I'm not even sure that line from Millman is correct.  But what I do think, and what he may have been alluding to, is that "in the west", however f*!#ed up our attitudes toward sex and sexuality and gender are, we do, mostly, have the ability to talk openly and frankly about the matter and engage freely exploring and figuring out for ourselves what it means or doesn't mean to be a man or a woman, hence the learning and self-awareness bit.

Doesn't mean everyone will do this, or that your family or some church or the media won't judge you.  Or that there are not a lot of sickos out there.  But mostly no one "in the west" can be arrested or blacklisted (let alone killed) for challenging old stereotypes about how men and women should comport themselves.


"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.