The Clash of Masculinities: Boys vs. Girls in the 2024 Election

The 2024 election is shaping up to be a battle of masculinity and gender roles, as highlighted by the recent Democratic National Convention. The stark gender divide in American politics is evident in how leading men in both parties position themselves in relation to women and talk about themselves as fathers and male role models.

President Trump and his advisers have long viewed his masculinity as an edge, particularly after surviving an assassination attempt. However, he now finds himself running against the potential first woman president, Vice President Kamala Harris. While Harris rarely mentions her gender, the men at her side, such as Gov. Tim Walz and Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff, have embraced supporting a woman’s rise to power.

At the DNC, Walz shared emotional stories about his struggles with infertility and the importance of his family. He emphasized the value of surrounding oneself with smart women and listening to them. This “tonic masculinity” stands in contrast to Trump’s more traditional, tough-guy image, as seen at the recent Republican National Convention.

The partisan divide over masculinity is likely to extend beyond the 2024 election cycle, with Democrats championing women’s rights and Republicans embracing traditional family values and masculinity. This clash of visions of manhood is sure to be a key theme in the upcoming election and beyond.

For more in-depth analysis, check out the links provided at the end of the article.