7 Signs Your Partner Doesn’t Respect You

Respect is one of the essential ingredients of any healthy, meaningful, and happy relationship. When partners respect each other, they tend to feel more accepted, admired, appreciated, and safe in a relationship. On the other hand, when partners don’t respect each other, they tend to feel angry, suspicious of each other, and highly resentful.

Noticing the signs your husband, wife, or partner doesn’t respect you is crucial in a relationship, as this can help you recognize a problem before it escalates. It can save you from feeling unappreciated, unprotected, and resentful, and at the end of the day, from staying in a relationship that’s bound to fail.

Many relationship experts say that if you can identify any of the signs given below, this is an indication that you’re in a relationship with a partner who doesn’t respect you.

Here are 7 telltale signs your partner doesn’t respect you:

They put you down in front of others. This is one of the most painful things your partner can put you through. It’s not only demeaning, but it also shows your partner does not care about your feelings or emotional wellbeing. Public embarrassment, making jokes aimed at hurting one’s pride, could be a display of narcissistic behavior. 

They have no sense of boundaries. Having your partner oblivious that you, too, want to be alone sometimes and that you are not up for playing video games or watching a movie because you are tired or you have a splitting headache can be annoying. But, what hurts the most is that they don’t bother to ask what is wrong, they just push you to do what they want to do. Or, you clearly said that something bothers you, yet they keep doing it.

Disrespect is really that last drop that spills the water out from the glass sometimes, don’t you think? It’s because it hurts, and it’s bafflingly annoying at the same time.  (1)

They badmouth your friends and family. If you step up and you set up the limits from the start, you clearly show your partner what things are off their grid and what things are within it you allow. When a person dares to disrespect you or your family or friends, they know they can get away with their behavior, and they will keep doing it. Let your partner know they should accept your circle of people – they are the ones that raised you, the ones you grew up with, and if they don’t like them, too bad! There is nothing you can do about it.

They want everything their way. How can you tell the difference between hitting a rough patch in a relationship and a relationship that just isn’t working? Respect, yes. You may be swinging for the fences, but what if your partner isn’t putting in the effort on their side? What if they only acknowledge their own needs and never compromise? That’s a sign of disrespect right there. For a relationship to thrive, partners should meet halfway. (2)

They never ask for your opinion. If your partner doesn’t bother asking for your opinion, it’s very likely they don’t care about it. Our partners should want to listen to our advice and opinion, not because it’s the best out there or the brightest, but because they care to hear it. 

They are way too critical. Going down that judgment lane is everything but pleasant. I know how you feel. There are people that will push you against the wall with their reproaching looks and critical words. It sucks bearing that feeling of not being enough on your shoulders. If they constantly mention your wrongdoings, mistakes from the past, or your flaws, that’s not only disrespectful and judgmental, that’s a little toxic too.

They are not kind to you. Respect is a two-way street. I cannot tell you how many times I have gone through that one-way street and felt miserable. I have left myself to be in a relationship that was not good for me for too long only because I thought things would change.

If you are giving respect, you should receive it back. I didn’t. If you feel like you are the only one, please don’t because you are not, and it is NOT your fault. Don’t blame yourself for something others are not doing.  

You know, the important thing is to speak up when your partner doesn’t respect you and not let it happen again. It’s really important to fight for yourself because you deserve to be treated right, because if you don’t, who else will, darling? If your partner is not being nice to you in any way, if there is no kindness and affection, you shouldn’t continue being in that relationship. I mean, is it really so hard to be nice? At the end of the day, you are just asking for a little care and affection. 

What To Do When Your Partner Doesn’t Respect You

There’s no space for disrespect in a healthy, meaningful, and successful relationship. If you can spot any of the above-mentioned signs in your relationship, you can take this as a clear sign that your partner doesn’t respect you, and, in what follows, we’ve explained what you can do about it.

1. Respect Yourself

You can’t expect your partner to respect you if you don’t respect yourself. So, the question is: How do you respect yourself?

You respect yourself by treating yourself with dignity, care, and love and looking after your overall health.

You respect yourself by accepting and loving yourself for who you are, with all your weaknesses and imperfections. 

You show yourself respect by living your life according to your own values and principles and not sacrificing your needs, feelings, desires, and priorities to meet other people’s expectations or receive their approval.

You respect yourself by saying ‘no’ to things that don’t feel right. For example, if your partner invited you to dinner that they organized with your mutual friends, but you had a rough day at Work and didn’t feel like going to the dinner, you have every right to decline the invitation without feeling the need to explain yourself.

You show yourself respect by surrounding yourself with positive, honest, trustworthy, and loyal people. People you know you can always rely on and who bring a sense of fulfillment and happiness into your life.

And last but not least, you respect yourself by calling out people on their behavior when they hurt you and letting them know what behaviors you will or won’t tolerate.

2. Identify The Nature Of Their Disrespectful Behavior

Your partner could have displayed disrespectful behavior since they were frustrated over something related to their Work or with a friend. Of course, this isn’t a valid excuse, but it also shows that they didn’t disrespect you intentionally. Also, if they sincerely apologize to you for their disrespectful behavior, you can take this as a sure sign that they didn’t behave that way on purpose and that they’re sorry for it.

On the other hand, if your partner never apologizes to you for their disrespectful figure, you can take this as a sign that they hurt your feelings intentionally. Perhaps they think you deserve what they’ve done to you, and they have nothing to apologize for. When you’re in a relationship with someone who treats you this way, this is a clear sign that your relationship is not headed in the right direction.

3. Set Clear Boundaries

Once you’ve identified the reason behind your partner’s disrespectful behavior, you might want to consider establishing clear boundaries and making sure your partner is well aware of them.

If your partner said or did something that hurt your feelings, bring it up to them. Let them know it was offensive and that you won’t tolerate that type of behavior. Let them know how you expect and deserve to be treated.

4. Walk Away

If you’ve called your partner out on their behavior and let them know what behaviors you’re willing to tolerate and what behaviors you’d never put up with, and they continue to disrespect you, you have every right to walk away.

You deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, and if someone is not aware of that, they don’t deserve a place in your life.

10 Signs Your Child Doesn’t Respect You

1. Your Child Disobeys Family Rules

Every family has rules and traditions that they’re all required to respect. However, if your child acts like your family rules regarding doing everyday tasks or household chores and how they’re supposed to treat you and other elders, this is the first and sure sign your child has no respect and concern for you.

2. Your Child Becomes Demanding

As parents, we all need to meet our children’s needs and cater to their desires. However, if your child gets everything that they want and continues to demand more, this is a sure sign they don’t respect your boundaries and you as well.

3. Your Child Becomes Mean To You

If you’re a loving, caring, and supportive parent and your child dares to pick fights with you or even make sarcastic comments about you or insult you when they don’t get something they want, or for no apparent reason, this is a sure sign they don’t show you respect.

4. Your Child Expects Special Treatment

When you cater to all of your child’s needs and desires, it’s easy for them to become ungrateful and start behaving like they’re the only one in the entire world. 

Providing your child with so much support and comfort can make them feel like they deserve special treatment every time and begin to look down on kids that are not treated the same way at home. 

Moreover, your relationship with your child can become conditional, which means they are good to you only when you give them what they want. And when you don’t, they become passive-aggressive and rude to you.

5. Your Child Doesn’t Share Things Or Help With Their Siblings

The saying ‘Sharing is caring’ should have meaning for both parents and children. However, if your child refuses to share food, clothes, toys, or help with their siblings, this shows this saying has no meaning for them. 

If this is the way your child behaves at home, not only is this a clear sign they don’t respect you, but it’s also a sign that they’re self-centered and don’t respect their siblings and their needs.

6. Your Child Rarely Does Anything On Their Own

Caring and responsible parents provide their children with everything up to a certain age. But as your child grows older, they should be willing to do things they’re ready for and can do properly on their own. For example, picking up toys, making their beds in the morning, helping you clear the table after lunch, or throwing out the garbage are simple things that don’t require time or effort and can teach your child how to be responsible.

However, if your child refuses to do things around the house, rarely does anything by themselves, and constantly expects you to do something for them, this is a telltale sign they don’t show you respect.

7. Your Child Doesn’t Show Sympathy Or Care For Others

If your child acts like your and their siblings’ feelings, needs, time, concerns, and problems have no meaning for them, not only is this a sign of disrespect, but it may also be a sign that they don’t love you or their siblings.

When a child doesn’t show sympathy or care for family members and/or other people, there’s a risk that they might grow into a bully that enjoys hurting others.

8. Your Child Is Never Satisfied With What They Have

Loving and caring parents cater to their children’s desires and needs. But if it seems like your child is never happy or satisfied with what you provide them with and never says ‘thank you’ no matter what you do for them, not only is this a sign that they’re ungrateful, it’s also a sign they don’t respect you as well as everything you do for them as a parent.

9. Your Child Doesn’t Accept ‘No’

If your child always expects you to do or give them what they want you to on first demand, even if you said ‘no,’ but also promised to do that later, this is a clear sign they don’t respect you. It’s easy for a child to become fussy or stubborn when they’re rejected without being told the reason for it. But if you’ve explained to your child why you can’t do what they want you to and they’re still fussy or even rude to you, then there’s no excuse for their disrespectful behavior.

10. Your Child Frequently Has Tantrums At Home

There’s nothing wrong with providing your child with what they want if you’re able to do that. But when you don’t buy your child something they want since you can’t afford to buy it and your child throws a tantrum because of that, a serious problem can arise.

If your child starts whining, screaming, crying, or kicking every time they don’t get their way, this is a telltale sign your child is rude and mean since the way they react to rejections is completely dramatic and negative.

7 Signs Someone Doesn’t Respect You

Of course, if someone lies to you, manipulates you, or talks about you behind your back, they are showing disrespectful behavior. 

However, disrespect doesn’t always come in such obvious forms. 

There are many other less offensive actions that are a sign a person doesn’t respect you the way they should. So, in what follows, we’ve presented 7 subtle signs someone treats you with disrespect.

1. They Constantly Look At Their Phone When Interacting With You

Whether it’s texting someone or checking how many likes their newly posted photo on social media has received, when a person is always on their phone when interacting with you, it’s a clear sign of disrespect.

Someone who respects you will be willing to get rid of any distractions and pay close attention to what you have to say, including putting their phone away. In this way, not only do they show that they appreciate your company and time, but they also show they’re interested in what you have to share with them.

2. They Interrupt You When Talking With You

Clearly, not every detail, joke, or story someone shares with us we’re going to find interesting or thrilling. But if you respect someone, you’ll listen to them attentively when talking to you and allow them to finish their thoughts prior to asking them something or changing the topic. When you respect someone, you show interest in what they have to say, even if that is not always the most exciting piece of information.

On the other hand, when a person constantly interrupts you when talking with them or tries to change the topic of conversation, this shows that they value what they have to say more than your opinion, and they couldn’t care less about something that is obviously important to you.

3. They Change The Subject When You Try To Call Them Out On Their Behavior

If a person tries to change the subject or accuse you of being too sensitive or dramatic every time you want to call them out on their behavior because they said or did something that hurt you, you can take this as a sign that they don’t respect you. Because a person that respects you will allow you to express your feelings and opinions, even if they don’t agree.

4. They Excessively Call Or Text You When They Know You’re At Work

Of course, we all want to be in touch with those we love and care about. But if someone respects you, they’ll know when it’s appropriate to reach out. They won’t text you or call you ten thousand times when they know you’re at Work, studying, or busy doing something important. So, if someone excessively calls you or sends you messages when they know you’re busy, this shows that they value their time more than yours, and they don’t respect your boundaries.

5. They Only Text You Or Call You When They Need Something

A person who respects you will be there for you, even when they don’t expect you to do them a favor. They’ll give you their attention and show that they care about you, even when they can’t benefit from that. 

On the other hand, someone who doesn’t respect you will only reach out when they need you to do something for them, but when it’s you that need their support or help with something, they’ll simply disappear.

6. They Put You Down

A person who respects you will tell you what they think about you right to your face without harshly criticizing you or belittling you. On the other hand, someone who doesn’t respect you will insult you or make sarcastic or derogatory comments about you or something related to you. When someone treats you this way, it’s important to show them that you won’t tolerate such behavior.

7. They Don’t Keep Their Promises

Sure, we all sometimes get swamped with Work or other tasks and responsibilities, but that doesn’t mean we have the right to constantly break the promises we’ve made to our loved ones. So, if a friend, family member, or even your partner repeatedly goes back on their promises, this may be a sign that they don’t value your relationship or time the way they should.