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According to a Survey of Women: No Need to Be Prince
Charming
The question of how to woo women has haunted men since the dawn of time. But
now the answer is clear, thanks to recent research. Do women want to be romanced
by Prince Charming? Surprisingly, the answer is no.
Always a Chance for Romance
A recent
nationwide survey of women conducted by International Communications Research
offers new hope for the nation's legion of couch potatoes: 80 percent of women
say they could be romanced by a man who is less than perfect.
"It's safe to say that no man is a flawless Casanova," said Gregory Godek,
romance expert and author of 1001 Ways to Be Romantic. "But any man can
come close with a little coaching and a little inside information."
Of course, romance is not entirely foreign to men. In fact, 91% - exactly the
same percentage as women - feel romance is important in a relationship. So why
do men have trouble putting romance into practice?
"When they hear the word 'romance,' guys get intimidated," Godek said. "We
get caught up thinking that romance has to be expensive, like the way it's
portrayed in the movies, or we worry about what our buddies will say. But you
can't go wrong if you remember one simple rule: When women are happy, we are
happy."
What Women Want
What makes women happy?
According to the survey, when it comes to romance, actions speak louder than words. When asked how they would like the men in their lives to add romance to
their relationships, the top answer women gave was for him to send her flowers
unexpectedly (41 percent). Other popular romantic gestures included cooking
dinner for two, writing her a love song or poem and watching a romantic movie
together. A small percent said they would even like to be fed grapes.
"Flowers are classic, and the classics always work," said Godek. "Guys should
be glad to know that they can instantly score points in the romance department
without a lot of hassle or creativity on their part. Your florist can prove to
be man's real best friend."
Dazzle Her With the Unexpected
Godek
also preaches that romance need not be planned. "The element of surprise reigns
supreme. Doing something when it's least expected can be the most romantic of
all," he said.
The idea is to pay attention to your partner's life, says Godek, who compares
romance to servicing your car. "You don't wait to hear knocks and pings to know
your car needs care. Relationships require regular maintenance as well. Just a
small investment of your time and attention each week makes a big difference in
how your relationship runs."
The Language of Love
Godek advises
tongue-tied beaus to write a love letter, take her to watch the stars, or give
her a meaningful sentiment expressing their feelings. Several of Godek's 1001
Ways incorporate flowers, "which are especially helpful for guys who don't
have a way with words," he relates.
Some of Godek's man-friendly remedies include placing a single rose under the
windshield wiper of her car, sending her flowers that begin with the first
letter of her name, ringing the doorbell and greeting her with a bouquet and a
bottle of bubbly, and giving her one flower for every month or year you've been
together.
"Whether you have a way with words or with actions, a little romance goes a
long way," said Godek.
 
Women and Romance Survey Results
The results below offer trends on women and romance. Percentages tally the
top answers provided by women, unless otherwise noted. The independent survey of
1,000 women and men was conducted in April 2000 by International Communications
Research for the Society of American Florists.
Q. How important is romance to a
relationship?
The same percentage of men and women agree that romance is important to a
relationship.
Q. Could you be romanced by a man
who is less than perfect?
80 percent
of women surveyed agreed that they could be romanced by a man who is less than
perfect.
Q. What would you like your significant other to do to
add romance to your life?
When it comes to romance, women
would like the men in their lives to:
| 41 % |
Send her flowers
unexpectedly |
| 32 % |
Cook dinner for two |
| 10 % |
Write her a poem or love
song |
| 8 % |
Watch a romantic movie
together |
| 2 % |
Feed her
grapes |
Q. Do you agree that flowers
continue to be a universal sign of romance?
88 percent of women surveyed named flowers a universal sign of romance.
Q. Which is or would be your favorite time to receive
flowers?
Women prefer to receive flowers:
| 74 % |
No special reason at
all |
| 15 % |
On a dating or marriage
anniversary |
| 4 % |
Before an evening out to say "I can't
wait" |
| 2 % |
After an evening out to say "Thank
you" |
| 1 % |
At the door as you go out for the
evening |
| ©2001 SAF All Rights Reserved |
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