Depends on the man and depends on their age. Thinking about the 3 men in ky life I have known best.
My current Dp needs emotional support. Outwardly he is very stoic, his father was a twat and impressed on him that boys dont cry and fight and are twats and that women love this. How dp never ended up in prison (or dead) from his upbringing I dont know. Only me and his younger sister have seen him cry, apparently since he was about 12 according to his step mum. He does think that sex increases intimacy. But then so do I, so it works.
But he definitely needs someone to listen to him and talk things out with. And he can only do that with a couple of people he completely trusts.
My dad is extremely stoic. The emotional support he needs is just from being with him. Mum passed away a few weeks ago. He has cried in front of me twice. Thought admitted he has cried when alone. He thanked me for all my support. I don't think I provided any. I was just doing what needed to be done and looking after his practical needs. I finished mum Christmas shopping for the grandkids, had him round for dinner or he has cooked and we have gone there, attended funeral directors appointments, keep going with my kids, ask if he needs any shopping when I go. He is quite self sufficient as he did lost of the house work and shopping. Mum's death was sudden, but she had been getting visibly older and he had taken alot on as soon as he retired. So alot of the stuff, I do. He doesn't need. But he has found me offering or thinking of things for him, as a show of support and he seems really touched by my efforts. For me I was just doing what you do when you mum dies. He says when he was younger he would have just wanted space and everyone to leave him alone. But now just having someone there, even if it's him doing the cooking is nice as an example.
He did shed a tear on Christmas day. When he was in the living room with Dp. Dp just sat on the arm of the sofa, put his hand on his shoulder and didn't say anything. Again, Dad was rely touched by this. Dp didn't think he had done much and said he wished he could find some word of comfort.
I obviously have no idea what he was looking for when he met mum when they were 19 or looking for in a wife. But I suspect its very different now he is in his 60s.
My exh definitely wanted sex. But more than that I think he wanted a cover. He wanted to be able to do what he wanted when he wanted. He also felt pressure to have the normal wife and kids. He pushed for kids. We had 2. Since we spoke he doesn't bother with them. But does keep getting girlfriends with kids, living in with them and playing happy families. His girlfriends are always professionals, appearing to have their shit together and financially stable. Like me. I spent years holding the finances together providing a stable base for him while he did whatever he wanted. He admitted towards the end he wanted sex because ghat was confirmation I belonged to him like a dog pissing on a lamp post. Which is why he was comfortable sexual assaulting me.
Oddly, neither exh or dp have expected meals, cooked or the house kept by me and gave both done at least their fair share. Ad worked shifts but always did alot when he was home, when I was young. Dp probably does more than me. But that's due to the fact that I usually work more hours. So anecdotally, my experience of men wanting that from me is non existent.