While I agree with some of what you said (particularly about Trump), I can't help but feel that the motives behind voters for Trump have been reduced to a much too simplistic purpose. I can't represent young men, who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as I am clearly not one, and who voted for Trump. While I did not vote for Trump myself (for many of the reasons you listed), the alternative was distasteful to me, as well. She, too, represented things that did not align with my values and principles (nor the LDS Church's). I blame the political parties for the choices they gave us. Nevertheless, to lump all young male LDS voters who voted for Trump (as well as male leaders) into a category of men whose desire is to dominate and ignore women's concerns (though I know that does happen more often than it should) is a bit unfair, I think. This election was much more complex than that. I actually had a meaningful conversation with a man (a faithful member of the LDS faith) who said he was voting for Trump because of the Middle East crisis, and the Russia/Ukraine war. When he explained how he had served in the military and fought for the freedoms of our country (and has suffered poor health since) and how it terrified him of what was going to happen if Harris won--though I didn't necessarily agree with him, I could see his point of view, based on his experiences. This was a strange and sad election, no matter how you look at it.
Thanks Linda for this very thoughtful and reasoned response. With great respect for your analysis, my reading lead me to a bit of a different conclusion. That is, I felt like the author was not reducing Trump supporters' motives to an embrace of his misogyny (which I agree would be unfair and I think she would too) but only pointing out one of the gut-wrenching and ruinous effects of this election: that by picking up one end of the stick - disregarding Trump's misogyny - they picked up the other - that misogyny is to be tolerated under certain circumstances, especially by those in the highest position of affluence, influence, and power.
While I agree with some of what you said (particularly about Trump), I can't help but feel that the motives behind voters for Trump have been reduced to a much too simplistic purpose. I can't represent young men, who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as I am clearly not one, and who voted for Trump. While I did not vote for Trump myself (for many of the reasons you listed), the alternative was distasteful to me, as well. She, too, represented things that did not align with my values and principles (nor the LDS Church's). I blame the political parties for the choices they gave us. Nevertheless, to lump all young male LDS voters who voted for Trump (as well as male leaders) into a category of men whose desire is to dominate and ignore women's concerns (though I know that does happen more often than it should) is a bit unfair, I think. This election was much more complex than that. I actually had a meaningful conversation with a man (a faithful member of the LDS faith) who said he was voting for Trump because of the Middle East crisis, and the Russia/Ukraine war. When he explained how he had served in the military and fought for the freedoms of our country (and has suffered poor health since) and how it terrified him of what was going to happen if Harris won--though I didn't necessarily agree with him, I could see his point of view, based on his experiences. This was a strange and sad election, no matter how you look at it.
Thanks Linda for this very thoughtful and reasoned response. With great respect for your analysis, my reading lead me to a bit of a different conclusion. That is, I felt like the author was not reducing Trump supporters' motives to an embrace of his misogyny (which I agree would be unfair and I think she would too) but only pointing out one of the gut-wrenching and ruinous effects of this election: that by picking up one end of the stick - disregarding Trump's misogyny - they picked up the other - that misogyny is to be tolerated under certain circumstances, especially by those in the highest position of affluence, influence, and power.