Against the Normalization of Trump's Misogyny
(seriously important read)
Against the Normalization of Trump’s Misogyny
PUBLISHED 2/7/2025 by Jackson Katz
Trump’s reelection has emboldened his attacks on women, further normalizing misogyny at the highest levels of power.
. . . Donald Trump speaks with a little girl as he selects a pen to sign the No Men in Women’s Sports Executive Order—an executive order to ban transgender girls and women from competing on sports teams that match their gender identity—in the White House on Feb. 5, 2025. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP via Getty Images)
In just over two weeks, an emboldened and angry Donald Trump, restored to power, has plunged the federal government into chaos and threatened the rule of law, separation of powers, and other core tenets of American democracy. Many people and organizations are, understandably, operating in crisis mode as Elon Musk and various Trump appointees seek to dismantle and eliminate programs that serve average people—including the most vulnerable people across the globe. It’s important for people to stand up and take action in real time, and do whatever they can—through lawsuits, legislative action and public protest—to block the implementation of immoral and illegal policies.
But let’s take a moment to step back and ponder a broader question: Trump’s legitimacy as the nation’s leader, and what that means in terms of social norms, or what effect Trump’s behavior has on what it means to be normal. From the moment Donald Trump became president of the United States in 2016, pundits and commentators from the center to the left have debated the costs and benefits of “normalizing” him. Should his ideological and political adversaries try to work with him and his administration, and find points of common ground and agreement? Or should they oppose him at every turn, seeking to delegitimize him and his efforts to undermine fundamental democratic norms and practices? This is harder to do now that he’s been reelected—not because his personal behavior or policy goals are any more palatable to democracy lovers (they’re not) but because this time around, he won the popular vote. With all he has put the country through since his fateful trip down the escalator at Trump Tower a decade ago, 77 million people nonetheless chose to reinstall the bombastic real estate developer and former reality TV star to the most politically and culturally influential position in the world.
Many liberals, progressives and Democrats have been demoralized since Nov. 5 precisely because he has, in a sense, been normalized by the voters. One of the signature political slogans of our time is that elections have consequences. Some of those were on full display in the past two weeks in the senate hearings for Trump’s grotesquely unqualified Cabinet nominees, his grossly incompetent handling of the Washington plane crash, the first public tragedy of his second term, and his brazenly authoritarian edict to shut down USAID. But that’s not the end of the story. For all the shortcomings of the Democratic Party, more than 75 million people voted for Kamala Harris. They—and the tens of millions who didn’t vote at all—don’t have to stand by passively as Trump takes a sledgehammer to the American system of checks and balances, and clears the path for full-on plutocratic rule under the guise of “populist” concern about the lives and struggles of average (white) Americans.
Nor do they have to remain silent when he says and does things—from the rarified position of cultural influence that comes with his occupancy of the White House—that sabotage decades of progress against racism, sexism and anti-queer bigotry. They also don’t simply have to accept Trump’s abusive, bullying behavior and commentary—via social media posts or in front of media microphones—out of a misguided belief that because he won the latest election, Trumpism is the “new normal.” Contrary to Trump’s assertion of a sweeping mandate, his margin of victory was in fact quite small during a political cycle in which incumbent parties and candidates worldwide faced considerable electoral headwinds. And as long as we have the First Amendment, there is still plenty of room for expressions of outrage, disapproval and dissent.
We Can’t Normalize Trump’s Misogyny
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Nonetheless, it is simply unfair to expect women to carry a disproportionate share of the burden. Donald Trump was re-elected with overwhelming support from men, especially—but not exclusively—white men. It is therefore more important than ever that men who are committed to justice, fairness and equity stand up, speak out and say as loudly as possible: Not in my name.
https://msmagazine.com/2025/02/07/trump-misogyny-women-normal-reelection-president-men-speak-out/