The Godfather of the Trumpist Right's Gender Politics: Unpacking Mansfield's Neopatriarchy Movement

Imagine a world where men and women are equal, but not the same. Harvey Mansfield, a renowned Harvard political theorist, wants to create. In his book, he argued that traditional gender norms are not just outdated, but dangerous. He believes men and women have different strengths and weaknesses, and society should acknowledge and celebrate these differences. But what if his assumption is wrong? What if gender is not just a social construct, but a biological reality? And if his notions of manliness and femininity are based on harmful stereotypes? Mansfield's ideas have far-reaching implications for gender and power. He believes men are naturally more dominant and women more nurturing. He argues this is not just societal conditioning, but innate human nature. But is this really true? Can we say men are naturally more dominant and women more nurturing? And what about exceptions to these rules? Mansfield's ideas have shaped the Trumpist right's gender politics. He's been praised by leaders like JD Vance and Josh Hawley, who've called for a return to traditional gender norms. But do we want to go back to a time when women were expected to stay at home and men were expected to be breadwinners? Or do we want a society where everyone has freedom to pursue dreams and work towards goals, regardless of gender? The answer depends on how we think about gender and power. We could accept Mansfield's assumptions and fit the world into his gender binary. Or challenge his ideas and work towards a more inclusive and equitable society. The choice is ours.

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