I’m trying, but without external validation, all that remains is the status quo.
Go to a gay bar. Not even joking. Gay men are the single best thing for any man’s confidence. And sense of male self-worth.
You don’t have to be gay to uplift and compliment the other men you interact with. That’s just a side effect of toxic masculinity. Men can compliment each other, uplift each other, and say “Hey man, you’re looking good today. You make that shirt look good!” without being gay. Not that I disagree with anything you said, just you’re comment got me thinking about the weird effects of the patriarchy on men supporting other men.
I agree, we shouldn’t have to go to a gay bar.
And just to be clear, it’s not just a question of men supporting men. Women don’t complement men either. No one does…except gay men.