Given the Trump administration’s daily effort to elevate White “Christians” over people of color, it can be easy to overlook its equally rabid effort to return women to third or fourth-class citizenship–to return us to powerless and submissive possessions of our fathers and husbands.
Suddenly, opinions that once would not have been uttered publicly–opinions that would have marked their holders as deeply unwell residents of the modern world–are spewing forth from the mouths of people who have been allowed to occupy some of the highest positions in American government.
A recent newsletter from Lincoln Square focused on the effort to strip the nation’s women of our rights as citizens, in the name of a perverted “Christianity.” It reported on a recent endorsement by Pete Hegseth, the inept drunkard who currently heads the Department of Defense, of his pastor Doug Wilson’s belief that women should not have the right to vote.
As the author of the essay wrote,
In a way, Hegseth performed a public service by bringing to wider attention the “Christian nationalist” movement that is gaining strength and has much support in the Trump Cult. As the title of the CNN report indicates, it seeks “Christian” domination of America. All of us need to know what they mean by that. Pastor Wilson is a flat-out nutter who envisions an America that is a “Christian nation” the way Saudi Arabia is an “Islamic nation.” The ultimate goal is replacing secular democracy with a government ruled by “Christ the King.” Jesus presumably being unavailable for such a role that rejects his most important teachings, it would mean “Donald the King” or perhaps “Doug the King.
This movement is all about reverting women to what was for thousands of years considered to be their proper place of inferiority and submission. Indeed, as I explain in the book manuscript on which I am currently working, An Agreed-Upon Fiction: The Creation of the ‘Inferior’ Sex — How It Misshaped History and the Present, the whole authoritarian enterprise is based on a Foundational Lie that arose more than five thousand years ago. I call it Male Monocreationism: the assertion that men have all reproductive power and women merely provide a place in which men’s creations grow. “Women are the kind of people that people come out of,” Wilson said in the CNN interview.
The article quoted Wilson’s book, in which he wrote “A man penetrates, conquers, colonizes, plants. A woman receives, surrenders, accepts. This is of course offensive to all egalitarians, and so our culture has rebelled against the concept of authority and submission.”
I’m sure that there has always been some number of men who find this “philosophy” comforting–some subset of men who have found themselves unable to operate in a world that doesn’t afford the males of the species automatic dominance. (There are the Incels, for example–men who can’t get dates, let along amorous partners.) These are not healthy humans; they are clearly threatened by the realities of a modern world in which intellect rather than brute strength gives entree to civic and economic equality.
It’s one thing to recognize that society has always harbored such men; it is far more troubling when they feel able to announce their beliefs publicly, and frankly terrifying when people in positions of power publicly embrace them.
MAGA isn’t just waging war on democracy and the Constitution. At its core, it’s an effort to destroy modernity, to return us to a time of superstition and ignorance in which its members felt more comfortable. MAGA’s Christian Nationalists want to return us to a past in which women, LGBTQ+ folks, non-Whites and non-faux-Christians were all subservient to straight White “Christian” males.
And they’re through pretending otherwise.
I have believed from the beginning of Trump’s administration that the appointments of women to high powered positions was planned to be temporary. His revolving door administration has not yet begun to turn…but it will…and they will be relegated to their “proper” positions with the rest of women in American, sans human and civil rights, probably no longer allowed to vote. Be thinking ahead to refight the battle of Suffrage
Amendment XIX: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”
Trump has said he is turning powers over to the states yet he has full power and immunity to rule over the states as he seeks revenge over his enemies. That power and immunity is set in place by the Supreme Court of the United States.
“And they’re through pretending otherwise.” The states are following his orders and ignoring all Rule of Law and the Constitution.
Patriarchy relies upon the seeming support of its subordinate “classes”. There are always the Exceptions who prove “the rules”. Tokenism- the closeted Gay Men, at a basic level + Clarence Thomas + many Black Conservatives- I face occasional threats- a Jew who opposes The Hegemony of Israel- always Jews- while “Christian Zionists”- seek the eventual Elimination of All of Us, Abortion- “wins” the polls but Women and Men- vote for continued movement towards – the virtual ending of Rights for Women, Black and Brown People never got Equity- those collaborating aren’t Just “poor, uneducated “ Folks- Wealth- Power- Patriarchy- Fascism!
Donald and Abbott made their checkerboard moves, and now Newsom wants to play chess by examining gerrymandering in California. LOL I am sure that analysts have repeatedly said gerrymandering is not an issue MAGA can win, but let the boys play checkers while the adults play chess.
Didn’t Donald try to rape his ex-wife, juvenile girls, etc.? I guess he wants to legalize all that mess, so he’s embracing the nutballs with ideas of male dominion on land bullshit. Hegseth is so emasculated that he took his wife to national security meetings. And then who are all these men in suits heading over to the Far East to act out their fetishes with “ladyboys.”
As we always see with politicians, ulterior motives. As Sheila pointed out, how insecure must these men be that they embrace a society built on male dominion over God’s creations?
Even on a practice run, they have been utter failures in ruling God’s Kingdom. We’ve been at war significantly longer than in peace. Maybe we should let women run this planet – you know, like Mother Earth. I think women would do a much better job than men have done.
p.s. If I wanted to manipulate readers with propaganda, I sure as hell wouldn’t post two to three links to reputable economic resources. 😉
Todd; Trump and Abbott and the MAGA movement have managed to bastardize the rights given to them by the Constitution and the Amendments, ignoring all responsibilities. Democrats appear to have wimped out by allowing criminal acts and need now to use their Constitutional rights and responsibilities given them by the Constitution and the Amendments. Republicans now bear no responsibilities as required to continue to hold their elected and/or appointed positions in our government at all levels.
“I am sure that analysts have repeatedly said gerrymandering is not an issue MAGA can win, but let the boys play checkers while the adults play chess.” Please provide your source(s) for those analysts.
The overriding delusion, supported by our western culture, is that there is a GOD, in the first place!
And, since this concept is indoctrinated from early childhood, it seems, to believers, that it must be real.
And, then we get, down the road, crazies like Doug Wilson, et al.
Sadly, people in his position are given too much leverage on their “flocks'” thinking.
Hegseth probably thinks this guy was sent by the god-thing.
The question in my mind always is, how do we defang MAGA by moving MAGA voters from red to blue? The first milestone would be election day next year. What can be said now to steal enough red voters to take away the Congressional majorities?
Extreme Magites are impossible to change, so there’s no sense in even thinking of them, but there must be those on the bubble, too. How can they be reached?
A good place to begin would be to examine groups who showed up for reds in states on the margins and what worldview they hold.
see/ listen to: todd synderhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5hlil50vi4
One thing that Sheila omits in this discussion is the number of women who also believe in their inherent inferiority and their rightfully submissive status. I’m thankful that my daughter grew up to be independent in thought, and that my four granddaughters are on the path to the same philosophy. I saw a bumper sticker the other day: “Critical Thinking: The Other National Deficit.”
MAGA and their acolytes are NOT Christian. They preach and display total cruelty against women and all people of color (i.e. not white). This is totally antithetical to everything that I was brought up believe in as a Christian; which was to LOVE your neighbor as you love yourself. The parable of the Good Samaritan ends with Jesus asking “Who was the good neighbor?”
Likewise, the pursuit of money is totally un-Christian. See the parable of the rich young ruler where Jesus said that it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven.How did Jesus end the parable?By telling the rich young ruler to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor! And finally, “Even as you do unto the least of these, you do unto me!”
Democrats need to go onto every media platform and emphasize how all of the actions that the MAGAt’s are taking constitute kneeling on the necks of all of us (the reference to how George Floyd died is intentional). Do this in every market and precinct in the land! I believe that if this is done, even Texas can ben flipped blue under the new Republican maps. Appeal to the self interest of the downtrodden and generate a revolution of the people; i.e. just like the downtrodden people of Russia rebeled in 1917, or France in 1789.
WE CAN TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY!!!
Too bad these so-called Christian nationalists, or whatever, never address the FACT
that Jesus was a JEW!!!! He died on their magical cross as a JEW!!
Why are these issues coming up now? There’s one reason and it is clear. When women began to succeed in their new endeavors, when more women get into prestigious schools and graduate at the top of their classes, the men who have no character will Chafe with anger. They thought that, if the use of DEI, were a part of the past, they would be in control.
It didn’t work, so now they have to join groups of people who would like to put the little woman in her place and keep her there.
These Christians–they do not like Jesus–they want the vengeful God from the Old Testament and are highly disappointed in Jesus. There is a reason they rarely speak from the New Testament.
My husband and I have a 17 year old daughter–we moved to the Nashville area, 10 years ago from the Indpls area. I am not an organized religion fan as I think historically it has done more damage and I am highly critical of certain organizations and in particular those that I consider Evangelical (various Baptist; Pentecostal; Nazerene’s…etc.) I am alarmed when I hear some of my daughter’s classmates indicating their goal is to be a ‘Trad Wife’ and the only reason to go to college is to find a spouse. What year is this?! I want it noted that these girls whose goals are the above attend the churches that preach this ‘traditional’ role.
Also–in alot of these ‘churches’ the latest focus outside of the Prosperity Gospel is how empathy is bad and antitesis to Christ’s teachings and I am aware of the irony in this statement. So, trad wives and you better be a fertile woman and how empathy is not in the Bible.
A great interview would be with an independent news anchor and ACB on SCOTUS. Last I checked, she believed men come before women. I wonder how that belief is holding out once appointed by Trump to be one of the highest jurists in the land?
As for Joann, take your pick; both parties have just about gerrymandered their current states. They want to eliminate one seat in Indiana. LOL
The analysts have all come down on this because MAGAs are desperate, but will it secure a win in 2026? Doubtful.
As many of us presumed, Trump’s best bet is to cancel the 26 elections via martial law, with every single state being bastardized. How is this “democracy?”
There have been election years when canvassing that several women admit to me they “just vote for who their husband votes for,” or that they’ve “never voted.” I have also been told that their votes don’t really matter so why bother. What???And this is in an affluent area where I’m sure most of the women are college educated. I’m not quite sure what to make of these responses, nor do I know how best to combat this complacency, misunderstanding, or laziness. Are they hearing from their evangelical church pastor that they should leave that to their husbands; that voting is “men’s work?” Perhaps. Did their mothers only vote the way their fathers did? Are they so busy working and/or taking care of their children that they don’t have time to learn about the candidates and are happy to let their husbands tell them? Have they been told if they vote for the other party, their votes cancel each other out? Most likely it’s a combination of all of the above, sadly. We all know how important GOTV is, more so now than ever before. But until we can better understand why so many women don’t vote, or vote for the person(s) they are told to vote for, or fall into the apathetic mindset that voting doesn’t matter anyway, change can’t take place. MAGA knows this very well, and is clamping down on making all their excuses for not voting ring true.
Sheila, a suggestion for a future column or columns…
The insanity of the MAGA masters who are simultaneously declaring English the national language of the US, while at the same time using policy to de-legitimize teaching ESL classes in schools to the 15% of the kids for whom English is their second language.
Different insanity, same goal: Taking trucking permits away from undocumented immigrant drivers when nearly 20% of all current drivers are in that category and there is already a huge shortage of truck operators. Who will replace them?? And how will the fired drivers feed and house their families?
Another such insanity, but the same purpose: Eliminating all social benefits (food, schooling, housing, etc.) for undocumented families, while also preventing them from working legally, while also demonizing the homelessness that this insane policy will certainly cause.
“Make America Haiti” seems to be the goal in all of these cases. Turn the USA into a failed social environment.
And the PURPOSE of all this?… Why, simply to generate social chaos throughout the US, for which “they alone” supposedly have the solution.
This is nuts. But it’s nuttiness with a goal, which is destruction of democracy and social unity within America, for the supposed benefit of the ultra-wealthy. What shortsightedness: Their wealth will not be sustainable in a failed society. Haitian elite families have learned that already to their dismay, but it’s too late for them to go back to normal. We are on the road to that in the USA.
Too much water under the bridge; going back won’t work. Women are more educated and mostly with better healthcare access. Many women want to carry their own weight and when that’s blocked by sexist attitudes, unnecessary resentments and delays in progress occur. In US, the Constitution and Bill of Rights need to be observed and protected. Everyone will benefit with less personal burdens.