I find that in the West (US/UK/Canada), a lot of people dictate life through other people's eyes. To please others, placating in the excess or whatever you want to call it. While this type of action is normal (solidarity), us men are guilty and conditioned into overdoing it. Not just towards women, but to others such as families and employers. For whatever reason, it seems to make these people - who serve to please - ironically "feel empowered". When it is the opposite, if you take a step back. This is the root of insecurity in the west. All this leads to a rather hollow life.
Just look back, maybe mommy and daddy told you to be an engineer but your first love is music. You do what mommy and daddy said, and you feel empowered having met the approval of others. Internally you are not satisfied.
I guess the only way out of this rut is to not give a damn, and go your own way to please yourself instead. But you will need to develop a thick skin to do this.