Her Least Favorite Things

Seven times as many women stay when serious illness strikes

(NEWSER) - Relationships fail seven times more often when illness strikes the female partner than when it strikes the man. Researchers don't know why, but theories abound: “There is an immediate shift in a relationship when an illness is diagnosed,” a counselor tells the Times of London. Gender roles change more radically for men when partners become “patient and carer.” And there is often less sex and intimacy, “something many men struggle to accept.” More»

Things you really need to know about penis jokes and shoes

(NEWSER) - Esquire celebrates all things female in its cleverly named "Women" issue, and it tries to do right by the ladies of the world by telling men all the things they're doing wrong. Straight from the mouth of the fairer species, Esquire collected 1,000 tips—and shares a select 100:

• No. 10: Roses are cliche. When in doubt, go with a bouquet of lilies.
• No. 51: Joking to us about your penis size makes us uncomfortable. Every single time.
• No. 109: "Hey, you awake?" is not a form of foreplay.

Brits, Americans land in top 5 on 'egalitarian index'; Aussies last

(NEWSER) - Swedish men make the best husbands, while Australian men, preferring beer and sports over housework, rank lowest on an “egalitarian index” outlined in a study of 12 developed nations. Domestic roles carry less stigma in egalitarian societies, one researcher tells the Telegraph, “so the likelihood of forming a harmonious household becomes greater.” Norwegian males took second, Britons third and Americans fourth. More»

Web site tracks 100K women's menstrual cycles

(NEWSER) - Some 100,000 men bewildered and berated by wives and girlfriends with pre-menstrual syndrome have visited PMSbuddy.com, which sends out reminders when partners may be touchy, Australia’s News Network reports. Messages like “She’s on yellow—tread carefully, fella” keep men up to date on the cycles of the women in their lives. And it’s not just personal: The site also offers a national “overall threat index.” More»

Smut may be losing its stigma, but at what price to marriage and our own decency?

(NEWSER) - Does looking at pornography constitute cheating? If so, a lot of men are in trouble in today's age of instant access. Ross Douthat explores the issue in the Atlantic and finds the extremes of the argument unhelpful. No, digital smut won't bring about the end of civilization, but don't be too quick to write it off as harmless, either. "The Internet era has ratcheted the experience of pornography much closer to adultery than I suspect most porn users would like to admit," he says. More»