I met up with a friend who I had not seen in a long time she isn't a RPW as far as technicalities go, but has a lot of feminine characteristics. Last time I saw her she had a boyfriend and things were going well. So naturally I asked her how it was going with him. She said they broke up, and after a long pause I asked how come. She seemed embarrassed and said that he had started distancing himself from her and she questioned him about it.

He finally ended up telling her, he didn't think it would work out because she wasn't what he was looking for. He continued to say he wished she was more dominant and a take- charge kinda person. That she was too easily swayed and he wanted someone that would have opinions and make decisions once in awhile. I was shocked to hear that to be the reason. I had met him once and although I didn't get the impression that he was the most dominant, masculine guy in the world.....he also didn't seem like he was super feminine. She said this wasn't the first time a guy had said that to her. I told her that there is nothing wrong with her or her behavior and that in our culture men have been socialized differently. I advised her not to try to change but to find a guy that compliments her characteristics with more masculine ones. I don't know if she believed me because her reaction was kind of to agree but I could tell she believes there is something wrong in her character.

Has anybody here ever experienced that?

edit: this also brought about a stream of thought, I think this is one of the main reasons we are drifting further and further from the gender norms, the yin and yang. Women might start out being feminine, or men might start out being masculine, but are shamed or instances like that^ happen and they start thinking they have to change...be more masculine or feminine. It's just one huge confusing circle.