The Sadness of Women Who Still Vote Republican

[Celerity]

Why are so many women complicit in their own marginalization?

https://johnpavlovitz.substack.com/p/the-sad-misogyny-of-women-who-still



None of this makes sense.

I think I’ve been misled somewhere. Growing up, I learned from the men and women around me what it meant to be a gentleman; how decent, good-hearted, honorable young men lived in the world, the way they treated other human beings, how they carried and conducted themselves. And from as early as I can remember, I was taught that women deserved to be treated by such men of character, with respect and compassion, as equals. I grew-up believing that in matters of intelligence, creativity, vision, leadership, and value, women were fully my peers and that I should learn from them and listen to them.

I learned what consent was and why I never had the right to decide for another woman what she wanted or approved of. I learned that real men showed restraint and self-control. I was taught that a woman’s body belonged to her alone. Implied in all of this, was the idea that not only was this the right way to treat the women I loved or met or knew from a distance—but it would be the way women would want to be treated; that they would appreciate being seen in this highest regard.

This made sense to me: that every woman would treasure and demand being treated with dignity and would not abide anything less. I must have been grossly misinformed somewhere along the way because I've met many women lately who I just can't seem to make sense of: women who adore and applaud and worship a court-established rapist in Donald Trump, women who somehow, with all they’ve lost because of them—still vote Republican. With every horrible thing Trump has said about women, with his boasts of uninvited physicality, his history of unrepentant infidelity, his multiple marriages with ever-younger wives.

With his relentless vile and vicious attacks on the physical appearance, sexual lives, and even the menstrual cycles of female political opponents and critics, Donald Trump is the very definition of the kind of man I was taught that women would want no part of—let alone brag about and defend on social media. More unthinkable still, that they would joyfully give power over themselves and their daughters and granddaughters to such a man. As the GOP crusades openly and unrelentingly against the rights of women to determine their fates and decide what happens within their bodies, they inexplicably have these women as willing allies. This is a confounding and tragic reality.

snip

[republianmushroom]

1. Have never understood it.

[snowybirdie]

2. As a woman

I think its all that blond dye they use. Nary a brunette in the bunch. Glad I used red!

[GopherGal]

8. Funny that I immediately noticed the same thing about that picture.

That, and the fact that the required lip color is now lighter than its was in my day.

[erronis]

27. Guessing the chemical (bleach?) in their hair dye seeps into their brains?

Too simple an explanation but it jives with smelvis's fascination for bleach.

Maybe blond bobble-heads are attracted to vile creatures?

Or maybe they are wives/mistresses/paid-performers of the magat crowd.

[IL Dem]

32. That was also my first takeaway from that picture.

Great minds...

[colorado_ufo]

33. They are desperately trying to please their

master, who loves Hitler's Aryan ideals. They are hoping to get noticed and get his approval, which is why they are in the front row.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. It's not hard. It's white supremacy.

They believe the power they get by aligning with whiteness is greater than what they might get anywhere else.

[Walleye]

5. You know, I think it could be just as simple as that

I remember the film and TV coverage from the 60s of the schools being integrated, and the high school girls standing outside yelling racial epithets. These are their progeny. You see the same hate in their expressions. It is human ugliness

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. It is.

[Solly Mack]

46. Yup

[RKP5637]

26. Exactly!!!! "It is human ugliness"

[Ninga]

7. Yep. No need to dig deep for meaning. It's apparent and out there for all of us to see.

[limbicnuminousity]

16. Think you're right.

To a lesser extent they also seem to have a fear of change. Historically that's been a hallmark of conservatism, though it seems to be amplified in the Trumpists.

[spooky3]

30. I think it's that AND many are damaged from being raised in Republican households

where they were taught implicitly or explicitly that they did not deserve to be treated well.

[Walleye]

4. And women like Boebert and Greene who are Bible-thumping conservatives

Pursuing every career opportunity that was won for them by the feminists, living a loose and liberal lifestyle, and still say they’re on the side of the Evangelicals supporting Trump. If I think about it, my mind is blown. I always want to ask female Trump supporters if they would like him to grab their pussy.

[erronis]

28. They may be bible thumping or humping, but sure as hell don't believe in Jesus's purported messages.

[Walleye]

37. Seems like they believe quite the opposite. Anti-American and anti-christian

[Groundhawg]

9. Who cares? Let women do what they want to their own detriment/ benefit.

[spooky3]

31. Except that their actions adversely affect us, too. That's why I care. nt

[Groundhawg]

41. So what? let women do what they want to do.

[spooky3]

42. No one here is controlling them. However, this is a discussion board.

We are free to criticize them. You’re free to like what they do, or not.

[Uncle Joe]

10. I believe that they don't trust the system, but for the wrong reasons.

As a result everything against *rump is part of a "witch hunt."

It's the bubble they live in, when government and political opposition has been successfully demonized for decades, by the corporate media and right wing political pulpit that's not just partisan, but every neutral institution becomes suspect and is viewed as partisan in their minds.

That breeds uncertainty and this in turn can easily spawn fear.

I believe these women have been deliberately separated from the herd of democracy via their fears as wolves do sheep, not understanding that the numbers of the herd aren't so much an obstacle as an empowerment on their side.

The wolves know this as well, that's why they hate democracy.

Thanks for the thread Celerity

[cachukis]

11. The comments below the article are well worth the read.

[CousinIT]

12. NO self-respecting woman votes Republican. Ever. n/t

[Turbineguy]

13. Women who voted for trump

[Ocelot II]

14. Probably a combination of conscious white supremacist attitudes

and the subconscious internalization of the idea that as women they are inferior beings. But at least as white women they can feel superior to all non-white people, making it easier to accept their subordination to the white men they have to live with. Even though Trump is an overt misogynist, his racism still elevates the white women who are otherwise oppressed so their oppression doesn't feel so bad.

[slumcamper]

15. Biblical dominionism sustains patriarchy and ostensibly "justifies" cruel misogyny.

The absolute right of male masters over their dominion--their property--is ordained in the "word of God," you know.

These gleeful women in this picture are willing subordinates to such a belief system. Their weltanschauung is such that their servitude extends even to the spawn of Satan himself, DJT.

Perhaps this is too simplistic an explanation for their complicity in their own oppression, but it may account for the behaviors a good portion of them.

[surfered]

22. I personally know some women in this category..

…very nice, religious, donated blood immediately after 9/11, but believe men, as the stronger sex, should be in control,

[ornotna]

17. The Stepford Wives in real life

Fawning brainwashed women who don't want to think for themselves. Sad, but it seems to be all self inflicted. I know this is a simplistic answer, but I can't seem to get to their level to try and understand them.

[chowder66]

18. Two excellent comments posted to his article

Andra Watkins
As someone who grew up in Christian Nationalism, I will add one thing to the excellent insights here. Many of these women participate in oppressing other women because THEY resent the choices those women have, choices they lack or believe they cannot make. Envy, jealousy and resentment are big emotions. They make humans do despicable things.


Susan Riggs
This is not new at all. I'm not an expert, but I have listened to people who are experts on systemic racism and white supremacy, who talk about the complicity of white women in slavery and racism. It has to do with proximity to power. Women who don't want to rock the boat must cooperate with the boat, and they find a type of substitute power from hanging around and supporting men who oppress women and minorities. Many white women were actively involved in upholding slavery and Jim Crow, the KKK, and lynchings. Supporting Trump is just a new form of supporting oppression. Unfortunately it will damage them, as you say, but confronting reality is too scary in any given moment. Loving people while also confronting them with other views (and outvoting them) is what we can do, and it won't reach everyone affected by propaganda and fear. But it will reach some.

There are many other excellent responses.

[Celerity]

34. another

Gail Smith
I have to agree with Andra Watkins about women resenting others having choices. But there's more to it than that. My sisters both were Evangelicals (who now would have been considered Christian Nationalists). They managed to come close to destroying our family until my father intervened. They convinced my mother to come too the dark side, too!

My mother and father both supported women's rights, human rights, and freedom to make our own choices. I am who I an today because of them! But after she changed churches my mother became just like them, and I finally had to tell her to stop sending me literature etc. What I observed about all three of them was that they had poor self-esteem. My sisters believed their worth as human beings was tied to the man in their life.

They would have denied it. My sisters stayed with abusive men because they felt they had to have a husband. My oldest sister told me that she stayed in their church initially because her husband stopped drinking. My younger sister left their church because her next husband didn't want to go there.

They both felt they had the right to tell me how to live my life. I really struggled in wording my message to them that I would not accept their beliefs, and would not allow them to dictate my life, and I feared it would end our relationship, but I would not allow them to bully me. I firmly believe that their poor self-esteem let them be bullied into agreeing with things they were not raised to believe. I pray daily for their souls, and for for all women who continue to vote Republican.

[Chainfire]

19. They are born losers who want to be a part of something. The men are not much different.

The majority of Trump supporters vote against their best interest because Trump has convinced them that he is one of them and will look out for their interests. We all know Tump hates losers and suckers, but they haven't gotten the message. They need somone to blame their personal failures on; the Democratic Party and "Joe" severs that need. They need a leader, a big daddy or a god, to cheer for. Trump serves that need. It is a cult of faith-based willful ignorance that anyone can join. The phenomonon has been preparing for this moment since the "talk radio" shows of the 90s. It has not happened by chance.

This November will be the most important month for Americans since we gained our independence. It is not a normal election where there is "always the next time." If Trump wins, it will be a long damn time before there is a "next time."

One thing that I believe is near certain is if Trump supporters ever come to the realization of how badly they have been used, threre will be hell to pay. However, they have so much emotional energy invested that it will be extremely hard to face the facts and admit that they have been fools all along. I believe that there will come a day when there is no more than a small handful of Americans who will admit that they ever supported Trump. It is a matter of when, and a matter if the Republic survives long enough to get there.

We have the power to save the nation we must pull out all of the stops and use it. (or lose it)

[Docreed2003]

20. They live in a different world

Last edited Sun Mar 24, 2024, 04:52 PM - Edit history (1)

They are fully indoctrinated into a rw world view. A world view where the man is the head of the household and they dutifully pack the kids up for church on Sunday. They participate in their church groups and never question that these social constructs are reinforcing a warped conservative view. They live in their conservative subdivisions where that conservative mindset is reinforced through every activity in their lives. A worldview that says democrats are intent on taking their "hard earned money" to hand out to "others" who haven't worked as hard in their minds. They and their neighbors don't trust the government unless that government is also conservative and they never question why their government isn't working for them, because in their minds they have everything they could want in their conservative lives. They don't have an issue with their schools being better off than other schools in their districts because they pay those property taxes for a reason and they don't want to share. They fully support the church creeping into all aspect of their lives because why wouldn't they want the message of Christ everywhere? Any attempt by the left to curtail that is an attack on God & the Bible warns us against such attacks, at least that's what the preacher says. Anything that doesn't fit into their comfortable worldview of what pristine suburbia "should be" is viewed with distrust at best and hate at worst. They don't care about women's rights issues or civil rights issues or anything else that we on the left care about because they aren't being affected by it in their world.

[SARose]

35. Ding ding ding

Trump women in my family are just as you described above - all about status. One of my female relatives rents designer handbags because “nobody knows.” One of my brothers calls his friends his “social circle.” One of our nieces buys her designer stuff at second hand shops.

All of these people were raised in modest homes. Most of them in Union homes. Putting on the dog is what they do. Sounds kinda like Trump, huh?

When they complain about “illegals” or “black lives matter” my husband asks them why they can’t share some of the bounty they received. “Nobody helped us”or “we worked hard for what we have.” He climbs up on his soap box and says “There are only 2 things I own in this world - my good name and my soul. Everything else belongs to a higher power.” He is agnostic bordering on atheist. Shuts em up every time.

[Chainfire]

40. Christians for an hour a week.

Assholes the other 167 hours. It is called hedging your bets...

[kimbutgar]

21. I had two long time women friends

They had difficulty keeping men and always dressed provocatively. Both had terrible fathers and complained about their childhoods. They both got on the t#$&p train and that ended our friendship. My oldest friend from 1st grade still keeps in touch with one of those women who I introduced her to so I hear things from time to time and the old friend says she’s still in the cult and they don’t talk politics.

[Celerity]

25. Why do you waste years of your life posting bollocks, getting banned, posting bollocks again, wash, rinse, repeat?

[brooklynite]

24. "MANY vs MOST"

There's a point that too many people ignore: while MANY women need access to abortion facilities, MOST do not. It's easy to disregard a right that you haven';t availed yourself of and don't imagine you'll need.

[Mblaze]

29. Is it a line up?

Will fake-blonde #3 step forward?

[et tu]

36. biblical patriarchy and power

women do not have equal rights and this is the old throwback
of gaining importance via who you are with. a lot are brainwashed
but all women need to unite and vote- roevember!

[LeftInTX]

38. They don't look sad to me.

[Celerity]

47. 'sad' as in

sad
adjective
INFORMAL

pathetically inadequate or unfashionable.
"the show is tongue-in-cheek—anyone who takes it seriously is a bit sad"

[oldmanlynn]

39. Look at the picture for the answer.

Its more about white Christian nationalism than anything else.

[Tree Lady]

43. Unless its about money issues

they honestly believe abortion is murder. Why they have strong feelings about it and why they will vote for a crazy vile guy to get what they want.

Those women are pretty lost to us, we have to concentrate on the low information voters who believe lies about the economy and other issues.

[MOMFUDSKI]

44. My MIL had no opinions of her own. She

literally looked at her husband to answer the question posed to her. Also have a neighbor who does the same thing. It is sad and scary to see. They just plain old don’t want to do the work of thinking for themselves.

[JustAnotherGen]

45. They have different priorities

I've come to accept that.