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How can I handle it better when this happens?

My suggestion is to behave as though you were on a break alone. Get out a magazine or novel and read. Go onto social media or text a friend.

Why do so many men often do this?

It's not fashionable these days to talk about the differences between men and women except when it's a criticism of men. Speaking as a man, I only ever had lasting relationships with women who didn't talk constantly. I remember spending a wonderful evening with a girlfriend. We were both reading, sitting in different armchairs and we hardly said a word the whole time. As an introvert, just having the company of a loving person was enough for me. Of course we did talk but not all the time.

So, I could reverse the question and ask, "Why do women feel the need to talk so much?" Again it's a generalisation.

I realise it's difficult to be the only woman among men but I can assure you, it is far from easy to be the only shy young man amongst older women - You will be subjected to endless teasing - they will talk about you instead of to you. I'm old now but I was once in that situation. I didn't enjoy it especially the sexual innuendo.

Since you are young and you are aware of this gender difference (a big generalisation because there are men who never stop talking and there are women who are very introverted), it will help you in any long term relationship that you may have with a man. You will not feel so bad if he doesn't fulfil the role of your women friends!

EDIT

I had some more thoughts about this today. Young people (stereotypically young women) often like to talk about trips, dating, clothes, makeup, parties, and so on. An older man is more likely to be worrying about (a) going bald (b) getting old (c) paying the mortgage (d) being able to afford their children's education (e) staying married or getting divorced (f) keeping their job, etc.

If you want to engage with someone who is being quiet, the chances are that they are worrying about one or more of these things. You could try to get closer to them by asking what's on their mind but be prepared for them not to tell you because it might be very personal. On the other hand it might be something like "We have to meet this deadline and John is sick - I'm trying to work out how to fill in for him", in which case you could just be a good listener - ask the occasional question but mainly just listen non-judgmentally. If you can master being truly non-judgemental and proving that you are not a gossip, people will often open up. However if you do gossip that person will never trust you again so respect confidences.

EDIT 2

You ask about small talk. Speaking for myself (an older man), I hate most small talk with a passion. I can sustain it for 5 minutes max and then I have to make my excuses and leave! If I can't leave then I find myself first yawning and ultimately falling asleep!

I suppose it depends what is meant by small talk though. I can talk for ages about guitars, guitar-playing, guitar sounds and so on. I think very often men will have a number of narrow interests that engage them (in many cases sport although that doesn't apply to me) and they don't like general conversation at all!

How can I handle it better when this happens?

My suggestion is to behave as though you were on a break alone. Get out a magazine or novel and read. Go onto social media or text a friend.

Why do so many men often do this?

It's not fashionable these days to talk about the differences between men and women except when it's a criticism of men. Speaking as a man, I only ever had lasting relationships with women who didn't talk constantly. I remember spending a wonderful evening with a girlfriend. We were both reading, sitting in different armchairs and we hardly said a word the whole time. As an introvert, just having the company of a loving person was enough for me. Of course we did talk but not all the time.

So, I could reverse the question and ask, "Why do women feel the need to talk so much?" Again it's a generalisation.

I realise it's difficult to be the only woman among men but I can assure you, it is far from easy to be the only shy young man amongst older women - You will be subjected to endless teasing - they will talk about you instead of to you. I'm old now but I was once in that situation. I didn't enjoy it especially the sexual innuendo.

Since you are young and you are aware of this gender difference (a big generalisation because there are men who never stop talking and there are women who are very introverted), it will help you in any long term relationship that you may have with a man. You will not feel so bad if he doesn't fulfil the role of your women friends!

EDIT

I had some more thoughts about this today. Young people (stereotypically young women) often like to talk about trips, dating, clothes, makeup, parties, and so on. An older man is more likely to be worrying about (a) going bald (b) getting old (c) paying the mortgage (d) being able to afford their children's education (e) staying married or getting divorced (f) keeping their job, etc.

If you want to engage with someone who is being quiet, the chances are that they are worrying about one or more of these things. You could try to get closer to them by asking what's on their mind but be prepared for them not to tell you because it might be very personal. On the other hand it might be something like "We have to meet this deadline and John is sick - I'm trying to work out how to fill in for him", in which case you could just be a good listener - ask the occasional question but mainly just listen non-judgmentally. If you can master being truly non-judgemental and proving that you are not a gossip, people will often open up. However if you do gossip that person will never trust you again so respect confidences.

EDIT 2

You ask about small talk. Speaking for myself (an older man), I hate most small talk with a passion. I can sustain it for 5 minutes max and then I have to make my excuses and leave! If I can't leave then I find myself first yawning and ultimately falling asleep!

I suppose it depends what is meant by small talk though. I can talk for ages about guitars, guitar-playing, guitar sounds and so on. I think very often men will have a number of narrow interests that engage them (football or cars or computers or photography for example) and they don't like general conversation at all!

How can I handle it better when this happens?

My suggestion is to behave as though you were on a break alone. Get out a magazine or novel and read. Go onto social media or text a friend.

Why do so many men often do this?

It's not fashionable these days to talk about the differences between men and women except when it's a criticism of men. Speaking as a man, I only ever had lasting relationships with women who didn't talk constantly. I remember spending a wonderful evening with a girlfriend. We were both reading, sitting in different armchairs and we hardly said a word the whole time. As an introvert, just having the company of a loving person was enough for me. Of course we did talk but not all the time.

So, I could reverse the question and ask, "Why do women feel the need to talk so much?" Again it's a generalisation.

I realise it's difficult to be the only woman among men but I can assure you, it is far from easy to be the only shy young man amongst older women - You will be subjected to endless teasing - they will talk about you instead of to you. I'm old now but I was once in that situation. I didn't enjoy it especially the sexual innuendo.

Since you are young and you are aware of this gender difference (a big generalisation because there are men who never stop talking and there are women who are very introverted), it will help you in any long term relationship that you may have with a man. You will not feel so bad if he doesn't fulfil the role of your women friends!

EDIT

I had some more thoughts about this today. Young people (stereotypically young women) often like to talk about trips, dating, clothes, makeup, parties, and so on. An older man is more likely to be worrying about (a) going bald (b) getting old (c) paying the mortgage (d) being able to afford their children's education (e) staying married or getting divorced (f) keeping their job, etc.

If you want to engage with someone who is being quiet, the chances are that they are worrying about one or more of these things. You could try to get closer to them by asking what's on their mind but be prepared for them not to tell you because it might be very personal. On the other hand it might be something like "We have to meet this deadline and John is sick - I'm trying to work out how to fill in for him", in which case you could just be a good listener - ask the occasional question but mainly just listen non-judgmentally. If you can master being truly non-judgemental and proving that you are not a gossip, people will often open up. However if you do gossip that person will never trust you again so respect confidences.

How can I handle it better when this happens?

My suggestion is to behave as though you were on a break alone. Get out a magazine or novel and read. Go onto social media or text a friend.

Why do so many men often do this?

It's not fashionable these days to talk about the differences between men and women except when it's a criticism of men. Speaking as a man, I only ever had lasting relationships with women who didn't talk constantly. I remember spending a wonderful evening with a girlfriend. We were both reading, sitting in different armchairs and we hardly said a word the whole time. As an introvert, just having the company of a loving person was enough for me. Of course we did talk but not all the time.

So, I could reverse the question and ask, "Why do women feel the need to talk so much?" Again it's a generalisation.

I realise it's difficult to be the only woman among men but I can assure you, it is far from easy to be the only shy young man amongst older women - You will be subjected to endless teasing - they will talk about you instead of to you. I'm old now but I was once in that situation. I didn't enjoy it especially the sexual innuendo.

Since you are young and you are aware of this gender difference (a big generalisation because there are men who never stop talking and there are women who are very introverted), it will help you in any long term relationship that you may have with a man. You will not feel so bad if he doesn't fulfil the role of your women friends!

EDIT

I had some more thoughts about this today. Young people (stereotypically young women) often like to talk about trips, dating, clothes, makeup, parties, and so on. An older man is more likely to be worrying about (a) going bald (b) getting old (c) paying the mortgage (d) being able to afford their children's education (e) staying married or getting divorced (f) keeping their job, etc.

If you want to engage with someone who is being quiet, the chances are that they are worrying about one or more of these things. You could try to get closer to them by asking what's on their mind but be prepared for them not to tell you because it might be very personal. On the other hand it might be something like "We have to meet this deadline and John is sick - I'm trying to work out how to fill in for him", in which case you could just be a good listener - ask the occasional question but mainly just listen non-judgmentally. If you can master being truly non-judgemental and proving that you are not a gossip, people will often open up. However if you do gossip that person will never trust you again so respect confidences.

EDIT 2

You ask about small talk. Speaking for myself (an older man), I hate most small talk with a passion. I can sustain it for 5 minutes max and then I have to make my excuses and leave! If I can't leave then I find myself first yawning and ultimately falling asleep!

I suppose it depends what is meant by small talk though. I can talk for ages about guitars, guitar-playing, guitar sounds and so on. I think very often men will have a number of narrow interests that engage them (in many cases sport although that doesn't apply to me) and they don't like general conversation at all!

How can I handle it better when this happens?

My suggestion is to behave as though you were on a break alone. Get out a magazine or novel and read. Go onto social media or text a friend.

Why do so many men often do this?

It's not fashionable these days to talk about the differences between men and women except when it's a criticism of men. Speaking as a man, I only ever had lasting relationships with women who didn't talk constantly. I remember spending a wonderful evening with a girlfriend. We were both reading, sitting in different armchairs and we hardly said a word the whole time. As an introvert, just having the company of a loving person was enough for me. Of course we did talk but not all the time.

So, I could reverse the question and ask, "Why do women feel the need to talk so much?" Again it's a generalisation.

I realise it's difficult to be the only woman among men but I can assure you, it is far from easy to be the only shy young man amongst older women - You will be subjected to endless teasing - they will talk about you instead of to you. I'm old now but I was once in that situation. I didn't enjoy it especially the sexual innuendo.

Since you are young and you are aware of this gender difference (a big generalisation because there are men who never stop talking and there are women who are very introverted), it will help you in any long term relationship that you may have with a man. You will not feel so bad if he doesn't fulfil the role of your women friends!

How can I handle it better when this happens?

My suggestion is to behave as though you were on a break alone. Get out a magazine or novel and read. Go onto social media or text a friend.

Why do so many men often do this?

It's not fashionable these days to talk about the differences between men and women except when it's a criticism of men. Speaking as a man, I only ever had lasting relationships with women who didn't talk constantly. I remember spending a wonderful evening with a girlfriend. We were both reading, sitting in different armchairs and we hardly said a word the whole time. As an introvert, just having the company of a loving person was enough for me. Of course we did talk but not all the time.

So, I could reverse the question and ask, "Why do women feel the need to talk so much?" Again it's a generalisation.

I realise it's difficult to be the only woman among men but I can assure you, it is far from easy to be the only shy young man amongst older women - You will be subjected to endless teasing - they will talk about you instead of to you. I'm old now but I was once in that situation. I didn't enjoy it especially the sexual innuendo.

Since you are young and you are aware of this gender difference (a big generalisation because there are men who never stop talking and there are women who are very introverted), it will help you in any long term relationship that you may have with a man. You will not feel so bad if he doesn't fulfil the role of your women friends!

EDIT

I had some more thoughts about this today. Young people (stereotypically young women) often like to talk about trips, dating, clothes, makeup, parties, and so on. An older man is more likely to be worrying about (a) going bald (b) getting old (c) paying the mortgage (d) being able to afford their children's education (e) staying married or getting divorced (f) keeping their job, etc.

If you want to engage with someone who is being quiet, the chances are that they are worrying about one or more of these things. You could try to get closer to them by asking what's on their mind but be prepared for them not to tell you because it might be very personal. On the other hand it might be something like "We have to meet this deadline and John is sick - I'm trying to work out how to fill in for him", in which case you could just be a good listener - ask the occasional question but mainly just listen non-judgmentally. If you can master being truly non-judgemental and proving that you are not a gossip, people will often open up. However if you do gossip that person will never trust you again so respect confidences.