Difference between a man's woman and a woman's woman

[sonnyday]

Today I heard one mum describe another as "a man's woman, not really a woman's woman" feel a bit stupid asking, but what does it imply and is it an insult?

I like this game

Fern Britton = Womans Woman ?

Angelina Jolie = Man's Woman

Jennifer = woman's woman

Am I right?

Well AF, at least we can skip off while it's still pretty...

laughs a tinkly little girls girls laugh..

and who am I kidding, have lost voice and sound like a rusty gate if I try anything approaching a laugh

True. Have there been any good bunfights anywhere then lately? Not been on much in the last week or so and have been most disappointed with everyones MILs and SILs whilst I was away.

< takes hissy's hand and skips off to Wonderland >

BB have been away myself, so couldn't tell ya

That was to AF, not LittleMissHissy, BTW.

I'm with Dione here.
Different friends for different situations.
I am a tomboy and like to talk techie stuff about racing machines with my bloke friends. Servicing diesel engines and haggling over rule details and drinking real ale makes me happy.
But when the chips are down and you need a shoulder to cry on it is the girlfriends who really matter.
Why do we have to choose?

Ta Whenall was starting to feel a bit about what the other women in my class think of me, but am certain I'm no sex siren, more shambling (but intelligent) laundry basket with a head.

I think it surprises people all the more when I take off my overalls and scrub up and turn out looking glamorous. But the same is true when the blokes put on their DJs!

Thanks BB, not sore though, just mute... H is delighted ...

Can vouch for no decent bunfights... though the Medised thread got a smidge warm....

I did hurl a goat into the Ice Cream thread, but never went back to see if the KitchenWhizz had roasted it properly... and if I'd be permitted sauce with it...

Now we are all back from half term, it'll only be a matter of time....

I don't see a man's woman as a man chaser more of somebody who enjoys male company and can relate to them as mates so I suppose I am with Dione on this.

A woman's woman is somebody who prefers the company of women on the whole (very few people only like one sex after all).

When I think back my first job for example, I used to go out to clients with different people on different jobs but I used to have a much better time with the blokes than the women. Not in a flirty way but in jokey on the same wave length kind of way. I wouldn't say being a man's woman was the route to numerous boyfriends and a sizzling love life, more being more at ease with men.

I certainly don't see either phrase as an insult, more just a statement of who you feel comfortable with. I have to say, having been a SAHM for a long time, the one thing I miss is the company of men (other than the fact that I live with 3 males). Women are great but I enjoy the differences that men bring to the mix.

Well, in answer to your OP sonnyday I think you heard it for the insult it was, in that this Mum was describing the sort of woman who sees other women as competitors and rivals, judges them by their physical attributes in relation to her and has very shallow friendships with women. In truth though, women like this often despise men marginally more than they dislike women, because ultimately, they regard men as foolish and stupid for falling for their charms as often as they do.

Julie Walters/Victoria Wood/Dawn French/Jennifer Saunders - woman's women.

Francesca Annis/Angelina Jolie/Rebecca Loos/Princess Diana - man's women.

Ulrika Jonsson - man's woman currently pretending to be a woman's woman.

Oh thank you LMHF! Goat? Ice cream?!

Whenwillifeelnormal who am I then, and women like Niecie and Whenallelsefails?

It depends whether they meant a competitively-sexy woman or a blokey woman. I generally like blokey women but haven't much time for the Nigella variety - or for people who use expressions like "a man's woman, not really a woman's woman", as it happens.

If you ever hear of "a woman's man" he's either gay or a gigolo. It's never meant as a compliment.

You are what you say you are - women who get on really well with men, as well as women. Much like me, in fact, since I love football, have worked with mainly males throughout my working life and wouldn't want friendships with only women. I was responding to the OP's question about what the remark overheard could have meant- and the way it was phrased sounded more like an insult. I think if the Mum concerned had meant people like us, she would have said "She's comfortable with everyone"

@ WWIFN's Ulrika! Spot on.

Ah, WhenwillIfeelnormal, I wanted to be like a celebrity!

Just had unpleasant professional dealings with a "man's woman" - she speaks in a high-pitched baby-ish voice at all times, but when she's addressing men it's light and cajoling.

When she speaks to women, it increases in pitch and decibels so as to resemble nothing more than aggressive whining.

She is a very odd woman who resists sisterhood at every opportunity, despite working in a field where such things are pretty much taken as read.

Dione, how about Sue Perkins?

Piprabbit, that sounds just fine and very complimentary to me. Thank you.

And to join in the game:

Man's woman: Victoria Beckham

Woman's woman: PJ Harvey

(or am I confusing this with 'no talent' vs 'talent' lol)

I think that there is a distinction to be made between 'tomboys' and 'man-pleasers'.

Men think I'm a man's woman and women think I'm a woman's woman. Really I'm a cat person.