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Men may joke and say the economy is the social issue they care most about, but beyond the jest lies a wealth of truth to this discourse. Men do seem to strongly care about the economy, and this phenomenon is connected to a deeper issue in American male political participation; it reflects the ways men vote in general, tending to favor policies they see as practical over social issues that affect those around them. This article aims to unmask the reasons why men lean toward utilitarianism and challenge the lack of empathy that is prevalent in the way men engage in politics.

American women are 17% more likely than men to believe that climate change is a serious issue and 21% more likely than men to believe its effects will be tangible. Men are also less likely to vote with sensitivity toward abortion rights than women, and recent male voting patterns favored Donald Trump exclusively due to his proposed economic policy. This creates a thought-provoking divide on the different ways men and women perceive shared domestic issues. It’s critical that we challenge the polarization caused by divisive, unsympathetic rhetoric.

While people are entitled to care about issues of their choice and the economy will always deserve attention, these voting variations are significant and this trend of men completely discounting the livelihood of others in their voting patterns is problematic. Some Americans may feel that economic policy has the greatest effect on their daily lives, while issues like climate change and abortion feel distant to most men — despite presenting sweeping implications for every citizen. Even groups that historically vote blue, like Black and Latino men, gravitated to Trump in the 2024 election thanks to his baseless preaching about bettering the economy, despite several Nobel prize-winning economists discrediting his promises as myth.

Not to say only men vote in favor of personal economic interest or that only men prioritize the economy, but multiple factors make it a very common mindset among men. Systemically, the idea that the man must provide for his family, worry about finances and make sure his family is successful has permeated gender politics for centuries. Voting through this patriarchal lens is an expression of a value set instilled in men for generations that became the most socially acceptable issue for men to vote on, as well as one by which they’re socially influenced. Humanitarian causes are thus perceived as more feminine due to resembling the nurturing role women have historically been expected to play in society. In the same vein, there’s pressure among men to be macho and to vote on issues through a male-centric perspective.

In the mid-20th century, when democratic lawmakers shifted their focus to civil rights, using government money to establish social programs and regulating corporations, the Republican Party crafted a response in the form of spooking voters away from these issues. By repeatedly harping on how investing in social issues that benefit diversity and inclusion would be a waste of money and bad for the economy, their rhetoric worked exceedingly well on men.

A popular appeal to men to convince them to vote on issues like abortion is by asking them to think of their wife, daughter, girlfriend or sister. It’s hard to measure the effectiveness of this framework as studies show men struggle with empathy compared to women. It seems that, even when presented with this dilemma about loved ones, men still gravitate toward prioritizing the economy. The only effective way to get men to vote on issues like abortion rights and climate change shouldn’t be to force self-reflection. The best method to reform male voting patterns involves teaching male voters to practice centering the societal and systemic hardships that hurt other people in their politics more.

To any male voters reading this whose main voting concern lies in the economy: truly look into why that issue, although important, is what you value above the suffering and repression of others. If you know anyone who thinks this way, challenge their thinking in a helpful, interactive and respectful manner.

Ask them why issues like abortion rights and climate change fail to speak to their emotions or logic. And question why they value money over solving historic global and national crises. Overall, it’s time to depressurize gender essentialism in politics and everyday life. Kindness and empathy are not exclusive to women, and strength and pragmatism are not exclusive to voting for the economy. If we dismantle this archaic, patriarchal lens of living, we will foster a more empathetic culture of political participation.

Ben Newman is a freshman at Syracuse University. His column appears bi-weekly. He can be reached at ibnewman@syr.edu.

Published on December 10, 2024 at 11:23 pm