Are Men as observant as Women are?
The question is, Are men as observant as women are? I have been set a fun challenge to test my husband’s observation skills, I would class my husband Mark as a very laid-back man, and I think he is very observant at work, well he has to be but that is another story. When he gets home, he seems to turn off, in some cases completely, especially when I seem to talk at him ha. Now, I have learnt to live with this side of him, but now I have been set a challenge to see his observational skills first hand tested to the limit.
Therefore, with the idea of this challenge was to test my husband’s observation skills, so I had to plan how I would do this! This could really turn out embarrassing with my husband not observing a thing, so let us hope he does, or maybe I may well have to be having words.
My Task for this challenge was to change three things in our everyday lifestyle and see what my husband actually observes and what he does not.
So here is what I did, along with each days result, I am unsure if I am surprised, with the not so scientific yet quite funny findings.
My Hair Test Day 1
On the first day, whilst my husband was at work, I made the decision to dye my hair, only a couple of shades darker, but it was quite noticeable to me, and my mother noticed it straight away. I also changed the style of my hair and to be honest, I very rarely wear my hair up, I just prefer it down, so surely my husband would pick up attentively and compliment this change.
When Mark returned home from a long shift at work, I was not expecting an immediate, “Wow, have you changed your hair and colour?” I am a little more realistic than that. I heard him walk through the door and I was sat down in the living room, in a rather natural setting. This was planned, normally I would be cleaning something and moving around all over the house like most of us mothers do, but at least this gave him an immediate chance to recognise the change.
Well, the time went on and on and yes, he got all the way to bedtime and when I gave him a kiss goodnight, I said at “Do you notice anything different?” My husband replied “No” and that was it, he had failed day one of the Are Men as Observant as women are challenge.
So, what next, I hear you ask?
Moving objects around at home Day 2
I decided to step things up a little for the next part of this challenge, like a woman possessed I made some rather massive changes to the decor in our home. I began by simply moving around some pictures of our family and even added an extra couple of photos of the children and our wedding day. I could not stop there now could I because these were tiny observations that would be required? I moved the bloody sofa for god sake man, how did he not notice that. My husband returned home from work and sat straight down on the sofa, with a cup of coffee, is not coffee a stimulant. He must have noticed, and when I asked him, he said I quote “Oh yeah, I noticed” he then laughed and looked around the room in amazement. It was at this point he also observed the additional photos dotted around the living room. I did place an extra photo up in the bedroom, but alas, he did not see that either. He was failing this challenge miserably.
The Foot Stool Day 3
Right, so on Day 3 the challenge was to place a footstool out in the living room; we have never had a footstool so surely, surely he should pick up on a footstool being out, before he sits on the sofa. I very neatly placed the footstool out where my husband tends to sit. He returned home, he sat down and yes in his usual place. I stood in the kitchen and smiled to myself, he surely must have noticed something. After around 20 minutes I actually asked him “Do you like the footstool”, he replied “What footstool” “The one you have your feet on right now”. “Oh, that I love it” did you notice it I asked him. He was quite honest when he told me that his feet were raised up, but he had not really looked at what they are resting on. The funny thing is, he can be observant, but throughout this Are Men as observant as Women are challenge, he failed quite miserably, bless him. If you would like to get yourself a footstool like this click here Footstools 2 U.
I don’t personally think it is just men that are less observant, women can be similar to this too. Sometimes we all have things on our mind and it’s almost impossible to pick up on everything. If you can’t relax around your home, then where on earth can you relax.
So, do we stereotype men with being less observant or do you know women that would also fail the observational challenge?
**Disclaimer: We were sent this footstool, which enabled us to conduct the test**
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Spencer Broadley says
June 17, 2014 at 11:09 amI think you are a bit unfair on men – we do notice, just don’t comment – well that’s me.
Moving furniture and stuff around is a nightmare though. I get up in pitch black half the year and I know where everything is – I do this so as not to wake anyone else up. As soon as furniture and stuff is moved its “ow” “ow” as I bump into everything that is moved 🙁
sandralynn ralph says
June 17, 2014 at 11:12 ami had my hair dyed a totally different color and my husband dint notice for 3 days then he finally asked have you changed your hair?
Kim Carberry says
June 17, 2014 at 11:22 amhahaha! Great post! My fella seems to miss little changes I make….I can’t speak for all women but I notice everything 🙂 x
Sandra Lane says
June 17, 2014 at 7:10 pmIf he’s engrossed in the sport on tv then I could be doing the dance of the seven veils on top of the table and he still wouldn’t notice.
Joanne Baldwin says
June 17, 2014 at 9:22 pmMy husband is pretty observant about the things I don’t want him to notice! He spots the slightest thing out of place which is a nightmare when trying to hide Christmas presents etc.
Lucy says
June 18, 2014 at 5:46 amSo funny! My husband is just the same. Strangely enough it’s always mess that he seems not to notice!
rachelhirst says
July 2, 2014 at 3:25 pmThis comment made me laugh because my husband has that problem too..
kris says
June 19, 2014 at 11:09 amlol fun post
Hazel Hulson says
June 19, 2014 at 12:44 pmNot at all unless its some sport or hobby or driving on the road women notice a lot more and have more tasks to do and good at multi tasking!
Gina Caro says
June 19, 2014 at 12:51 pmhahaha I do this kind of thing all the time and the other half never notices. Have you read the book ‘Why Mars & Venus collide’? It’s really interesting and highlights the differences between men and women, it’s quite an eye opener 🙂
rachelhirst says
July 2, 2014 at 3:23 pmBrilliant, I gave up in the end, he is observant when he wants to be though, like most of us really.
Michelle Hughes says
June 26, 2014 at 7:49 pmI leave sticky notes round in hope that he ll read them haha xx
Martha Smtih says
July 12, 2014 at 1:22 amMy science loving 14 year old daughter would point out that this is not a ‘fair’ test as you didn’t test yourself and husband equally using equal parameters blah de blah. However I sympathise with you, its long been my moan why do I bother he never notices. My husband now turns round and uses the defence, rather cleverly in his view but not mine, I’m damned If I do and damned If I don’t so I’m exercising my right to pro-actively ‘no comment’. I did wonder if it was a men from Mars women from Venus kind of thing but I don’t think that can be quite right. It really would be a good idea if all men were made equally ignorant, the trouble is they are not! and some really do notice and compliment, I met one of these rare creatures recently and was tempted to ask to meet his mother so I could shake her hand and tell her what a good job I thought she’d done!.