Read on Twitter
. @camilareads with this perfect line about rioters realizing they wouldn’t win: “a sort of testosterone hangover took hold in the nation's capital.”
No, the group wasn’t all men. But yes, this is all a result of a misogynist president who weaponized masculinity for years. https://twitter.com/benswasey/status/1347196881076690947
No, the group wasn’t all men. But yes, this is all a result of a misogynist president who weaponized masculinity for years. https://twitter.com/benswasey/status/1347196881076690947
He did it as a candidate: https://www.npr.org/2016/10/01/494249104/trump-and-the-testosterone-takeover-of-2016
He did it as president: https://www.npr.org/2020/10/28/928336749/trump-has-weaponized-masculinity-as-president-heres-why-it-matters
He did it as president: https://www.npr.org/2020/10/28/928336749/trump-has-weaponized-masculinity-as-president-heres-why-it-matters
It always had consequences. Political, policy, and also on human lives/well-being.
And to be clear: presidential contests/the WH have been defined by masculinity. Trump just amped it up.
And to be clear: presidential contests/the WH have been defined by masculinity. Trump just amped it up.
And of course, it's a white, straight masculinity. There is race tied up in this, of course. Sexual preference. All of that.
But get a guy who keeps telling people that being a Real Man is patriotic and...well, here ya go.
But get a guy who keeps telling people that being a Real Man is patriotic and...well, here ya go.
And here come the takes from people saying "THAT'S NOT MASCULINITY."
People. People. Please try to hear what I'm saying. This is a traditional, old-fashioned idea of masculinity based around strength and domination. Call it "toxic" if you like but ...
People. People. Please try to hear what I'm saying. This is a traditional, old-fashioned idea of masculinity based around strength and domination. Call it "toxic" if you like but ...
... I personally think using that phrase/jargon puts it in too neat of a box.
Men (more pointedly, white straight men) have dominated our politics for so long. Whether or not they subscribe perfectly to this type of masculinity, it has helped reinforce all of this.
Men (more pointedly, white straight men) have dominated our politics for so long. Whether or not they subscribe perfectly to this type of masculinity, it has helped reinforce all of this.
Calling it "toxic masculinity" allows you to put it over there. No, THOSE people do it. Toxic people do it. Toxic people support it. OK. Simple! Fixable!
OK.
OK.
OK gotta lie down.
/fin
/fin
