Rachel's Scribbles

"Crazy" or irrational behavior is classic asymmetrical warfare. The most graphic example of this is a suicide bomber blowing himself up - isn't that "crazy"? So with respect to the context of your question and the relationship between men and women, the motivation behind the behavior is the same. When a person feels powerless or that they've run out of options to affect change in a rational sense, they may resort to something irrational. I'm not saying that it's fair to characterize all women in relationships as being powerless, but there is precedent for this and hence the stereotype is born.
 

I think this is a great topic to explore. I'd like to consider myself a "sane" person for the most part who is now in a very healthy, stable marriage. But I gotta be honest, even my husband made me think I was a little nuts at times when we were dating. I'm not gonna lie I did a drive-by or two at his house to make sure he was home. Not proud of it, but it happened. I think when you truly love someone, the thought of them lying or hurting you is too much to bear sometimes and can make you go crazy. I think it's okay to have those momments, as long as you come back to reality soon thereafter.
 

Rachel, interesting question. I think the problem here is that "crazy" is really a continuum. When does one transition from an "understandable" and/or appropriately "emotional" response over into crazytown? Furthermore, considering myself among the "sane" women (well, most of the time at least) I wonder if there is any reward for being level headed? It seems that once a woman starts to go off a little bit, men sit up and pay attention. Do the crazies get what they want?
 

Sadly, I voted for this one: "perfectly rational women are driven to states of delirium by the antics of their significant or insignificant others" I've seen the most stable, put-together woman driven to unspeakable acts because of a man's bad behavior. I don't think it's just a "few" women, or any particular "type" of woman. I think it's only a few women admit to it.
 

should read "who" between women & admit
 

I agree with Chiram. It's all about feeling powerless and needing to do something -- no matter how irrational -- to reclaim that power. I think men do the same thing too when they're in relationships with women who (they think) have the upper hand.
 

I'm not crazy. Sometimes irrational, sometimes neurotic but not crazy. Usually the irrational and the neurotic is brought out by intense feelings of love or fear for those I care about most. Women are what keeps the whole hold, we are strong and we are smart and although we like love and affection, we are able to survive better than men without it.

The stereotype was born and continues to thrive to make men feel better about themselves. They need their egos stroked constantly--but we (women) and they (men) know the truth, women are the stronger sex.

And no I am not some crazy, bitter lonely woman. I am a beautiful, intelligent (if I do say so myself) woman with a wonderful husband (that I've been with for over a decade). He is strong, handsome and smart and his life is made better by his amazing and sometimes irrational wife :)