There has been a lot of Democratic soul searching since Trump was reelected. But there is one thing that contributed to Trump’s reelection that Democrats logically could do nothing about–something that both women and many men have grown increasingly alarmed about for decades–toxic masculinity. For a long time now, people all over the world have watched as a destructive definition of manhood has overtaken American political culture. From Mark Zucherburg’s new lock to Dana White’s critical endorsement of Trump to Hulk Hogan’s shirt ripping and proclamations about “real Americans” at the Republican National Convention; Trump won the White House by convincing other men he was a “real man.” Toxic masculinity has become a threat to our democracy.
I am not surprised. Democracies aren’t built just on politics. They are built on a set of shared values. Values that are non-existent in the “manosphere.” People whose values revolve around the Ultimate Fighting Championship aren’t going to know anything about the most basic democratic principle of them all: solving conflict without using violence. This is the point of a democracy, and what makes a democracy a democracy.
There was a time, in my lifetime, when boys looked up to people like Joe Biden, when his achievements would inspire admiration. But increasingly young men look with disdain on men who show a willingness to solve conflicts through any other means but violence. A democratic society cannot maintain this forever. In order for a republic to function, its people must aspire to cooperate and find ways of resolving disputes other than through intimidation. Terry Gene Bollea (Hulk Hogan’s given name) may be a nice guy, but the kind of values his occupation espouses have no place in a diverse democracy that can function only when people agree to work in a cooperative manner with those with which they disagree. WWE may be good entertainment and a release for men; but kickboxing, pinning, submitting, and a general attitude of doing anything and everything to intimidate your opponent have no place in the White House. Hogan said it best himself at the Republican National Convention when he called the Trump-Vance ticket, “The best tag team ever.” referring to a WWE match in which teams compete.
Like the wrestlers that support him, Trump is a bully, constantly attempting to gain power through threat of force. The “tough guy” attitude that makes Trump so popular is also what makes him dangerous. And he now has the world’s greatest military power behind him.
But this problem is bigger than Trump’s presidency. As long as toxic masculinity endures, it will poison American democracy. Part of defeating Trumpism over the long haul will mean finding healthy role models for young men–men who don’t solve problems through violence. American democracy will not be truly safe until being a “real man” means wisdom, integrity, hard work, determination, and a belief in the power of the pen and the spoken word. This, not Hulk Hogan, is what it means to be a “real American.”
Progressive Without Apology 