Women Need Strong Men. Here’s How to Be One.

Women need strong men. Much of the internet thinks men are a lost cause and don't deserve our help. I say: to hell with that. The stronger and more virtuous men are, the more women win. As Dr. Seuss, beloved by children and apparently Alix Earle , put it: "I meant what I said and I said what I meant." Masculinity is crucial for our survival, happiness, and not wanting to throw ourselves off a bridge. But what does it actually look like on a Tuesday night? After my recent column, " Bring Back the Man Who Opens the Door, " readers wanted steps. My DMs were working overtime for the cause. "But, Taylor, I open the door and get a side-eye of death." "Will calling her an Uber or walking her home seem chauvinistic?" "Is paying the bill The Handmaid's Tale -coded?" So here it is. Every man's guide to being a man: 10 practical ways to step up. And you need to step up. Women are losing hope. Before the ship goes down, I'm throwing you a lifeline. Give women a reason to believe. If we lose any more good men, our species will soon be displayed as museum relics. So what do you say, guys? Why not give yourselves a fighting chance? And, ladies: writing men off and deciding the whole ordeal isn't worth it isn't a winning strategy . We can't afford to keep losing good guys to cynicism and passivity. Like good men, this guide will age like a fine wine. You don't need the entire culture to agree on masculinity before you start embodying it. Strong men don't need permission to do what they know is right. Which brings us to the first of the new Ten Commandments. And like the original Ten Commandments, these are straightforward. That doesn't mean they're always easy, but following them can transform your life. Take initiative Call her, make the plans, offer her a ride home, ask her to text you when she's back safe. Pay for dinner like it's no big thing, considering she likely spent hundreds on her outfit, hair, and makeup. But who's counting? She'll probably appreciate it, and if she doesn't, she's lying to herself. In my prior column, I referenced how The Notebook 's Noah built Allie a whole house. You're being asked to book a reservation. Moving on. Ghost ghosting Abracadabra. Halloween came early, and this practice has officially been exorcised from your repertoire. Disappearing is for Houdini—and cowards. Be direct. We're all adults here. If you're not into it, spare everyone the mental gymnastics of situationship nonsense with the antiquated practice of… being honest and kind. Communication is a two-way street: women also need to be clear, accountable, and stop mistaking you for a psychic. Read the room Be assertive and clear about what you want and confident enough to act on it. A little persistence can be sexy. But pay attention to her response. This isn't Morse code. It's baseline respect. Initiative doesn't mean bulldozing her preferences, nor do her preferences require you to become paralyzed with uncertainty like you're escaping a Saw movie. Be assertive and clear about what you want and confident enough to act on it. If you go for it and she signals you to dial it back, do that. It's not a defeat. Could you get rejected or suffer an awkward moment? Sure. If veterans survived WWII, you can survive a bruised ego. Do what's right, always Courage is knowing right from wrong and being brave enough to act on it despite the situation, crowd, pressure, or consequences. Confusion over basic right and wrong may be less a masculinity problem than a second-grade problem. When something isn't right, when someone is in trouble, do you act? Or check what everyone else is doing first? This may be one of the defining traits I love and respect most about my fiancé. He always does the right thing. At a dog beach, a pit bull attacked another dog. There was blood, the owner was screaming, and a dozen people stood watching or yelling. He put himself in the middle of it and, using a less-than-glamorous trick, got the pit bull to release its grip so the owner could pull their dog free. He risked being the pit bull's next target to save a dog that wasn't his. Imagine if it were his own dog. Or me. Everyday heroes run into burning buildings, tackle perpetrators, save nearly hijacked planes. A strong man makes others thank God he showed up. Be reliable Want to know what will help make a woman worship you harder than she does Prime Day? Saying you're going to do something… and then doing it. The stuff of rocket science. Keep your word, follow through, show up consistently. Can she count on you to handle something without reminding you 17 times? Not because you're a pool boy. Because you're accountable. If you said you'll pick her up at 7, pick her up at 7. Sabrina Carpenter said that a responsible guy makes tears fall down her thighs. Trust the science. Have a backbone Know who you are, what you stand for, and where you're going. It's like Google Maps but way hotter. Steadfast values, conviction, and vision signal strength. Contrary to most displays on the internet, that can be a quiet strength. Did Clint Eastwood's iconic cowboys ever need to announce they were an alpha? Being around him meant not wanting to eff around and find out. His characters stood ten toes down and handled business. He can make my day any day. Steadfast values, conviction, and vision signal strength. Having a backbone also means being secure in yourself. If every man who blinks your girl's way feels like a threat, we're gonna need to work on that. Protect Opening doors doesn't mean squat if underneath you're a self-absorbed a-hole. When things go sideways, strong men handle it without hesitation. Tires blow out, plans unravel, or actual crises could occur, and in those moments, make decisions and act. What most women fundamentally want is to feel physically and emotionally safe. In Rocky , a drunken Paulie threatens Rocky and Adrian with a baseball bat. Adrian leaves to live with Rocky, who gives her a safe haven. Be that guy. Don't listen to the feminists who mock the knight in shining armor. A woman can slay her own dragons, but knowing she doesn't have to do it alone can be just as empowering. Provide I'm not suggesting you be a personal ATM for an entitled woman's BBL. But stepping up means bringing something to the table besides an appetite. No one said you had to be Rockefeller. Just be willing to contribute and carry responsibility, financially and practically. "None of this split the bill sh*t. Ever," said a fellow podcaster friend of mine who's happily married with kids. I'll leave it at that. Be selfless Consider her needs even when it's inconvenient. Make sacrifices and share burdens without turning every favor into a Venmo request. Jack Dawson stayed in the freezing water so Rose could survive in Titanic . Never mind that they both probably could've fit on the door. It's the act that counts. Giving up guys' night to bring her soup when she's sick seems doable. Consider her needs even when it's inconvenient. How you treat family, friends, and people who have nothing to offer you speaks volumes about your character. In a self-involved world, it's the gold standard. Always act with integrity A man's integrity shouldn't depend on witnesses or selfie documentation. If you're about something, be about it. Tell the truth, own your mistakes, and respect the trust people place in you. If your morals disappear the second there's an inconvenience, I wouldn't trust you with a Chia Pet. Living with integrity should be a first principle guiding everything you do. When acting with true integrity, some things really are black and white. Stop asking permission to be a man Have the confidence to be masculine and to intuitively lead. Too many men hesitate because they're afraid women will disapprove, and women are frustrated they won't step up. It's up to a woman if she wants to follow. Have the integrity to stand for what you believe in and who you are with dignity. (AKA: not Andrew Tate's version.) That doesn't give you free rein to do whatever you want. That doesn't make "no" negotiable. If you follow the first 10 commandments, you'll know how to navigate this in an appropriate and honorable way. And yes, you can compliment her, even if she's a stranger. Don't ask if you can, just do it. If she's offended by you telling her her dress looks nice, that's a her problem. This isn't just an arbitrary checklist. It's not girl math. It's not Fauci's science. It's restoring fundamentals that make men better, women better, and life better for all of us. It's giving respect and dignity, and expecting both from women in return. It's asking: what becomes possible in someone else's life because you're there? Men have the power to shape what other people believe men can be. Women around them experience it, friends witness it, and boys watching learn by example. You want the world to stop treating good men like a dying breed? Give it living proof. Pass the memo.