Okay, a little off topic, but related, reading the title of this thread made me think of me having many conversations with someone years ago about the difference between a woman and mans needing each others love and wanting each others love. While there were a lot if areas we spoke about that overlapped, we both felt that needs and wants can and do mesh, she was the general opinion that if one needs love from the opposite sex, they are needy and weak and not to well adjusted. I agreed with that only to a point, not as extreme as her though. I was more of the camp that we generally need love from the opposite gender. Not a desperate unhealthy need, as she would try to define it, but a healthy respectful exchange.
Anyone care to chime in?
I can't really say that there is a difference based on gender. In other words, gender is not the main factor here. Human beings are unique. No two human beings are the same - not even identical twins. Identical twins have different fingerprints, temperaments, etc. Human beings are unique individuals. As a result, people (regardless of gender) are going to prioritize the love languages differently: gifts, quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service, physical touch.
One man's 1st love language might be physical touch, while another man's might be words of affirmation. Another man may be really big on acts of service. The same is true of women, so it's
really not about gender. People are going to prioritize the love languages differently based on factors like upbringing, experience, frame of reference and whatever their current needs are at the time.
When we start saying, "men generally prioritize love this way, while women generally prioritize love that way" we risk stereotyping and lumping people into these rigid gender roles that are more cultural than authentic.
Understanding the Five Love Languages | Focus on the Family