Are American Women Condoning Trump in 2024?
The 2020 election results showed a complex picture of American women's voting behavior. While Donald Trump secured a significant portion of the votes, Kamala Harris was not far behind. This strong support from women for Trump raises crucial questions about gender dynamics and societal influences in politics.
The Role of Patriarchy in American Politics
Living in a patriarchal society, American politics is inevitably shaped by conservative practices and deeply rooted gender roles. Patriarchy, a system where men dominate women through cultural and social means, is pervasive and contentious. Traditional gender norms have long oppressed women's personal views, often stifling their freedom to express dissenting opinions.
Women, brought up in a paterfamilias, tend to conform to the authority of the male head of the household. This acceptance of male authority translates into a passive stance politically, where women align with their husbands or partners on important issues.
Religious and Cultural Influences on Women's Voting
Traditional Christian beliefs significantly shape voting patterns among women. Adherents believe in submission to one's husband, with roles for men and women clearly defined in biblical texts such as Genesis. This rigid adherence to patriarchal doctrines often results in women supporting candidates who uphold conservative values.
Financial status also plays a significant role. Wealthy women, often mirroring Trump's lifestyle, are more likely to vote for him. Conversely, poor women, who idolize a lifestyle akin to Trump's, may also support him, especially if they feel they cannot achieve the same status through other means.
Race is another critical factor that influences voting behavior. Women who share Trump's racist bias are more likely to vote for him, reflecting the intersection of racial and gender identities in American society.
The Impact of Roe v Wade
The gutting of Roe v Wade has had a profound impact on women, particularly those who lived under its protections. Many older women who benefited from the landmark abortion rights decision now support a candidate who took away these rights, a behavior that lies outside the realm of simple political debates. This is an emotional and disturbing phenomenon, raising questions about familial and generational betrayal.
These women often describe themselves as 'Christian', comedy in itself considering the ruthless patriarchal God they believe in. This delusion is perhaps the best description of the societal norms they live under; a norm where a vomiting abortion drug can legally and morally extinguish a life in the womb, but not a woman's voice.
Women's Voting Behavior and Gender Dynamics
For women, the choice of voting for someone who 'babysits' and relieves them of accountability is easier. The 2024 election may boil down to a desire for comfort and ease over responsibility and change. When women prioritize the idea of a man they can relate to more than the one who will call them to account and improve their lives, they are embracing a quintessential female mentality in a male-dominated environment.
Gender dynamics within political spheres require careful examination. Women who vote for Trump might be misguided by social conditioning and personal comfort, but they are also complicit in a larger system that perpetuates inequality and limits societal progress.