I don't think it's true that women expect men to read their minds.

I think they expect men to pay attention and engage. Not the same.

That said, it's true that women are redefining themselves and slowly changing societal rules and expectations. It's not been the smoothest transition and not everyone even wants to.

You're incorrect though, that it's as easy as all that. In the same way you see the paradox women are stuck in, you miss the paradox men have imprisoned themselves in. Many men say they want women to be more assertive, especially sexually, yet when they meet/date these women they can't handle it. They end up feeling like they're losing a competition and feel emasculated rather than empowered or freed.

So it's not as easy as all that. If women don't know who they are, neither do men. At least women are trying to figure it out, whereas men are still waiting around for women to validate their existence.