Masculinity in politics | Big Think | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The author discusses the influence of masculinity and gender in American presidential elections, highlighting the divide between Democratic and Republican candidates and the challenges faced by the Democratic Party in appealing to men.

Key Insights

• ⌛ American conceptions of masculinity have changed over time, impacting how presidential candidates are perceived.
• 👨‍🦳 The Democratic Party has historically struggled to appeal to men, especially white men, resulting in a significant gender gap.
• 🙇‍♂️ The nomination of Hillary Clinton does not guarantee automatic support from male voters, as past patterns suggest challenges in winning over men.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How has the American conception of masculinity changed over time, and how does it impact presidential elections?

The American perception of masculinity has shifted with each decade and trend. Movies from the past, like those featuring John Wayne, are now seen as absurd and problematic. This influences how the public perceives and evaluates presidential candidates.

Q: Why do Democrats tend to have a gender gap in their support?

Democrats have struggled to appeal to men, particularly white men. Even with the potential nomination of Hillary Clinton, there are concerns that her gains with women may be offset by difficulties in winning over male voters.

Q: Are the challenges faced by the Democratic Party with men solely based on sexism?

The author argues that the problems go beyond gender, as white men have historically had issues with the Democratic Party. It suggests that the party needs to address deeper concerns rather than rely on assumptions of sexism.

Q: How have previous elections highlighted the gender gap between Democrats and Republicans?

In the 2000 presidential race, Democrats won a majority of women's votes but lost by a significant margin among men. This pattern has continued, indicating that the party has a significant white male gap to overcome.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The American conception of masculinity has evolved over time, and the Democratic and Republican parties have portrayed different conceptions of manhood in presidential elections.

• Democrats have struggled to appeal to men, leading to a gender gap in their support. Even with the potential nomination of Hillary Clinton, they face challenges in gaining male voters.

• The Democratic Party has relied on strong support from women and minorities, but this is not enough to compensate for their failings with men.