MAGA’s Misunderstanding of Masculinity: Insecurity, Not Strength
A recent intra-MAGA dispute, highlighted by Vivek Ramaswamy’s comments, exposes the movement’s contradictory views on masculinity. Ramaswamy’s criticisms of American culture reveal an underlying anxiety about hyper-masculinity, contrasting sharply with figures like Donald Trump and Joe Rogan who embody a more overtly aggressive, yet often inauthentic, form of manhood. This contradictory ideal is further exemplified by the MAGA movement’s inability to define “manhood” positively, resorting instead to a long list of prohibitions and negative characteristics. The attempt to co-opt Haley Welch’s viral video as a symbol of MAGA womanhood ultimately failed, highlighting the inherent contradictions within their definition of both masculinity and femininity.
John Q. Hosedrinker