Words by Georgia Moncaster
We are now well out of the post-US election fever, but the second Trump administration is yet to begin its long haul four-year term. In this period, we are primed to expect diminishing abortion rights, hard-line immigration policy, and censored LGBTQ+ visibility among the multitude of other social rights losses the international community is worried about.
Me and my female friends are heartbroken. What does this mean for the future of our reproductive rights? What does this mean for the future of female agency as a whole? Well, perhaps it’s time to ask your boyfriend what his thoughts are too.
As the statistics post-election reveal, Gen-Z male voters came out in their millions, with 56% voting for part-time president, part-time felon, Donald Trump. This is in stark contrast to the 40% of Gen-Z women voting the same way, demonstrating an intensely gendered understanding of politics that increasingly paints a picture of far-right radicalisation amongst men. They’re targeted particularly online by conservative influencers and chauvinists who are using the so-called ‘male loneliness epidemic’ to cash in on the frustrations of this hormonal generation. But this leads us to question how many of the men around us are equally influenced by these violent principles, most of all the man you probably keep around the most.
Ultimately, you would expect this person so close to you would want the world to respect your agency as much as you presume he does too. But say he doesn’t? Say you come to find out that the fears and worries you express amongst your friends are equally propelled by him, as well as empowered legislatively through his vote.
If the election in America has taught us anything, it’s that a surprising percentage of men in this Gen-Z age bracket do feel this way. This is not intended to suggest that all men are equally affected, but that we should be wary of the way their success in America empowers those same feelings across the Atlantic. Already, 12% of men aged 18-24 voted for the far-right Reform UK, compared to just 6% of women in the same age bracket. This was 2% more than the male 19-24 turnout for Conservatives. This worrying precedent, matched with the already ubiquitous social acceptance for ‘locker-room talk’ and casual misogyny, means we should be aware of the role these men will play in future elections.
So you know his true feelings now, but what next? What is important to consider about gender and politics is that women making up 50% of the population is no majority, meaning any progressive legislation regarding our freedoms is frustratingly reliant on the support of men. And whilst it should not be a woman’s labour to educate the men in her life, it is important to understand that our issues must be fought for. Complicity does not help the movement. Complicity does not result in your freedom.
There are many movements exploring this dichotomy between the heterosexual feminist woman and her attraction to men that question to what extent we must commit ourselves to the movement above all. Political lesbianism is a strong historical example that equates a relationship with men as female submission purely because of our social understanding of heterosexuality. More significant recently is the Korean 4B movement, which withholds sexual and emotional gratification from men as a protest that is gaining significant traction in the US post-election. Clearly there is a lot that calls into question what it means to be attracted to men for the future of feminism.
However, I don’t intend to peddle these movements, but instead put into perspective what it means to be complicit. This includes how you approach your romantic relationships, as well as platonic friendships, upon which I encourage you to consider what your understanding of feminism means to you.
When the question is respect for your rights and agency, the answer should be clear. Don’t let them get away with it, don’t let them believe you’ll be submissive.
