via https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/us/abortion-laws-roe-v-wade.html

Look at Jim Halpert. I’m rewatching the Office this month and I can’t help but be viscerally disgusted by how lacking in honour/manhood his character is. He lacks drive. He lacks vision, ambition, maturity, integrity and responsibility. There are so many instances where he has no sense of possessiveness, protectiveness or masculine dignity with Pam when she becomes his woman. He behaves like a child most of the time despite being a fully grown man. He doesn’t seem to have any real hobbies or motivating interests. And yet, he is posited as the dreamboat, the ideal man, the kind of guy every girl dreams of (or should dream of) despite not even being capable of basic leadership. Nobody respects him, and he scarcely even respects the woman who becomes his wife.

Some pathetic article was even written in Cosmo valorising these weak, milquetoast attributes. Read it, please.

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/news/a32963/never-stop-being-nervous-an-ode-to-beta-males/

Now, contrast public attitudes towards Jim, to those directed at Dwight Schrute. I know these examples are a bit hilarious and silly, but bear with me. Dwight is an actual man. Despite being less ‘cute’ and ‘goofy’ than lukewarm Jim, he is infinitely more desirable as a partner and comfortably operates in his masculine. He has a plentiful amount of hobbies, passions and interests, and exercises a deep degree of commitment, investment and motivation in pursuing them. He isn’t easily distracted and has clear goals that he relentlessly pursues. He takes immense, enormous pride in being a protector, an enforcer of justice and safety. He prioritises ownership, and would never in a million years let his kin go without security, resources or safety. Though he’s crude and idiotic a lot of the time (exaggerated for comedic effect), the true essence of his character and manhood is entirely in opposition to Jim.

And yet - who have women been conditioned to find more appealing and desirable?