I'm probably 5 or so years younger than you, so I saw a lot of the same things growing up in the US.

I moved abroad in the early-mid 90s to Europe. Not planning to stay in Europe, but I did. One of the reasons why was because I really prefer European women.

I can't say how it is now in the US, but in the late 80s, early 90s, the expectations women had for men near the top of the US pyramid was insane. Even if you found a woman who was normal, she was hearing from 10 different friends how Cosmo was telling her that I needed to be doing "X, Y, and Z" or I was a piece of shit.

I'm not perfect now and never was, but I wanted a partner, not someone who was going to be checking a list from some magazine each week to make sure I was delivering the right number of gifts and orgasms.

I'm happily married to a Czech woman and in a few weeks we'll celebrate 20 years together. She's my best friend and partner.

In full disclosure, back in early 90s I had more issues than Vogue, so if Jack from 2023 were to be transplanted into Jack of 1989 maybe I'd see things differently. Lots of therapy has helped. I'm very grateful I have the income to be able to do that. I understand most people don't.