For many years now I’d been wondering- with all the advances in women’s rights, where does that leave men? To clarify, I am all about feminism in that women are people too (novel idea) and that we should have equal rights to our male counterparts. I also believe that real men are not threatened by the concept of strong, successful women. However, as females going to college outnumber male enrollees, and as women have increasingly become the breadwinners of their households, amongst many other advances, it’s important to question the impact this has on males and society as a whole.
You may be thinking that men need to just suck it up; after all, they’ve been in the driver’s seat for way too long as it is- especially mediocre white men. Though I don’t disagree, the dramatic shift in this societal dynamic deserves a closer look, imo.
For many years men had a clear understanding as to what their role was- they were the providers. Women were homemakers and child bearers. Sure, there were outliers in that some men failed in this endeavor and some women insisted on pursuing careers, failing to stay in their respective lanes. But for the most part, everyone knew their place, and men were for the most part, large and in charge. Their roles were clearly defined, which led to a sense of self respect and self importance. After all, there would be no household if not for them paying the bills and rest assured women couldn’t afford to leave if their husband was abusive or they were simply unhappy because the laws ensured that fact.
As the decades rolled by and women gained more rights and freedoms, though hard won and necessary, there was a hidden cost in that many men felt displaced by these new sets of rules that their descendants never had to play by. And social media didn’t help matters, as some men became increasingly isolated in their discontent.
Let me reiterate, there are millions of good, strong men who have adapted quite well to these changes and even appreciate staying home with the kids or not having to bear the brunt of financial burdens; however, there remains a large group of men who never accepted women as equals and may not have known where or how to channel their anger and confusion- until now.
Now we have groups like ICE, which unlike the KKK, the Skinheads, Proud Boys, etc. are highly funded and sanctioned by the current administration. This particular organization provides a sense of belonging to the once disenfranchised; all while earning a decent wage, for the small price of selling ones’ soul.
But make no mistake, none of this would be complete without religion- Christian Nationalism in particular, which entails putting men back in charge and women forgoing their rights in order to submit to them. What we’re seeing now in the wake of ROE V. WADE being overturned is the gradual (but not inevitable) return to the not so good old days. Religious zealots know that when women lose autonomy over their own bodies they become easier for men to control.
That said, this article isn’t about pitting the sexes against one another because as it stands, we are ALL at risk of losing our Constitutional rights to fascism- we need each other. The common thread I believe, is fragile white men who fear losing their power and will do whatever it takes to stop that from happening. If you do not fall into the category of white, male, billionaires, you are not the chosen ones. Yes, there are plenty of women and minorities who support MAGA, and they are being played, as is MAGA in its own right.
We must recognize that it’s not us vs. the people who look different or have a different sexual preference. It’s not trans people. It’s not the mom on food stamps buying junk food for God’s sake. It’s not Republicans vs Democrats. It’s the Billionaires who embody white male fragility vs. the rest of us and the sooner we realize that the better because it’s going to take all of us banding together to stop this regime from taking us backwards, possibly for good.