"Men say “I love you” first because they’re expected to make the first move, and there’s less risk involved for them. After all, they’ve been told that it’s what all ladies want to hear. On the other hand, women may be more hesitant to say the words when they feel them because hundreds of Cosmo articles have warned them about scaring men off by being too emotionally needy. Maybe it’s harder for women to say “I love you” first because what they really want to express is, “I have strong feelings for you, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I’m desperate for a ring and a baby like the chicks you’ve read about in those science articles."
*le sigh*
Men Say “I Love You” First, But Surely They Don’t Mean It - Jezebel