The boys in our liberal school are different now that Trump has won

[Lonestarblue]

I earlier posted an opinion piece from the NYT by a 16-year-old girl and her reaction to Trump’s win. This one is similar, but it’s by girls in a progressive area and school elaborating on how Trump’s focus on masculinity has changed boys’ attitudes. I see this as a growing problem, not only for women’s safety but also as a threat for the future of women’s rights and indeed who gets elected. The extremist attitude toward women represented by Nick Fuentes, of “Your body, my choice” fame may be more prevalent than we assume.

“When we walked into school on the morning of 6 November, we exchanged quick glances with the other girls in our social circle – looks filled with uncertainty and dread about the future. Because we are applying to colleges all around the country and about to leave our homes in the Hudson Valley, political issues suddenly have begun to feel a lot more personal.

Access to abortion and contraception, protection of the environment, and the growing hate and violence toward marginalized groups all have the potential to greatly impact our lives. We had only brief conversations about why Trump’s victory felt so defeating, but our shared disappointment stuck with us as we walked to our first period classes.

But as we sat down at our desks, we noticed a very different attitude among our male peers. Subtle high-fives were exchanged and remarks about the impending success of the next four years were whispered around. It didn’t make much sense. We live in a mostly liberal town in the Hudson Valley where Harris-Walz signs were posted outside of most of our friends’ houses. This is not to say that families with dissenting opinions don’t live in our town. But the boys that were the most vocal in their enthusiasm about the election results have progressive parents just like ours.”

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/15/the-boys-in-our-liberal-school-are-different-now-that-trump-has-won

[no_hypocrisy]

1. In essence, these boys have joined The Stepford Men's Association.

They see they can get an advantage that otherwise would have been denied to them.

I believe that power and authoritarianism are a powerful drug. It can affect even the most egalitarian male out there.

[Walleye]

3. Life is easier for them if they don't have to compete with more capable women for jobs

They are basically cowards just like other cowards.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. I remember Reagan "joking" that there would less unemployment (for men)

if women stayed home.

[Walleye]

8. Of course, as much as they praise competition, they are seriously afraid of it

[Walleye]

2. They don't just hate women, they hate our values and priorities. That's why they are in sympathy with Republicans.

I’m sorry, but I got no tolerance for these boys. Even though I know teenage boys like to rebel. Find something else to rebel about kids.

[yardwork]

5. They must have been exposed to some very powerful online propaganda.

[meadowlander]

18. The far right targets them through online forums on video games.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/14/how-far-right-uses-video-games-tech-lure-radicalise-teenage-recruits-white-supremacists

It doesn't surprise me that even in a "liberal" area, teenage boys are expressing reactionary opinions. It's not about their fragile self-esteem. It's about them spending hours a day in a toxic soup of misogyny and feeling peer pressure to participate in it.

[yardwork]

19. That's what I think, too.

[jeffreyi]

24. Hear, hear.

Just read "Invisible Rulers," by Renee DiResta. Dang. This thing is a whole lot bigger than I am.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

39. Better get that now before it is banned/eliminated.

[DonCoquixote]

43. note that gamergate is still around

all these scared little boys afraid that girls would beat them at their own game

[zorbasd]

29. Oh yeah, big time propaganda, Putin style

especially gamer websites where boys and young men are captured by relentless and very effective propaganda, perhaps utilized by military intelligence psyops veterans.

[Hekate]

46. You mean the online world?

[blm]

6. Andrew Tate effect. It is a big problem in Great Britain schools

where the male students feel free to harass even their female teachers.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. These young idiots don't realize how this is going to make going through puberty that much harder for them.

Think of how many of them are going to land in jail for forcing themselves on women.

[TheKentuckian]

10. Will they really? It was always uphill for women is this area, now how much moreso

will it be under such an all pervasive permission structure for "my choice" pieces of shit now?

They are already crystal clear that they are more than fine with making a rape be ongoing for at least 18 years and 9 months.

[Baitball Blogger]

12. Young girls have parents. I'm sure the progressive parents will lend all their support to encourage their

daughters, if they want to take legal action.

Conservative parents, however, will probably take care of the issue, using their fists.

[magicarpet]

9. Djt has normalized toxic masculinity.

Peer pressure dictates that you fall on board and in line or you risk becoming the outcasted pinko fairy pussy boy/man.

For a male being a trDUMPee is a required and fashionable statement,.. like wearing Reebok sneakers to impress your fellow brethren.

The hip a go go thing to do.

[DBoon]

11. and how are the boys who are not conventionally masculine treated?

I bet there will be much abuse of anyone suspected of being gay.

This isn't just a crime against women.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

40. Back in the 60's, 70's - you had better not even have the

slightest appearance of being gay. If you didn’t know any better, there were basically no gay people in our school at all

[Vinca]

13. Listening to MSNBC this morning it seems the poor, disadvantaged, white men in this country are

the ones who swung this election. Yep. Poor things. They've never gotten a break, ever. Why, I was remembering back in the early 80's when I was the first officer on the local police force and how easy it was for me to just slide into the position. I recalled the time I went to arrest a woman and ended up in a fight doing so. When an officer is being attacked, it's normal for all the other officers on shift to respond. Which they did. And you know what they did once there? Watched the "cat fight." A group of sorry ass white, male cops stood around watching the "cat fight." But hey, now we must feel sorry for poor, disadvantaged white men. Their votes took bodily autonomy away from women. To say I'm pissed is an understatement.

[yardwork]

20. I've heard the same from women in LE.

Basically, their male colleagues hoped they'd be killed.

[CrispyQ]

14. Depressing but not surprising that even boys from progressive families are embracing the misogyny.

While these are just observations within our own high school, we believe that this is happening across the country. Young, well-off white boys from liberal families are being tempted by conservatism simply to protect an archaic idea of masculinity that guarantees them inherent power. It is not as if they are against abortion, or care much about the economy or immigration, or even feel remotely attracted to the rest of conservative dogma. But clearly, a shift back toward traditional gender roles is resonating with them now as progression toward female empowerment threatens their already delicate self esteem.

What will progressive/liberal fathers do? If they don't have daughters who complain, will they even notice this shift in their boys' attitudes & behavior? Will their moms notice? The media sure doesn't give a shit as long as there is an occasional shocking story about a young woman who was abused/raped/whatever for ratings.

We've had the vote for just over 100 years. Can we keep it? Cuz they want to take that away, too. I never believed it can't happen here but when they say it happens fast, damn, it happens fast. The next four years are going to be nailbiters.

[Texin]

28. Well, what happens if these young men impregnate young girls and the girls and their parents seek legal

remedy, especially in states with draconian abortion laws on the books? The guys think they can do anything they want with no recourse - but if the legal system is involved, it can make those "boys" legally responsible for their offspring whether they want it or not.

They just think they want to return to "the good old days", but back then, young men's lives and future prospects were often ruined by causing an early pregnancy that they were forced by norms societally to step up.

[BannonsLiver]

15. In my day fellow students were considered to be a bit of a dork or nerd for even caring about politics.

I don’t recall spending a lot of time as a 12 year old or HS student debating politics with my friends after school on Friday nights. The hyper politicization of kids is another American tragedy.

[highplainsdem]

16. When was this? I remember grade school kids arguing about which presidential candidate they

preferred, and a middle school social studies assignment to write a speech that one of the presidential candidates that year might give.

[BannonsLiver]

17. 80s and early 90s

Upper middle class white suburban middle and high school in flyover country. We had assignments for things like that but it’s not what we talked about or did outside of school in social settings.

[Blue_Tires]

23. Not where I grew up in the 80s and early 90s

🤔

[BannonsLiver]

27. You and your friends hung out and talked politics on Friday nights?

Definitely different than where I grew up but interesting.

[Blue_Tires]

37. Not hardcore deep political discussions...

1984, 8 years old -- "Do you think Jesse Jackson can really be president?"

1986, 10 years old -- "Do you think the Soviets can really attack us like in that Red Dawn movie? Should we start war with them first?"

1988, 12 years old -- "What's the big deal about that candidate in posing in the tank? What about that other candidate who had to drop out because all his private business was in the news??"

1992: " How cool was it to see Bill Clinton playing saxophone on Arsenio and hosting a Q+A on MTV?!?"

[Cirsium]

31. That amazes me

That really surprises me and I guess it disturbs me a little, too.

I would say that the lack of interest in and knowledge about politics by kids is the American tragedy.

[BannonsLiver]

33. We just didn't hang out and talk about politics on Friday night.

I’m disturbed by little kids being so deeply invested in our presidential elections to the point that the outcome damages their mental health, as mentioned in the OP.

[Cirsium]

36. Damages their mental health?

There is a long international tradition of youth involvement in politics.

The potential damage to mental health discussed in the OP does not come from involvement in politics. Rather it comes from the actual threat they are under, caused by political demagoguery from the right, and certainly enabled to at least some extent by the lack of knowledge about history and lack of interest and engagement in politics, the very thing you seem to be advocating.

People are not upset about the outcome of the election as though the sports team they were cheering for lost, but rather they are upset about the real world consequences of the rise of a vicious political movement. I would expect every Democrat to to fully understand that.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

42. Do you know any Republicans who dont look at it like that?

Many will eventually realize but I don’t hear too many stories of it. I’m sure there are some clueless Dems out there.

[BattleRow]

21. I've always wondered about the link between misogyny and porn,especially the kinkier expressions of it?

Wonder if porn will increase now..especially on dark web?

[Blue_Tires]

22. They think they're all going to get laid now...

😒

[jeffreyi]

25. Well with VR who needs human contact?

Strange times.

[flashman13]

26. Sixteen year old boys are all testostaron and no brains. You shouldn't expect deep thoughts.

[Cirsium]

34. Really?

Wow. At age 16 we were attending meetings, leading marches and rallies, writing underground newspapers, picketing, reading everything we could about history and politics and on and on. So were our parents when they were that age, and so were their parents.

No More: The Children of Birmingham 1963 and the Turning Point of the Civil Rights Movement

?si=wxobQqF9T6ETS_WY

[BannonsLiver]

35. You should probably consider that 12 year olds going to political meetings is not a universal experience

Among American children. And just because you did that doesn’t make you better than kids who did not. I’m picking up a superiority vibe.

[GenThePerservering]

38. A lot of teen boys think

with their pricks and are incredibly conformist, yes. Most do eventually grow out of it.

[BannonsLiver]

41. That's very true.

[paleotn]

30. Breeding more incels. So many men and boys have no clue.

And women should learn to protect themselves. No, seriously. Learn to use and carry firearms if you want. A taser. Take a self defense course. Take several. Learn martial arts. Sucks, I get it, but that 's the world we live in. But there is an empowering aspect. As my wife responds to the new magat meme.....MY body, MY 9mm. FAFO, mother fuckers.

[Ziggysmom]

32. The incels are looking for answers in the wrong place. The liberals, who they assume are all elite and

holding them down, are not the cause of their struggle. They should be looking at the effects of income inequality caused by the GQP. The once strong and happy middle class is gone; replaced by millions of people in deep debt or living paycheck to paycheck. It started with raygun and is now poisoning our youth.

[NickB79]

45. It's no longer just incels. It's a vast number of young men

Their minds have been poisoned.

[NickB79]

44. My daughter's male classmates were already idolizing Andrew Tate in middle school

We were asleep at the wheel while the tendrils of the manosphere and bro culture wrapped themselves around our young men. I don't know how we undo the damage it's done.