It’s perfectly fine to be a “feminine” man. Young men do not need a vision of “positive masculinity.” They need what everyone else needs: to be a good person who has a satisfying, meaningful life.
Honestly, this should be a given. Maybe in earlier versions of society, the embellishment and reinforcement of dimorphic traits and gender roles had certain utility, but more and more it’s just forced, backward, and adds needless friction and complication to daily life.
Whenever I come across a strong advocate for preserving archetypal masculine ideals, I like to agree with them enthusiastically and straight-face describe their real man ideal with increasing precision until they relent. Everyone must accept either that a full spectrum of gender expression is acceptable or that they themselves will never pass muster when we really dial in the old archetypes.
Honestly, this should be a given. Maybe in earlier versions of society, the embellishment and reinforcement of dimorphic traits and gender roles had certain utility, but more and more it’s just forced, backward, and adds needless friction and complication to daily life.
Whenever I come across a strong advocate for preserving archetypal masculine ideals, I like to agree with them enthusiastically and straight-face describe their real man ideal with increasing precision until they relent. Everyone must accept either that a full spectrum of gender expression is acceptable or that they themselves will never pass muster when we really dial in the old archetypes.