possibly since the self-improvement industry's "self-esteem movement" of the late 1970's/early 1980's.

This is a big part of it, which is why I mentioned the "selfies" - we live in a world where even the "social" platforms are dominated by individuals without a direct relationship to their audience. Plenty of self-esteem, based on poor experience.

Nor does Ali care about trans rights, while he is starving to death.