Gender is intertwined with how people experience their environment
Gender and diversity scientist Nik Linders wants to know why left-wing voters shift to the far right. He believes the way far-right political parties handle masculinity, gender, and sexuality plays a significant role.
Prepared for a future that doesn’t exist?
'Gender is intertwined with how people experience their environment,' Linders begins. Suppose family, media and politics raised you with the image that men should be the strong backbone of society. In that case, you are prepared for a future that doesn’t exist in a progressive environment. Your first reaction might be anger, which influences your political choices.
Political masculinity: Western and white
Dutch populist parties like FvD and PVV tap into this anger and define masculinity, sexuality, and gender as Western and white. Not just in skin colour but in thinking: the “normal family” is the foundation of society. “This means a nostalgic and clear Dutch/European explanation where usually the man earns the income, and the woman takes care of the family,” says Linders. There is space for various family structures, provided the prevailing image remains intact.
People start thinking: “What do we need with all these modern changes where men, women, and everyone in between can barely get by on two salaries?
When progress feels threatening
But this dominant image is increasingly broken, which feels threatening. You might sense that opportunities are slipping away from you, as you worry that you’re missing out on job prospects due to women’s quotas. Your social circles may criticize your choice of pronouns, adding to an identity crisis stemming from your uncertain position in society. At the same time, you see inequality growing amid these progressive changes, losing your grip on the future.
The 1950s as an idea of prosperity
The result? Former Minister of Justice and Security Dilan Yesilgöz called “wokism” an undermining of the democratic rule of law in 2022, and Geert Wilders speaks of “gender terror.” 'Such statements are examples of a larger movement towards conservatism,' says Linders. In the idealized 1950s, “the ordinary man” could support his family on one salary and even go on vacation occasionally, as long as he could work full-time. The woman cared for the children and household. People start thinking: “What do we need with all these modern changes where men, women, and everyone in between can barely get by on two salaries?” White masculinity is then politically linked to personal wealth for both men and women.
Many voters have lost their connection with left and centre parties; they see these parties as preachy and, partly rightly, feel they engage in symbolic politics
Can we even define masculinity?
According to Linders, masculinity is a shaky concept. There are different stereotypes for “being a man” in the Netherlands than in Italy or the US. Maybe that definition doesn’t exist at all. Linders finds it crucial to keep analyzing how political parties define it. “It often has more to do with maintaining power and privileges than with equality and diversity,” says Linders.
Young people want progress
In the American election polls, young people and women preferred Kamala Harris. 'Some think Donald Trump’s victory is a last gasp of an old men’s movement seeing their power disappear to progressive ideas,' says Linders. He believes it’s more complicated:
'Many voters have lost their connection with left and centre parties; they see these parties as preachy and, partly rightly, feel they engage in symbolic politics. They feel these parties fail to address (economic) inequality and become sensitive to the promises and solutions the far right offers. If this continues, we will never discuss the real cause of that inequality, and this form of political masculinity will remain an attractive alternative.'