Stay independent and energetic, and don’t even worry about “emasculation” as a concept. No one determines your sense of masculinity or femininity except for you. Don’t worry about things like power or respect, just find the right one (no matter how long it takes) then feed your love of the other person and communicate like CRAZY. People who worry about respect and masculinity and power dynamics never, ever end up in a long and happy relationship. Having pre-conceived roles and expectations of one another’s behavior is a sure fire way to ruin your own happiness in a relationship, and for no good reason.
Stay independent and energetic, and don’t even worry about “emasculation” as a concept. No one determines your sense of masculinity or femininity except for you. Don’t worry about things like power or respect, just find the right one (no matter how long it takes) then feed your love of the other person and communicate like CRAZY. People who worry about respect and masculinity and power dynamics never, ever end up in a long and happy relationship. Having pre-conceived roles and expectations of one another’s behavior is a sure fire way to ruin your own happiness in a relationship, and for no good reason.