Anyone has a chance to experience breakups at least once in their life. According to the study, over 85% of individuals encounter a significant breakup in their lives; people experience breakups about three times before reaching the age of 30 (Seidman, 2015). The process of breaking up is painful and depressing, regardless of gender. Is this true for everyone? To answer this question, many studies have been conducted, and they have found that there are significant differences in mental reactions between males and females during and after breakups.
Men often fall in love quicker than women.
What influences the initial stage of the relationship? Males typically develop feelings of infatuation and confess their romantic feelings faster than females. Females tend to take longer to develop a love for their partner or postpone admitting it to ensure the suitability of their partner as a potential mate for reproduction. It is because females are biologically obligated to invest more in offspring than males. For instance, carrying a pregnancy for nine months is a significant investment exclusive to females (Mcnamara, 2017). Therefore, they have evolved to be more selective in mate choice.
Do women initiate breakups more than men do?
It has been believed that females initiate breakups more than males do. A study conducted at Stanford University discovered that females are more likely to initiate the process of ending a marriage than males regarding divorce. Females initiate divorce 69 percent more than males, while males initiate only 31 percent. The explanation for this result is that females are more attuned to relationship difficulties and less satisfied with their marriage lives. However, they also found that there were no significant differences between genders in the breakup initiation of non-marital relationships (Wong, 2015).
Gender differences in response to breakups
The inclination of females to invest more in their relationships can also influence their response to breakups. According to Binghamton University and University College London, females are more likely to suffer from physical and emotional pain following a breakup. Although breakups are prone to having a greater emotional and physical impact on females, they tend to recover completely and appear to be stronger emotionally (EurekAlert!, 2015). This inclination can be explained by the notion that women invest more in relationships and have greater stakes to lose if they are involved with the wrong partner. Therefore, they are more adaptable to the end of the relationship and finding a new partner. On the other hand, males may not immediately suffer from their loss; they are prone to experiencing long-term struggles and may not fully recover from the separation. The impact of the loss becomes pronounced over time, and males are destined to compete again for a new partner (Stanfenberg, 2015).
Conclusion
Ultimately, the research indicates significant gender differences in responses to breakups. Females are more careful when they select their mate and initiate more divorce because females tend to invest more biologically in relationships. Although they may suffer from breakups physically and emotionally at the initial point of their separation, they are also more adaptable to their loss and finding a new partner. Males, on the other hand, may experience less initial pain after breakups but struggle more over the long term. Acknowledging these differences may help individuals cope with the emotional and physical difficulties after a breakup.
References
EurekAlert!. (2015). Study: Women hurt more by breakups but recover more fully. Available at: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/827184 (Accessed: 13 April 2023)
Mcnamara, B. (2017). A New Study Shows Men Fall in Love Faster Than Women. Available at: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/study-shows-men-fall-in-love-faster (Accessed: 10 April 2023)
Seidman, B. (2015). Heartbroken? Gender may play role in recovering from breakups. Available at: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gender-matters-when-recovering-from-a-breakup/ (Accessed: 10 April 2023)
Stanfenberg, J. (2015). How men may never truly get over a break-up. [online] The Independent. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/men-may-never-truly-get-over-a-relationship-breakup-says-study-10450413.html [Accessed 17 April 2023].
Wong, B. (2015). Women Initiate Divorces More Than Men, But Not Breakups, Study Suggests. Available at: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/women-more-likely-than-men-to-initiate-divorces-but-not-breakups-study-finds_n_55d61f03e4b0ab468da049bb#:~:text=While%20breakups%20between%20unmarried%20couples,to%2031%20percent%20of%20men. (Accessed: 12 April 2023)
