Do you think men or men tend to overestimate their attractiveness more?

I think it's a lot easier for men to feel comfortable in their skin since they aren't bombarded like women are as to what attractiveness is.

Is it? 19 year old guy here. I've never felt attractive in my life - I've never been told I'm attractive (I was told once by my prom date in high school that I "didn't look half bad"; nobody else, not even my parents, have ever said I'm good-looking). My unattractiveness is acceptable material for jokes amongst my friends, I don't date, I've never received a physical compliment.

Maybe it's not the case that I'm underestimating my attractiveness - maybe (and this is likely the case, given that it's not just me who thinks this) I just honestly am not at all attractive. But it's hard for me to accept that "it's easier for men to feel comfortable in their own skin". There are definitely unrealistic standards for female beauty, but there are also vocal campaigners who say things to the effect that "all women are beautiful" (to be honest, this may also send a misinterpreted or wrong signal - some people simply aren't attractive), it is not socially acceptable to say a woman is not attractive (it is socially acceptable to joke at a guy's expense), women's friends will tell them how they are attractive, etc. etc.

Perhaps I'm speaking too broadly, but men simply don't have much of the social support available to women. If a man is not attractive, then he isn't attractive and that sucks for him. If he's depressed, then he's pretty much on his own. His friends will not reassure him that he's still worthwhile or that things will be okay - at best they'll ignore him until he cheers up, at worst they'll joke about it. But there is no social support for male self-esteem, especially when it comes to physical attractiveness.

/r/AskWomen Thread