Who do romantic relationships remain the ';blind spot'; of otherwise intelligent and empowered women?

I know several women who are intelligent and successful... but when they enter into a relationship with a man, they somehow become another person. They either tolerate bad behavior, become a doormat, or enter the relationship just for ';male approval';.





I honestly don't understand this. Why does is seem relationships with men are a ';blind spot'; for otherwise empowered women? Am I the only one who has noticed this?Who do romantic relationships remain the ';blind spot'; of otherwise intelligent and empowered women?
that's why you should be in a relationship with another woman. someone just like you that can understand all your needsWho do romantic relationships remain the ';blind spot'; of otherwise intelligent and empowered women?
Relationships are about compromise.





I'm not saying that you should have to compromise a romantic relationship, but the chances are high that without the proper setup this is going to happen. Men are very easy to figure out and with enough ';assistance'; men will conform; psychologically men are definitely the inferior sex.





The catch-22 is that women don't want to have to prod for a man to be spontaneous, as this defeats the purpose. The best way to get a guy to be ';romantic'; is two words: Subtle repetition. Subtle hints placed in the right places at frequent times will convey a message. Most women fail at being subtle because they only try at it once or twice. Remember, men aren't that smart. :-)





Successful women tend to think of relationships in terms of how they approach their professional lives. Most men won't respond well to a pushy women. Again, be subtle. Well, that's my advice for the day. Hope this helps.



This is a pretty good question. Part of it is that success doesn't always mean someone is especially intelligent...and very few women don't claim to be ';empowered'; even if they sit at home watching The View every day.





I've noticed that a lot of women are turned on by bad behavior and dominant men. I'm not happy to admit that since I am totally not into submissive females, but I find that a lot of the cliches are true. Sex-wise, the more dominant and ';violent'; (nonharmful violence like holding her down, etc.) I acted, the more they got off.
Is your question who or why?





Assuming it's why. Intelligent and successful people of both genders get into unhealthy relationships - look at Paul McCarthy and Heather.





Sex drives and bonding needs are influenced by nature, nurture and culture. We all present our best sides during courtship.





In a patriarchical society, women are brought up with the Prince Charming myth. They can't distinguish between lust and love. Men who a romantic often are not good providers or partners. Men who are good providers or partners are oftern seen to be less exciting.





It's a trick of selection - we like peacocks
Good question, it draws to mind Whitney Houston: She was on top of the world until she married Bobby Brown, and now she's a strung-out battered hag, who won't leave ';because she LOVES him.'; *gag!*





I don't think this is necessarily a malady of powerful women per se', we just don't notice when it happens to others...





I'd guess it boils down to the dynamics of that particular relationship. Many romantic relationships have a dynamic that is between the two involved, sometimes with no relation to ';the outside world';. Money, power or influence in public or corporate life may be meaningless... if the dominant member of the relationship is powerful in the relationship, but nowhere else, they can drag the other member down.





It's unfortunate, but all to often, when the heart speaks, the brain stops...
Sometimes a woman has so little self esteem that she will tolerate behavior that she otherwise would not. I have also seen this and am as confused as you. Why do abused women refuse to press charges against the men that hurt them? Worse yet, why do they leave the hospital with this same man that just beat them up and go back to the same home with him? I'm not a psychologist, but the only thing I can think of is that they like to be treated this way or somehow they need the chaos in their lives. So sad, especially if children are involved.
Romantic relationships, by their very nature are about emotions and not about rationality. I know sometimes people can get tired of always being the driven, empowered hardass that they have to be to succeed at work and they seek out romantic relationships in which they can be more the more passive partner. They spend all day making decisions and when they get home they want someone else to be the boss.
I'm not sure if that can be answered by anyone except the women. I think it has something to do with the companionship, and I've heard (and feel like this myself) that men don't like smarter women, they need to solve problems in order to feel like a man and take care of a woman. They don't want to be taken care of or be challenged.
Emotion ans intelligence are two completely different animals. Each of wich vie for control of our behavior. But to think that they have an effect on eachother is akin to assuming that Elmer Fudd is stupid just because he gets outsmarted by Bugs Bunny.
This is a damn good question.


Every pretty, smart, strong girl I know has been changed into a different person through relationships with guys!


Perhaps it is because brains/money/sucess don't keep you warm at night!
Reationships are how we play out as adults teh issues we have with our parents. Most of us have stuff there, so it makes sense that an otherwise strong women would be brought down by this, her past.
Plain evolution. That's why.
That happens to everybody, not just women. Ever hear the term ';whipped?';
Who knows I've never had a relationship