Women have always been at the receiving end of men’s manipulation in relationships. Starting with the pretense of being in love, men lure women into falling madly in love with them and then take advantage of them.
Interestingly, these men have perfected their acts to the point that they aren’t caught in the act. Perhaps you are in a relationship with one of such men. Here’s how to know that they are manipulating you.
1. Creating a False Impression of Love
Many men understand that women love having a partner who truly loves them. You can't really blame women for that because it feels good to know there's someone who could move the world just for you. When a woman finds that, she could do anything for him.
Consequently, some men are fond of selling the lie "I love you" just so they can have you where they want you or get things from you. They understand that if they don't make you believe they love you, there's a limit to what you can do for them. But the minute you believe it, you could literally move mountains for them.
It can be difficult for a woman to tell whether a man truly loves her. Actions speak louder than words; talk is cheap. Don't believe a man just because he says he loves you, because it could be a big lie. Instead, believe his actions. If his actions don't match what he's saying, it’s because he doesn't love you.
Anyone can say "I love you," but not everyone can actually show it. If a man is having a hard time showing you that he loves you, it's because the feeling isn't there. When a man truly loves you, he will do whatever he needs to do willingly because it comes genuinely from his heart.
2. Eroding Self-Confidence and Creating Insecurity
Self-confidence is a woman's greatest asset. As a woman, if you believe in yourself and know you are more than enough, you won't tolerate nonsense from any man. Because of this, some men try to break women down to make them feel they aren't good enough. Often, they don't do this directly. They do it indirectly by making subtle remarks and doing little things that gradually erode your confidence.
The minute you feel like you're not good enough, you won't be in a hurry to leave the relationship. You feel your options are limited, which is just a way for him to hold you down. You shouldn't let that happen.
The moment you begin to feel that a man is trying to make you feel insecure or break you down, that is your cue to protect yourself and take a walk. If it lingers, you would be so broken that you would rather stay in there than step out because you would feel like he is the best you could ever have.
3. Using Money to Compensate for Bad Behavior
Women love money, as they should, and I think every woman should. Because men know this, they may throw money at women as compensation for bad behavior. A man does something wrong, something he should be remorseful about, but instead of correcting himself and making amends, he throws money at you. He hopes his money will do the talking and keep you where he wants you to be.
More often than not, it works because the minute men throw money at women, some forget about the wrongdoing. It’s as if money makes everything all right. While it's okay to enjoy the good life, you shouldn't trade your happiness or well-being for money.
If you're not happy, no amount of money can make you feel all right. Don't let men get away with bad behavior just by flaunting wealth in your face. You deserve more than that. You need to hold that man accountable for his actions, even when he gives you all the money in the world.
4. Using the Promise of Marriage as Bargaining Power
A lot of women can’t wait to get married, and for many, it’s a very big deal. Men understand this and use it to their advantage. They behave badly but make you believe they’re going to marry you and spend the rest of their lives with you. Because many women love the idea of being married, they let things slide and overlook a lot just to walk down the aisle.
While it's okay to want to get married, you shouldn't shortchange yourself. You deserve a man who will do right by you and eventually marry you, without using it as a bargaining chip. It takes two to tango in a marriage. If he thinks he's doing you a favor by marrying you, that’s a flawed idea.
Don't let any man treat you badly just because they want to marry you. If you think a man promising you marriage is such a huge deal, he's not going to treat you as the special woman you are because he knows he can get away with nonsense.
5. Exploiting Emotions Through Blackmail
Some men are so skilled at emotional blackmail that they can get women to do whatever they want. He might raise issues or change the narrative just to get you to do what he wants. Naturally, women want to do right by their partners and feel terrible when accused of treating them badly. You need to be vigilant. Is he always turning stories upside down to make you look like the bad one?
A man who truly loves you wouldn't want to blackmail you emotionally. When it's something he does over and over again, it's not a coincidence; it's his way of manipulating you. If something doesn't go his way, he pulls the emotional blackmail card. There's a high chance it will work because half the time you're not even aware that’s what he's doing.