The sad truth is that anti-feminist backlash helped propel Trump to victory
The sad truth is that anti-feminist backlash helped propel Trump to victory
Most American men have nothing in common with a billionaire – but he spoke to their resentment and anxiety, says the writer Malaika Jabali
Summary
Donald Trump’s 2024 victory reflects growing discontent among a segment of men, especially in the “manosphere” that criticizes women and celebrates traditional gender roles.
Fueled by grievances over shifting social dynamics and economic insecurity, many men view Trump as an embodiment of “alpha male” values. Despite his policies favoring the wealthy, Trump has gained traction among both white and minority men.
His administration’s Project 2025 agenda includes restrictions on reproductive rights, aligning with “red-pilled” anti-feminist sentiments.
Yes, it's a gender issue, not an economic one, at least that's what the voters said.
Wait, they didn't.
If it was an economic issue, why did they vote for the person who has an explicit plan to enact inflation driving tariffs?
Because the economy has not been working for the common person for a long time, and given a choice between "all is well" and "let's blow ourselves up", the second tends to get more turnout.
Feel like there are a lot of people that literally just vote "hopefully something different will be better" with zero regard for what the candidates are apart from which of their parties has the current administration. This is of course really dumb, especially considering what Trump said he wants to do, but the base logic of "this isn't working for me" is understandable at least. Dems running candidates that represent more of the same again...
I'd add that the fact that the democrat candidate was a woman probably lost her a lot of votes. Which is quite sad nowadays, but I'm sure it was a factor.
Or maybe she wasn't a good candidate to begin with. She wasn't even nominated, so we don't know how a true, democratically elected, candidate would have performed.
I'm going to say something that I fear will not go over well, but I think it would be said. The left has some culpability here. Not in who they chose, but in how they approach the problem.
One of the things that draws me to the left is that people are all supposed to be people. No one is beyond redemption, and much of the worst aspects of people are due to changeable circumstances and not some genetic defect.
Criminals probably do crime because of their circumstances so if we can improve those circumstances we can help rehabilitate them. Addicts who are treated with dignity and compassion are more likely to be able to get their lives together. We shouldn't paint over people with broad brush strokes, like assuming all Muslims are terrorists just because a few have done terrible things while claiming it is in the name of Islam.
But the left has a blind spot for men. The problem is solely with them, and they are garbage beyond redemption. They clearly are acting only out of hate, and not a result of their circumstances, so people seem to think. "It's not my job to educate you" became a trope in a society where educating others is literally the only way to make change.
I submit that these people can be changed and can be rehabilitated if they are shown a better way. If their problems are listened to, rather than dismissed. If their circumstances are improved, rather than belittled. There are valid concerns, valid reasons for them to be upset, but they are handwaved away: "Well feminism cares about that too (even if you don't see it)" or "The privileged feel like equality is oppression."
Anyway, I don't expect anyone will learn anything from this result. The left will say, "Man, misogyny just won't let a woman be President" while ignoring how few people actually even voted. The left will say, "Men are to blame" without ever questioning beyond "I guess they're just spiteful." And if we get another election, we'll have a Democratic candidate who moves right on everything except these problems.
The problem is solely with them, and they are garbage beyond redemption
I don't know what spaces you hang out in, but that's never been the case anywhere I've been. I see more people complaining about this behavior than I've ever seen the behavior itself.
From the article...
These are the men swimming in the electoral pool. It’s not too late for it to be drained.
The article is cautious at first, pointing at facts and figures. At times, it almost seems to care. But when it comes to the final arguments, it is just: We gotta get rid of these men. Not even a viable solution, much less a sensible one.
It's everywhere. It's not hard to find, but it's not always overt. Usually, it is dismissive: "Well that's not what we're talking about right now." "Well feminism would fix those problems too." Or the person gets lumped in with Nazis, or misogynists, or whatever when what they've said doesn't really support that.
Whereas I would say there is a huge amount of young men not confident in their own sexuality.
Why do some people automatically associate misogyny with homosexuality? Misogyny is about hating women rather than being sexually attracted to men.
I mentioned neither. The fact remains that young men broke for Trump, and Trump had anti-trans advertisements aimed right at them.
Of course it was anti feminist backlash and not genocide, ignoring the pleas of Muslim communities, a hard swing to the right, throwing trans to the wolves, having a black man talk down to black men, a white guy telling Muslims to suck it up, lies about a strong economy.
100% misogyny.
There is nothing the Democrats can do other than move further right. Next time they need someone more racist than Trump. They definitely should never ever move left and stop supporting genocide.
Yup and exit polls shows that women didn't want women's rights.