The preservation of personal beliefs in a relationship is crucial to many. The views people hold outside of their romantic bonds are what make people individuals. When those values include years' worth of feminist thought, it becomes more difficult to set personal stances aside. A man who seems plagued by toxic masculinity may seem impossible to work with, when really, it becomes a matter of setting preconceived notions aside. Most problems that may arise between the strong feminist and masculine male relationship are easy to solve, though.
A successful romantic relationship requires both individuals be open to new perspectives. All too often, feminists find themselves on dates or having interactions where they feel like they're talking to somebody who is on a totally different wavelength. There's a strong reminder of online men's activists with every classic line delivered by the feminist's partner, making it all too easy to get flustered, fast.
What is frequently forgotten is that typically men who take on the opportunity to discuss feminist issues in real life, even if they disagree, do not necessarily have the same motivations as online crusaders. There are certainly exceptions to this, but for the most part, the masculine man is genuinely trying to pick the feminist's brain. Assuming the man in question is a respectful person, it wouldn't be a bad idea to step back from the defensive position for a few moments and hear them out.
The following processes can be difficult, depending on who the date is. Some men are receptive to other concepts and others will refute points with outdated logic and misconceptions. Continuing to engage is always a choice; one that can be revoked at any time. If the feminist really likes this man, then they must employ a great amount of patience and understanding. Far too frequently it is forgotten that everyone comes from different walks of life, including well-versed-in-feminism women and people who have never explored the topic.
Unfortunately, what comes along with being a feminist who is interested in men is the knowledge that many men will be turned off. It's important to hold to the roots of one's beliefs, even if it means others may not agree or find one attractive. Self-describing as a feminist makes some people feel like said person is "Feminist Google". While this is annoying, it also needs to be understood that at the end of the day, a lot of people are just trying to learn. Those who are childish are not worth the time It's imperative that feminists, like all women, do not dumb themselves down for the sake of male attention. A man worthy of love will also set aside his own beliefs in an attempt to understand his partner's.
The best way to solve these issues is to foster healthy, open communication between partners. Challenging personal views may seem hurtful and insulting, but instead of an attack on one's core values, it serves as a learning experience and a chance to grow, together, above anything else.
