text: why are women more passive romantically than men? or are they just less direct about it?   there are some generalizations that are useful, because of the statistical strength, such as "men are usually physically stronger than women" or "its colder in canada than the us".  they are not always true, but true much more than 50% of the time.  this statement, i think, is not one.  i would think that that passivity or aggresivity of a person romantically would have a great deal to do with the person they are with.  if you are more aggressive, the woman does not have to be.  if you were passive, and she liked you, then she would *have* to be aggressive.  also, keep in mind that your statement is culture-specific.  there are any number of cultures in which the woman is generally more aggressive, and many in which there isnt any perceptible difference.  in answering a quesion "why would a person be more passive romantically", one could think of a number of reasons:  they are shy or insecure, they are not sure they are ready yet, they are not willing to take the risk of rejection, etc.  in western culture, men are taught to be aggressive, to take rejection without being hurt, to be confident, and we are taught that sexual conquest is something to be proud of and even a mark of manhood.  women in western cultures have been taught that rejection is devastating, that aggressive women are frowned upon, that loss of virginity is shameful, that men are attracted to demure women.  in many ways, men and women are raised in different cultures, with difference belief systems, even when raised in the same country, or even same house!  if you were to want a woman to be more aggressive, then make sure she knows you consider this a positive trait in a woman, that you appreciate more aggressive women, that you don't want to move forward unless you are *sure* she is ready- in addition, this would hopefully help unburden both the genders from outmoded cultural legacies, that put a great deal of pressure on the man, and reduce the freedom of the woman.