I have to agree with the Mr."Failure to Comply". But only on this one topic, if you want respect (NOT equality, it should be a given) then you should earn it. If a woman cannot take a chance and show a man who they truly are, then they do not deserve the attention or respect they want.
To reply to MissJaeda, I think that it shouldn't matter who is the first to ask, all that matters is the feeling is mutual and the love is worth it/ worthy.
Personally, I am working really hard to keep my courage up when talking to basically anybody, I'm a very shy person. But since my sister has recently told me, I have been finding this easier and easier to do. This guy is my reason for not having a romantic relationship, mostly because I have feared being hurt again. This relationship was rocky and lasted about 6 months, I was too scared to leave him because he was so strong and I didnt want to leave him and have someone else be abused by him like I was.
Having said this I want a man, not some jackass who thinks he's a man and goes around hurting wonderful people because he's just that narcissitic. I never ever want to be in that kind of relationship again, and to be sure of that I want a man who can trust me, and who I can trust back.