Are The Standards Too High For Men And Women?

Men are from Mars, women are from Venus. This is true on many levels beyond a grade school one.
Women are detailed, emotional and a bit more involved than our male counterpart. Men are more blunt, forceful and physical.
This difference can be both beneficial and irritating, especially for those "traditional" relationships.
All the expectations are hard to keep up with for both men and women. People always focus on the unrealistic standards that society holds for women but completely neglect that the bar is set pretty high for men, also.

We all know that it is expected for women to look like Victoria's secret models, no hair on our bodies unless it is growing from our head, which we must keep cut, dyed and beautifully made up. When you add it all up it's a lot to keep up with. Heels, hair, make-up, hourglass bodies, clothes that fit tight on slim girls and loose on big ones. There are rules that big girls can't wear bikinis, crop tops, or anything else that demonstrates their "thickness", which society claims is because it "promotes obesity". In all actuality it is because women are supposed to feel shame over a body that is plus size. And if you feel comfortable enough with your body to wear clothes that are a bit revealing you are looked down upon also, regardless of size. Sometimes it feels like a catch 22 trying to live up to the standards that a lot of young men expect to be realistic when it just....isn't. Don't they understand these women they see are like 50% Photoshop? Damn men and their physical nature of life!

This is usually where women start shaming men for even setting these standards to begin with. Ah ah ah! And this is where I start shaking my finger back at you because: remember how women are more emotional? Well, that is where we set our standards.

Us females expect our boyfriends to be Ryan Gosling in The Notebook. Not. Gonna. Happen. Unless, of course, you are married to Nicholas Sparks. We are constantly stuck on them "getting us flowers or jewelry" (I prefer chocolate). We expect special love notes, speeches and displays of their affection both publicly and privately. We want to cuddle and snuggle and expect to be praised. Well, when this doesn't happen we get upset. We believe this is what a relationship is supposed to be when it is no where close to that. Yes, guys do that in the beginning to court you but after you two are settled, what is the point in doing it then? Women expect these things before, during AND after. Men don't always understand this and why should they? Who said that to display your affection for one another you need a diamond on your finger (which brings up society's perspective on marriage, I will write about later because I have some strong opinions on that, too). No one said that you need to write sappy love poems to express your feelings. That doesn't mean he shouldn't take you out for ice cream every now and then, but we females are guilty of setting a high standard, as well.
I want my daughters to understand this so when they grow older they wont be disappointed when their boyfriends don't do all the sentimental things they do in the movies. Just wait until you've been together for five, ten, twenty years. Things change as a relationship matures.

It's as if we are more drawn to what could be than what is. Always searching for the greener grass instead of enjoying the freshly trimmed lawn on our side of the fence. So our yard might have some dirt spots and a lot of bugs, but everyone's does and to think that anyone's yard is a perfect one is delusional thinking. Okay, so that wandered off a little, but do you get what I mean?

Basically,  I just think that society as a whole needs to stop setting such standards to begin with.