Do Men Have Any Pressure When It Comes to Dating?

The Modern Pressures of Dating as a Man.

Men’s struggles are real, not just footnotes in the dating dialogue. Acknowledging men’s struggles isn’t dismissing women’s; it’s balancing the conversation.

Typically when it’s discussed, the responses are, “well, women go through this too.” Or other responses, like “tough luck.” Men rarely, if ever, have spaces to talk about things without being labeled an “incel,” not man enough, or whatever other shaming tactics they can use. I believe true equality listens to all voices, not just the loudest, because dialogue is a two-way street; everyone deserves a lane.

The experience of not being listened to as a man is one that feels as though you’re alone in a crowded room, screaming into a void that stretches endlessly. It’s like being trapped inside a glass box, your words hitting the transparent walls and bouncing back to you unheard, unacknowledged. It is a type of pain that gnaws at your soul, steadily chipping away at your sense of self-worth and esteem. Because when you do finally speak out, the response you typically get is,

“But you’re a man!? You guys created most the messes we’re in!”

Yes, I’m responsible for most wars, financial collapses, bad presidencies, and anything else some idiot man did or is currently doing.

Congratulations, you’ve painted us a monolith; you’re a moron.

June is Men’s mental health month. I’m guessing you didn’t know? And that’s okay. After all, there’s Pride Month and Juneteenth. All great celebrations, but I want to talk about us men if that’s all the same.

When men’s feelings of dejection pervade a man’s life, it’s a distinctly unique and challenging experience. Society, through a combination of cultural conditioning and stereotypes, often expects men to be stoic, society hands them an anchor instead of a life jacket. We’re told to be the ‘strong’ who, amid life’s tempests, aren’t allowed the luxury of a quiver. We’re fashioned to bottle our feelings, not uncork them.

Men’s struggles, pains, and emotional needs are often overlooked and often invalidated especially on medium. Just look at the articles and the comments from some women. When a…