Ten years ago, we asked teens about the relationships between guys and girls. This year, we asked them the same questions. We thought there might be a difference in a decade, but a lot of things stayed the same. Whether 2003 or 2013, guys and girls are interested in trust, honesty and respect – pretty eternal values for relationships!

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What mistakes do girls make with guys?

2003

• They read into things too much.
• They flirt too much.
• They think guys care only about looks.

2013

• They read too much into what we do.
• They never go for the good guy; they usually go with someone who makes bad choices.
• They don’t say how they really feel.

What mistakes do guys make with girls?

2003

• Pressuring them.
• Judging them based on their looks and bodies.
• Downplaying things that are important to girls.

2013

• Insulting girls’ activities, for example, saying, “You throw like a girl” as an insult. You gotta have respect.
• They don’t always respect us and our personal boundaries, whether they are sexual or otherwise.
• Expecting girls to look like celebrities.

This is what I want in a relationship:

2003

• Deep conversations
• Sharing faith and growing closer to God.
• Complete trust and honesty.

2013

• Honesty and trust.
• Fun and spontaneity.
• Equal cooperation and input from each partner.

This is what I want in a relationship:

2003

• God to be the center.
• Good communication.
• A mutual friendship built on love, respect, trust and faith.

2013

• Honesty, respect, communication.
• Faith.
• Someone who cares as much for me as I do for him.

What I am NOT looking for in a relationship:

2003

• Premarital sex.
• Too much talking or too little.
• Someone who isn’t Catholic.

2013

• Someone who is fake.
• Cheating or dishonesty.
• Drama.

What I am NOT looking for in a relationship:

2003

• Someone who is dominating, disrespectful, dishonest, abusive or jealous
• Someone who won’t help me in my faith.
• Someone who consumes all my time.

2013

• A relationship based on sex, or the pressure to have sex.
• Disrespect and lack of trust.
• Clinginess.

If you want to know me better, you will:

2003

• Talk to me.
• Spend time with me.
• Be interested in who I am.

2013

• Carry on an intelligent conversation – don’t act dumb!
• Talk to me instead of instantly judging me.
• Spend time with me.

If you want to know me better, you will:

2003

• Spend time talking to me.
• Pay attention and listen.
• Meet my family.

2013

• Talk to me.
• Listen to what I have to say.
• Treat me as a person, not an object.

If you have a problem with the fact that God is important to me, you can:

2003

• Find someone else.
• Be willing to learn about God.
• Feel free to ask me about God.

2013

• Leave.
• Try to deal with it or see my side.
• Find someone else.

If you have a problem with the fact that God is important to me, you can:

2003

• Not date me.
• Leave.
• Find someone else – I’ll pray for you.

2013

• Show yourself out – the door is that way!
• Not date me and I will pray for you.
• Learn to respect it or leave.

If you want to know me better, you better not:

2003

• Flirt with other guys.
• Act differently depending on who you are around
• Be cruel to others or disrespectful to God.

2013

• Judge me.
• Talk all the time – guys have feelings too and would occasionally like to be listened to.
• Pretend to be someone you’re not.

If you want to know me better, you better not:

2003

• Do drugs or get drunk.
• Swear.
• Be rude to others or disrespectful to God.

2013

• Be rude, mean or disrespectful.
• Interrupt or ignore me.
• Push me.

I am really interested in someone who:

2003

• Is open to sharing her thinking and speaking her mind; isn’t afraid of being herself.
• Loves God.
• Shows support and wants to get to know me.

2013

• Is interested in what I have to say.
• Loves sports.
• Shares and respects my values.

I am really interested in someone who:

2003

• Has a strong love for God and takes his faith seriously.
• Is kind, respectful and trustworthy.
• Can be himself without having to show off.

2013

• Has a strong faith.
• Is funny.
• Likes me for me.

This is what I have to offer in a relationship:

2003

• Faith and love of God.
• Honesty trust and listening ears.
• A sense of humor.

2013

• Honesty and trustworthiness
• Someone who will stand by a girl
• Love – the real me.

This is what I have to offer in a relationship:

2003

• Love of God and encouragement to grow in faith.
• Support, respect, listening, understanding.
• Humor, fun and laughter.

2013

• Love.
• Being funny.
• Honest and trustworthy

If you aren’t Catholic, and you want to go out with me, you should know:

2003

• I will accept you, but I won’t change.
• My faith is very important to me, so don’t try to change that.
• I will try to show you the truth.

2013

• I’m not apologizing for my faith – know that God comes first.
• I will encourage you to go to church with me, and I won’t stop going because of you.
• I’m really only interested in Catholic girls.

If you aren’t Catholic, and you want to go out with me, you should know:

2003

• My faith is the most important thing to me and will not change.
• We can talk about faith, and I will try to answer any questions you have.
• Our relationship may not last.

2013

• I won’t change for you.
• Faith comes first.
• I respect your beliefs, as long as you respect mine.

Best differences between guys and girls:

2003

• Girls can have children
• Girls are more passionate and guys are more laid back – it’s a good balance.
• Girls tend to be more caring.

2013

• Their ability to listen
• Girls are somewhat more intelligent decision makers.
• Guys like to solve problems; girls like to relate to others. Both are vital.

Best differences between guys and girls:

2003

• Guys often keep things simple and are more laid back.
• Their different ways of solving problems.
• Guys are comforting when girls are emotional.

2013

• They think differently
• They balance each other out.
• Guys have less drama.

Girls can help guys practice chastity by:

2003

• Dressing modestly
• Practicing chastity – talking about it.
• Drawing a line that does not get crossed.

2013

• Wearing modest clothing
• Teaching us.
• Not being too “lovey.”

Girls can help guys practice chastity by:

2003

• Dressing appropriately.
• Practicing it ourselves.
• Talking about why chastity is important.

2013

• Wearing modest clothing.
• Saying no and setting boundaries.
• Saying no to pressure.

Guys can help girls practice chastity by:

2003

• Respecting her by not starting anything or going too far.
• Controlling my emotions.
• Not spending the night at her house.

2013

• Not putting pressure on them.
• Not making sexual jokes.
• Respecting their reasons for saying ‘no.’

Guys can help girls practice chastity by:

2003

• Not pressuring me.
• Understanding what chastity is and practicing it himself.
• Talking about why chastity is important.

2013

• Being respectful of boundaries
• Practicing chastity with them.
• Making them feel beautiful all the time.

I am disgusted when:

2003

• A girl shows a lack of respect for herself by the way she dresses or acts.
• She flirts with every guy.
• She smokes or swears.

2013

• Girls do not wear correct clothing.
• Girls burp really loud.
• I see graphic nudity scenes in some movies.

I am disgusted when:

2003

• A guy swears.
• A guy is disrespectful to women or talks about them as objects.
• A guy smokes and drinks.

2013

• I see people making out in the hallways of school.
• I see teen relationships based on sex.
• People cheat.

One thing I think every girl or guy should know about the other is:

2003

• Guys are not all ‘pigs’ – there are a lot of nice guys out there.
• God is the center of a good relationship.
• Dress modestly and set high standards of love and respect.

2013

• Everyone is special in their own way
• Their likes and dislikes.
• Where they want to go in life.

One thing I think every girl or guy should know about the other is:

2013

• Respect and honesty are key.
• There’s a special girl out there – treat all girls as you would treat her.
• Praying and being chaste are essential – not unmanly.

2013

• Everyone is unique – stand true to who you are.
• We’re all just people and gender shouldn’t affect how we get along.
• Boundaries.