You Think It's A Praise? Here Are 5 Worst Compliments You Can Give Women

"You are quite funny for a woman" Imagine hearing this and wondering - wait, they mean women are not funny and I break the stereotype that they actually consider a fact? Doesn't this suggest that women cannot have a sense of humour and that anything humorous is beyond their comprehension? 

Complimenting someone is a great way to show someone that you appreciate them. Compliments make a woman feel seen and cherished. However, certain compliments do more harm than good. Compliments based on stereotypes are quite common in our society.

We're told that we're good enough and then comes the word 'considering' attached. You may mean well, but if you give a woman any of these compliments below, then you should forget about getting her attention in future.

5 Worst Compliments For Women

You are not like most women

This is a blatantly sexist ">comment. Complimenting someone by insulting her entire gender is a terrible idea. This perpetuates the stereotype that “most” women are uncool, whiny, uptight and complain a lot. Saying someone, “you’re not like most women” only shows your prejudice towards women. 

You look great for your age

This is a very biased compliment. This indicates that the compliment receiver’s best age for looking good has passed. This implies that only the young can be beautiful and sound very offensive to the receiver. The compliment should be, “You look great.” That is it.

You are quite pretty for an overweight woman

Complimenting someone by fat-shaming them is a terrible idea. This comment can be very insensitive. Whatever would make people think that body shaming someone is a compliment? Saying this implies that overweight women are ugly and cannot be beautiful. 

You are quite smart for a woman

This is a very misogynistic comment and it perpetuates the stereotype that women cannot be smart. Saying this to women is anything but a compliment and only shows how less you know and think of women. Again, complimenting someone by disrespecting their gender is a very bad idea. 

You look pretty without make-up

Men do not seem to get that women wear make-up just because they want to. They do not and should not have any opinion on a woman’s make-up choices. This cannot be emphasised enough- women do not wear make-up to impress men. Not anything and everything women do is to catch men’s attention. 

Suggested reading: 7 Stereotypical Things 20-Year-Olds Are Tired Of Hearing