You can tell how much someone respects you by how much he respects your opinion. If he doesn't respect your opinion, he won't respect you.
It is your attitude about yourself that a man will adopt.
He must feel that you choose to be with him, not that you need to be with him.
Expressing yourself when he takes for granted doesn't work.
Men are intrigued by anything they do not completly control.
Truly powerful people don't explain why they want respect. They simply don't engage someone who doesn't give it to them.