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    Categories>Relationship>The Advantage of the First Move: Why Women Should Message First

    The Advantage of the First Move: Why Women Should Message First

    18 min
    |
    |
    Apr 30, 2026
    RelationshipPsychologyPersonal Development

    Explore why making the first move in online dating leads to higher response rates and better matches for women based on the latest dating app statistics and data.

    The Advantage of the First Move: Why Women Should Message First

    Best quote from The Advantage of the First Move: Why Women Should Message First

    “

    By waiting to be picked, you might be missing out on the person you actually want. It’s the difference between being a passive observer and the one in the driver's seat.

    ”

    This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member

    Input question

    why girls have high success rate in asking out rather than boys

    Host voices
    Lenaplay
    Milesplay
    Learning style
    Fun
    Knowledge sources
    link
    https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/FICS/article/viewFile/7043/6495
    SPP476309 685..691
    link
    https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/swell/wp-content/uploads/sites/5160/2020/06/Cameron-Stinson-Wood-2013.pdf
    “Where Have All the Good Men Gone?” Gendered Interactions in Online Dating
    link
    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jomf.12072
    Go ahead, ladies, make the first move. You’ll date more attractive men.
    link
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soloish/wp/2016/03/21/go-ahead-ladies-make-the-first-move-youll-date-more-attractive-men/
    Women are more successful if they make the first move, OkCupid data shows
    link
    https://www.dailydot.com/irl/okcupid-data-women-initiate/?tw=dd
    untitled
    link
    https://faculty.wcas.northwestern.edu/eli-finkel/documents/49_FinkelEastwickInPress_PSci.pdf

    Frequently Asked Questions

    According to the data discussed in The Advantage of the First Move, women who initiate contact online are two and a half times more likely to receive a response than men who do the same. By taking the driver's seat and messaging first, women move from being passive observers to active participants, significantly increasing their chances of starting a conversation with someone they are genuinely interested in.

    Research shared by Lena and Miles indicates that women who reach out first often end up having conversations with much more attractive men. While men still initiate contact more frequently, women who flip the script and send the first message tend to see better results. This suggests that boldness pays off by allowing individuals to connect with higher-quality matches rather than just waiting to be picked.

    Dating psychology reveals a massive gap between traditional gender roles and what actually gets results in the modern world. While many believe it is the man's job to approach, the numbers show that these invisible rules do not match current dating app statistics. Understanding the psychology of success involves recognizing that breaking these traditional norms can lead to a significant advantage in relationship success and engagement.

    The discussion highlights that straight women are currently three and a half times less likely to send the first message compared to men. This behavior is often driven by invisible social rules and the expectation that they should wait to be approached. However, the podcast emphasizes that overcoming this hesitation is key to taking control of one's dating life and achieving better outcomes through proactive communication.

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    "Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

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    "Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

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    "Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

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    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

    @djmikemoore
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    Key Takeaways

    1

    The Surprising Power of the First Move

    0:00
    0:24
    0:49
    1:11
    1:24
    1:36
    1:46
    2

    Breaking the Passive Script

    1:55
    2:15
    2:26
    2:48
    2:56
    3:16
    3:29
    3:47
    3:56
    4:12
    4:27
    3

    Profile of a Relationship Initiator

    4:36
    4:45
    5:03
    1:11
    5:24
    5:36
    5:57
    6:12
    6:22
    6:29
    6:43
    6:53
    7:05
    4

    The Psychology of the Approach

    7:19
    7:32
    1:11
    7:53
    7:55
    8:05
    8:08
    8:19
    8:26
    8:38
    8:46
    9:02
    6:53
    9:22
    9:33
    9:48
    5

    The Success Rate Disparity

    9:57
    10:12
    10:16
    10:29
    1:11
    10:47
    10:53
    11:10
    11:20
    11:32
    1:11
    12:03
    12:12
    12:20
    6

    Real World Tactics and Rejection

    12:31
    12:44
    12:53
    13:07
    3:56
    13:31
    1:11
    13:56
    14:00
    14:18
    14:28
    14:41
    1:11
    14:55
    7

    Your Playbook for Taking Charge

    15:08
    15:23
    15:31
    15:50
    15:56
    16:07
    1:11
    16:30
    16:38
    16:53
    17:04
    17:11
    8

    Reflections on the Bold Move

    17:18
    17:33
    8:08
    15:23
    18:09
    18:17
    18:25
    18:34
    18:43
    18:46

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