Yeah, I grew up in the country, but I wouldn't consider myself a country boy. Being from Alabama, it is commonplace to wear camouflage throughout the winter, but I always rejected this societal norm for something less... country. Country music? Only every now and then. Trucks? I drive a sports car. Yes I wear hair product, but only because my hair would be a mess without it.
Like the country singer Trace Adkins says, "ladies love country boys." A fellow Odyssey creator, Hannah Walsh, also suggests this in her article, "For The Girl Who's Looking For A Country Boy." Growing up, I may not have been the most country "country boy," because I chose rap over country and cars over trucks even though I grew up in Alabama. A man can have country ways without being considered country, at least in his relationships with others. Here are some ways that guys can be a non-country "country boy."
1. Chivalry.
This art is not dead, believe it or not. Being from the South, my father always taught me to hold the door open for the person behind me because it is courteous, whether it is a man or woman that follows. Always wear a jacket: not for your warmth, but for the warmth of the lady with you who forgot hers. If she's wearing heels, walk behind her going up stairs, and in front of her going downstairs so she can brace herself on you.
Chivalry has taken a hit because some feel it is sexist or labels women as weak. I was raised to believe that if a woman is in a situation where she can use help, then you help her. Call me sexist.
2. Politeness.
It is the Southern norm (if you're raised correctly) to follow yes/no responses with a "sir" or "ma'am." Even at my college where the majority of students and instructors come out of state and region, I find myself addressing my elder instructors with "sir" and "ma'am." Having this conversational additive to your repertoire will boost your charm immensely.
3. Getting a little country.
A man doesn't have to have a closet full of camouflage, a .30/06 rifle, and a Ford F150 on 32" mudding tires with a lift kit to be labeled as an "outdoorsman." Although these things certainly help, a man who can appreciate a crisp, cool winter morning, getting out in the woods, and listening to George Strait is enough to turn the head for any woman looking for a "country boy."
It never kills anyone to try something new. Not only does becoming more country provide a new outlet for fun, but it also increases the sense of masculinity, which brings us to...
4. Manliness.
Firm handshake? Check. Looking someone in the eyes when you talk to them? Check. Well dressed and well (but not too well) groomed? Check. At some point, a man also has to prove he can get his hands dirty, so if he's too focused on his hair and dress, how can he change a tire or earn a few callouses on those man hands?
There's no need to grow a beard and bellow from a high mountain while bald eagles fly overhead, but try to skip the skinny jeans and scarves and keep it simple.
5. Being down to Earth.
Growing up Southern and being gentlemanly has taught me one thing: women like men who are down to earth. "Country boys" tend to be less rude and more sympathetic than their northern counterparts, as well as better listeners and less likely to say something offensive to a woman.
Believe it or not, women like men who are kind and nurturing in a relationship, as well as men who can be honest about how they feel without playing games.
6. Independence
Yes, we (as men) get it: women like men who give them attention and spend a lot of time with them. But part of being a gentleman, particularly a Southern gentleman, is the delicate balance of dependence and independence on a woman. A man who can provide for and maintain himself is a man worth keeping, assuming he isn't too manly and refuses to let anyone help him. Balance is the key.
Hopefully, these tips will help my fellow gentleman out there be the man that every girl wants in a "country boy," without having to be from the country.
