Unleashing the Alpha: Men Take Charge in Politics
An Op-Ed by Hendrik Wieduwilt**More Info**\Facebook**\Twitter**\Whatsapp**\Email**\Print**\Copy Link***\
Issue Order to the Machos
America's political landscape is starting to resemble a rugged men's club. Is today's political climate a new macho era?
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz had an extraordinary week, culminating in a sit-down with President Donald Trump. Merz played his cards right, and the meeting was a thumping success.
He presented Trump with a golden trinket, knowing full well that the gold-loving American adores shiny items. Merz wore a friendly smile, understanding that Americans despise grumpy grumps. He remained quiet when he wasn't spoken to, following primal logic - or risk being thrown into the fireplace, a fate experienced by other leaders before him.
A meeting to remember - Merz charms Trump The meeting couldn't have gone better. Merz even endured the pat, even if unwanted touches in these circumstances are merely a display of hunger for connection. Merz responded in fluent English and was praised for it.
Some of the applause was coarse, like a rugged, heartfelt cheer: "You're feisty," Trump declared, preferring not to be perceived as simple. As the band Prinzen once crooned, "You've got to be a beast in this world."
This camaraderie seemed fitting, as only men were visible in the background, except for Trump's chief of staff. It aligns with the current masculine zeitgeist: Young men are once again enamored with pick-up artists and musclemen (often accompanied by cryptocurrency tips). Merz's social media team promoted his White House visit on Instagram with a sleek, black limousine accompanied by booming hip-hop beats. If you can, you can.
Navidi Navidi: Trump is panicking - Musk versus Trump is "attempted genocide" The dynamics of power in the media have returned to the basics: Who commands, who pushes, who dares, who flinches? Dog phobias, for instance? Could one have ever imagined Angela Merkel during that visit? Journalists might have questioned her clothing choice, and Trump would likely have invited her to a week-long body-sculpting program at Mar-a-Lago with a mischievous grin.
The Ministry of Men
Some might interpret this as regression, but gender parity has, indeed, reached dead ends. We've known this since Christine Lambrecht, primarily appointed for gender equality, torpedoed the reputation of the Bendlerblock with, among other things, a mad New Year's video resembling a bomb.
Now, Lambrecht's successor Boris Pistorius has appointed another state secretary, Jens Ploëtner, causing quite a stir. Ploëtner is considered less supportive of Ukraine aid. But let's not forget, Ploëtner is a man, making the Federal Ministry of Defense a male-dominated sphere.
The Battle Royale - Trump's comparison exemplifies the entire problem It may seem appealing, but men can easily slip into machismo - and those who maintain a macho perspective make macho decisions. Trump compared the conflict in Ukraine to kids duking it out, suggesting that perhaps we should allow them to fight it out. It's a disturbing image, and a masculine one: it hints at the desire to discern which child is the toughest.
"Is gender equality passe?' A retreat from progress in female representation?"
Is the manliness takeover in politics a regression? Is there a reversal in the tendency towards increased female representation in leadership roles? Is the spectacle in the Oval Office and personnel policies in ministries and coalition committees encouraging young women to dabble in politics?
The Backlash - "Keep the preaching to yourself" - Merz on Fox News And, "Aren't we dealing with other issues?" That's what I hear the comment section scribes (m/m/m) shouting. Of course, we do - allergies, unanswered emails from the accountant, and gloomy weather forecasts for Pentecost - but a testosterone surge in world politics could also be one. Especially since men's friendships are far from indisputably loyal, as one might pledge over the thirteenth beer on Guy's Day.
This is evident in the White House: Elon Musk and Donald Trump are now embroiled in a bizarre feud resembling warfare over roses, leaving one to wonder who will splash the other's fish out of spite first. Rationality is irrelevant here, as Musk even contemplated halting a space program out of anger. Here's hoping the bromance between Trump and Merz doesn't end similarly.
It's a man's world
"It's a man's world," sang James Brown in a song penned by a woman. Men build things, buy them from other men, even if the world, as the refrain goes, is "empty" without a woman or a girl.
Additional Reading**Habeck must return! Without Robert, the Greens are gray*Away with woke and hard power, light the Ramadan lanternsBan fantasies with consequences**
And this is just the beginning of "Game of AfD." Elon Musk should listen to the rest of the song, for it ends as dark as a ketamine hangover:
"He's lost in the world of men, lost in misery"
He's lost in the world of men, lost in misery.
So, men: Make amends. Otherwise, we'll send a woman next time.
Enrichment Data:
There is a growing, more organized opposition to gender equality and LGBTQ rights globally. This movement often centers on the idea of the "natural family" and is supported by transnational networks and conservative governments[1].
President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at removing references to "gender ideology" from government policies[1]. In Hungary, laws have been passed that restrict LGBTQ events, such as the Budapest Pride, and allow for the surveillance of attendees[1]. In Argentina, there is an effort to remove femicide from the penal code, which is seen as part of a broader pushback against feminist legal reforms[1].
The "manosphere" and MAGA movements in the U.S. advocate for a return to traditional masculinity, often using cultural and political rhetoric that contrasts with progressive gender norms[4]. This can contribute to a broader cultural shift that elevates traditional masculine values over more inclusive gender roles.
António Guterres, the UN secretary-general, has warned about a surge in misogyny and a backlash against equality, which threatens to reverse progress in gender equality[1].
There is a growing ideological divide, particularly among younger generations. Young women are increasingly progressive, while some young men are shifting towards more conservative views, contributing to a gender gap in political attitudes[5].
The emphasis on traditional masculine values can lead to the economic and social invisibility of feminine roles, reinforcing gender disparities in fields like economics[3].
We're going to be in the same room as we discuss the politics and general news of the current macho era, a period that resembles a rugged men's club in America's political landscape. This reminds us of the growing opposition to gender equality and LGBTQ rights globally, often centered on the idea of the "natural family" and supported by transnational networks and conservative governments.
