Moira Donegan raised an interesting point pondering why, when discussing the damage being done by his tariffs, TFG framed it as “little girls having 2 dolls instead of 30,” rather than price hikes for food, lumber, or even boys’ toy trucks.
The comments aim to cast the pain that consumers will face as ultimately feminine and frivolous, their complaints petulant and childlike. In this respect, Trump is drawing on a long tradition of economic rhetoric that aims to cast consumption as feminine, decadent and morally suspect – and to contrast it with the supposedly more manly and virtuous productive side of the economy. It’s a laughably stupid symbolism, one that only works for those deeply committed to their ignorance about how the economy actually works: in truth, everyone consumes, and people of all genders participate in the productive economy. But Trump does not argue based on the facts: he asserts dominance. And here, he casts those Americans who would complain about the economic pain that he is inflicting on them as feminine and hence as contemptible, deserving no more respect than spoiled children.
I actually think this explains a lot about the MAGA mindset. Food inspectors, vaccines, and OSHA regulations get called a “nanny state” and therefore feminine; attacking migrants, threatening our former allies, and “doing your own research” are deemed tough and masculine. Education is feminine; factory work is masculine. (Seriously, having billionaires like Howard Lutnick on TV babbling about the glorious return to factory and mining jobs is….something.) Compassionate policies are called feminine (no matter how many male religious figures preach about it); gleeful punishment is celebrated as masculine. And one of the right’s most basic beliefs is that masculine is always, always superior. It’s not an accident that Republicans so often use gendered terms in attacking Democrats, and their media sycophants easily follow their lead.
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As always, this diary is a group effort. Thanks to Angmar, mettle fatigue, ramara, elenacarlena, and the WOW crew for links and discussion.