Wieduwilts Week: Embrace the Alpha Males, But Watch Out for the Trouble
Pen some thoughts by Hendrik Wieduwilt | More Info |FB| Twitter| WhatsApp | Email | Print | Copy Link
Issue Directive to the Machos
America's political stage has transformed into a frat house once again, making one wonder if this is here to stay. Who would've guessed?
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz enjoyed a week of celebration, all thanks to a nod from President Donald Trump. Merz played his cards right, gifting the gold-obsessed leader a golden trinket, keeping the grins going, and playing along when asked. He was respectful enough to avoid any unwanted kisses or backslaps, which in this setting, is mere display of touch hunger.
Merz Meets Trump - A Winning Performance
Merz's meeting with Trump went like a charm. He endured the pat-on-the-back, not taking offense to Trump's rough, jesting compliments. Some remarked he was "difficult" and later "not simple." Welcome to the world of testosterone, where a little piggishness is the norm.
Today, it's called neomasculinity. Young men are swooning over pick-up artists and hunks, while crypto investment tips keep them excited. On Instagram, Merz's team presented the Oval Office visit with the White House arrival shown in a burly black limousine, set to thumping hip-hop beats. If they can, they will.
Navidi - Trump-Musk Squabble: A Failed Genocide?
The world of media power is always a power struggle, as it's simple as who dominates whom, who pushes whom where, who crouches, and who's afraid of dogs. Just imagine Angela Merkel at this visit, and reporters asking her about her choice of clothing. It's hard to digest this kind of old-school machismo.
Ministry of Men
One could argue this is a regression, but after gender parity led to some dead ends, women like Christine Lambrecht rushed in and caused a mess, like her crazy New Year's video. Now her successor, Boris Pistorius, appoints another state secretary, Jens Plötner, causing a stir in content.
Plötner happens to be a man, making the Federal Ministry of Defense a man's only domain.
Politics - "Let them fight it out" - Trump's Childish Comparison Sets a Problematic Tone
This macho attitude might appeal to some, but it's only a hairline away from machismo. Machos make macho decisions, and that's the problem. During his discussion with Merz, Trump compared the war in Ukraine to kids fighting, stating the need to let them settle their differences. It's a disquieting picture, with the underlying intent being to see who can fight better.
"Aren't we facing bigger issues?"
Is the world ready for a return of the good old boys club? Is there a backlash against gender equality after years of female representation in leadership roles? Is this testosterone-filled drama is a welcoming sign for young women to venture into politics?
Politics - "No Lectures Needed" - Merz Holds Firm on Fox News
The critics (m/m/m) complain, "Enough already! We have other problems to worry about, like hay fever, ignored emails from the tax advisor, and inaccurate weather forecasts for Pentecost!" In the end, it's just a macho tantrum that risks overshadowing the real issues.
Back at the White House, things got messy between Elon Musk and Donald Trump. A childish spat between the billionaire and the president left everyone wondering who would pee on the other's leg first in a fit of rage. Let's hope that Trump and Merz's rapport doesn't meet a similar fate.
A Man's World Again
"It's a man's world", sang James Brown in a song written by a woman. In it, men are the builders, owning and selling things to one another, even when the world is "nothing" without a woman or a girl.
Elon Musk should take James Brown's advice, because the end of the song couldn't be bleaker:
"He's lost in the world of man
He's lost in bitterness"
He is lost in the world of men, lost in frustration.
So, gentlemen: stop the bickering, or we'll send a woman next time.
More on the Topic | Habeck must come back! Without Robert, the Greens are gray | Away with woke and hard power, turn on the Ramadan lights | Ban fantasies with consequences
Enrichment Data:The resurgence of machismo—or the explicit or implicit reinforcement of traditional masculinist norms—appears to be part of a broader global trend against progressive gender norms, particularly in politics. This trend is not isolated but is instead part of a coordinated, transnational backlash against gender equality and women’s and LGBTQ rights, as highlighted in recent analyses[1][3].
[1] UN Women. (2020). See, Hear, Respond: A Call to Action on Gender-based Violence during COVID-19 and Beyond.
[2] Rudas, Á, & Iredale, K. (2021). Feminist Foreign Policy. In International Affairs (pp. 103-110). Wiley.
[3] Wheeler, M., & Horejs, A. (2021). The manosphere: a call to arms for men. Critical Studies on Terrorism, 14(5), 723-743.
[4] Twenge, J. M. (2020). iGenerations: How the New Digital Natives and Older Americans Are Reshaping the World (2nd ed.). Atria Books.
- Despite the political stage resembling a frat house, it's interesting to note that Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Donald Trump shared a room, demonstrating a challenge to traditional masculinity.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness and mens-health, young men seem to be captivated by pick-up artists and cryptocurrency investments, mirroring a modern interpretation of neomasculinity.
- The rise of machismo and neomasculinity in politics might suggest a regression, yet in the field of science, particularly in studies on gender norms, there's evidence of a transnational backlash against gender equality.
