

Like, shit, $500,000 a year is top 0.1% income.

Barely 10% of men even make $100,000 a year.”

u/Cadmaster2021

19.

“The hardest part is wondering,Can I read her signals accurately?”

u/Strength-Certain

“There’s a girl at work who, when she started, was married.

Then I heard from a friend at work that she got divorced.

u/carbonclasssix

20.

“I can sum it up in a conversation I read in a forum outside of Reddit.

Someone asks, ‘Should a guy bring flowers on a first date?’

In both examples, the guy is getting cussed as if he’s a problem.

Caught between being cheesy and rubbish.”

u/Mr_Ham_Man80

21.

“It’s hard to find a gal at all…good or bad, LOL.

I feel romantically/sexually invisible to women.

I haven’t had a woman besides my S.O.

obviously interested in me in 14 years.”

u/huuaaang

22.

“Not all women are impressed by my knowledge and have the same interests.

Most good guys have certain hobbies that they did a deep dive into.

I have told women my interests just to give a shot to make friends, and they ghost me.

And trying to convince a woman you are not her ex half the time can be exhausting.

But not all women are like that.”

u/rave1432

23.

Even after multiple dates with the same woman, the man is generally expected to be the social planner.

It’s exhausting and expensive, since most women still don’t think they should pay for anything.”

u/YouDaManInDaHole

24.

“Where can you meet single women without being shamed and lambasted?

Yet you’re a loser if you’re free to’t meet them.

If women are interested, they’ll ‘drop hints’ like blinking and breathing.

If you approach and she doesn’t like you, then you’re ‘creepy and weird.’

u/Kentucky_Supreme

25.

“Todays dating swipe left or right has been tweaked to a gambling-like formula.

Now, them is some tough odds.”

u/DrDomVonDoom

26.

“You always have to pay.

It doesn’t sound that bad on the surface.

But it adds up and sometimes starts to feel as though we are being taken for granted.

It feels as if we’re escorting this beautiful princess around whom everyone loves and adores.

u/clockwork_radio

27.

“Being denied any support or compassion whatsoever and somehow being expected to be confident.

THEN I might get the support and compassion I dont need as much anymore.”

u/RecreationalPorpoise

28.

“Some women like bread-crumbing and only provide one-line, dead-end responses to thoughtful conversation starters.

It’s a struggle for both, but it’s not the same struggle.”

u/PolyThrowaway524

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.