In the race for president the contest could be described as the “battle of the sexes” not only because the Republican candidate Donald Trump is male and the Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris is female but also because the voter base for each candidate is also breaking down along gender lines.
High-quality public polls tracked by the Washington Post in September showed Trump winning men by an average of 10 points and Harris winning women by an average of 10 points.
The gap is more pronounced among independents and white voters than partisans and voters of color. Independent women favored Harris 51 percent to 36 percent, according to a recent CNN poll, while independent men split 47 percent for Trump and 40 percent for Harris.
Trump and his vice presidential nominee Senator JD Vance have deliberately sought to distinguish themselves to voters as overly masculine and worthy of being called “alpha males.” Although their manly claims could be seen as dubious given that Trump is obviously obese, wears make up and spends a lot of time grooming his thinned hair. Similarly Vance has made a mark with the MAGA faithful about his masculinity bonafides to the point where some supporters were carrying jars of Vance’s fake sperm. The GOP merch was a little plastic jar labeled with a photo of Vance’s face and read "JD Vance Full Family Kit."
This apparently was an attempted cheap shot and Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee. The inference is that Vance is a better candidate because he doesn’t need IVF to sire children.
The style of masculinity that Walz represents could be seen as more accessible and inclusive. The former football coach was also the faculty advisor for the Mankato West High School Gay Straight Alliance thus proving that toughness and manliness didn’t have to also be homophobic and toxic.
The caricature of masculinity that Trump and Vance are providing might be finding a receptive voter base in young males across the racial divide because it’s rooted in misogynistic fervor. This is the same fervor that Vance taps into when he derides women as “childless cat ladies” and promises policies that will make it illegal for women to have access to abortion, birth control or IVF.
Male candidates running for political office have historically been expected to conform to traditional notions of masculinity, projecting strength, toughness, and authority. But this election cycle the performative masculinity by Vance and Trump go beyond the deeply embedded cultural archetype of the "strong male leader."
What we are witnessing is the brand of masculinity more in step with authoritarianism. Authoritarians often emphasize masculinity as a way to project strength, dominance, and control. By aligning themselves with traditional masculine traits—such as toughness, aggression, brutality and emotional stoicism—authoritarian leaders reinforce their ginned-up image as powerful figures capable of protecting and defending their nation or people. This portrayal appeals to the desire for stability and order, as it suggests that only a "strongman" can confront threats or maintain security. Masculine imagery in authoritarian rhetoric is also used to suppress dissent and delegitimize opponents, framing them as weak or incapable of leadership. This dynamic consolidates power and fuels loyalty among supporters.
In his memoir, “The Problem with Men: Insights on Overcoming a Traumatic Childhood from a World-Renowned Psychologist,” Dr. Ronald Levant reveals how his work has been driven by his quest to understand men like his abusive father and his perplexing behavior. He also shares his personal story—starting with a childhood marked by beatings and fear, followed by an adolescence defined by drinking and delinquent behavior, and a young adulthood marred by depression—to inspire and guide other trauma survivors, especially fathers and sons, as well as the women who love and suffer with them.
Guest:
Dr. Ronald F. Levant is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Akron and past President of the American Psychological Association. Ranked among the top 2 percent of scientists in the world by the Elsevier-Stanford University database, he is one of the key professionals responsible for creating a whole new field of psychology—the psychology of men and masculinity. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Public Practice from Harvard University and has served on the faculties of Boston University, where he directed the nationally prominent Father Project, Rutgers University, Harvard Medical School at The Cambridge Hospital, and the Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University.
"The Source" is a live call-in program airing Mondays through Thursdays from 12-1 p.m. Leave a message before the program at (210) 615-8982. During the live show, call 833-877-8255, email thesource@tpr.org.
This interview will be recorded on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
