A friend of mine was recently told that he was ‘beautiful’ by another man. My friend is a man. My friend realised in that moment that he couldn’t remember the last time that he was called beautiful.
He posted a story on Instagram talking about how good it felt being called beautiful. Just in general too. Not even specifically that it was by another man.
Who was straight, I might add, reluctantly. Unfortunately, it feels important to make that clear because, my god, a lot of men these days are on the ropes. Persistently crippled by a fear of being seen as gay .
In the same breath as exclaiming masculinity is all about strength and resilience. Which it can be, among other things. So why the fear? Why so fragile? Who cares how another man views you? Doesn’t sound very ‘masculine’ at all.
But yeah, two men exchanged beauty with no fear or worry. And my friend was taken aback. Again – not because he was told that by a man.
Because he was told that in general. Roman Kemp wants us to talk about the male mental health crisis Andrew Tate is the worst possible example of being a man What’s more is that he was apprehensive about even publicly exclaiming how good that made him feel. Out of a fear that he would be “centring” himself.
Or that him relaying the truth of his experience would somehow undermine or deflect from the very real dangers people face at the hands of men. He was scared to just say that he enjoyed being called beautiful on the basis it never happens..