Do guys think a strong/firm handshake from a girl is intimidating and off-putting?

[Anonymous]

I'm an 18 year old female. Lately it feels like I have been meeting more and more new people, and my go-to opening "move" is a handshake. I like to give a considerably firm hand shake to exert power, and sometimes I shake with two hands as a sarcastic power-play.
I'm just wondering, do guys like a strong handshake from a girl, or is it intimidating and unfeminine? Do you guys even think about it, or could you care less? Am I reading too much into this?
I'd prefer a man's opinion, but there's nothing stopping girls from answering either, so go at it.

[inamorata]

-I'm just wondering, do guys like a strong handshake from a girl?
There is no reason to "like it". =/ I'm confused.

-Or is it intimidating and unfeminine?
Can be. Depends whether he uses the handshake to judge you. If yes, then keep in mind power, force, firmness... All unfeminine.

-Do you guys even think about it, or could you care less?
I'm not a guy to answer, but I know my father and one other guy who really pay attention to this and judge a person a bit, based on their handshake.Mostly other men. They touch women much more lightly, or not at all, as it is a custom where I live.

-Am I reading too much into this?
You're not alone I suppose even if you are.

[TheoryOfAvarice]

I've never, ever had a man seem upset about a firm handshake.
In fact it usually seems to surprise them. A strong handshake from me with my teacher in high school (who was also the track coach) prompted him to ask me to join track and be a thrower for him.

Most girls, when you go to shake hands, it's like they just limply hold out their hand and you feel like you're going to crush half of their fingers... it's really annoying.

[heavensgift2girls]

I don't pay much attention to how someone shakes hands... unless they do that thing where they only grab my fingertips so I am forced to give a weak dainty handshake. I have a guy friend that actually curtsies like a lady when people do that to him. lol

As far as them giving me a strong or weak handshake, I don't read into that at all. Just because they don't want to break my hand, doesn't make them a weaker person. If anything I think would read a double handshake as being overly friendly, or trying too hard to impress, simply because it is so rarely used. I don't think femininity comes into play in handshaking for me one way or another.

[JohnWhilkins]

I think a strong handshake is off-putting regardless of your gender. What message are you trying to get across? That you're in for a fight? Just relax.

[iUnderachieve]

Power, power and more power. All you need to do now is go super saiyan and you're ready to find a husband; but seriously keep it firm.

[NoblesseOblige]

Don't shake with 2 hands, that's weird. Firm handshakes are great. Most girls are limp fish. So unsatisfying.

[Anonymous]

A firm handshake from a women is a nice change as most of them seem weak and limp. However, overdoing it is not good either as it comes off as trying too hard to impress or something. It's not intimidating, just off putting.

[caesar-rexensis]

no, it doesn't bother me.