Indeed.

Another point that crossed my mind ( but was forgot in the thick of typing ) was that all of this is compounded by unrealistic expectations placed upon males.

We are supposed to be tougher and better able to handle rejection. Therefore we are also expected to put ourselves out there by taking the initiative and risking rejection.

Whereas all studies seem to show that men are the more fragile sex emotionally; and are less able to come back from divorce and other emotional blows.

When you look at us from the evolutionary standpoint as the "disposable sex" ( after our genetic contribution is made ) I suspect that this fragility would be evident even in a world that encouraged men to talk about their feelings and seek out support.

The sexual revolution that allowed women to freely choose to take the lead or to wait for another was a great boon. Men are still waiting for that revolution to arrive.

As it is, she has options and he still has a role to play whether it suits him or not.

Of course it is a slippery slope from recognizing that the revolution was left incomplete to blaming women for placing the onus upon men.

However, I would also like to point out that those who benefit from the traditional male role are the same Bros who were at the top of the pecking order in the olde days too.

What HAS shifted is that now it is even more likely that those men who chose to reject a role they dislike might meet more females who also reject that social arrangement. Its no guarantee of success. But any improvement in the odds is progress.

Dante