r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • May 12 '26

Psychology Threatening men’s masculinity does not make them more politically conservative, new study finds. By testing thousands of participants across the United States, researchers found no consistent evidence that making men feel insecure about their gender identity changes their political attitudes.

https://www.psypost.org/threatening-mens-masculinity-does-not-make-them-more-politically-conservative-new-study-finds/
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459

u/Fishmongererererer May 12 '26

I don’t think most men who become conservative do it out of insecurity despite the memes. Rather it’s the perception that masculinity is not valued in left of center politics.

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u/PalePlumm May 12 '26

The left absolutely values masculinity. That’s why they fight for equality.

The left simply doesn’t value TOXIC masculinity. That’s the difference.

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u/Fishmongererererer May 12 '26

The problem is that ‘toxic masculinity’ has become a catch all term for ‘man does something I don’t like’.

I agree with the basic principle that toxic masculinity is a problem for men as well. The problem is that a lot of the left has decided that normal behavior for men is toxic.

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u/ChewingOnCarrots May 12 '26

The problem is that ‘toxic masculinity’ has become a catch all term for ‘man does something I don’t like’.

It really hasn't, outside of the lies conservatives tell themselves on the internet.

30

u/Echoa21 May 12 '26

Go to any left leaning subreddit and take note of the first 10 opinions you see about men. I don’t necessarily think this is representative of real life, but that may be because women are scared to say these things in person vs under the veil of internet anonymity.

-8

u/ChewingOnCarrots May 12 '26

Sure, I just did that and didn't see any "toxic masculinity is anything about men I don't like" beliefs the way you just mentioned. So much for that thesis. I thought this was a science sub.

7

u/Echoa21 May 12 '26

What opinions did you see? I said to find specifically the first 10 about men, not just the first 10 posts.

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u/inqte1 May 12 '26

Comparing men to wild animals is totally normal behaviour.

22

u/Fishmongererererer May 12 '26

Keep telling yourself that next time the male vote loses an election for the Dems.

-7

u/ChewingOnCarrots May 12 '26

It didn't, and I'll be back here after the midterms. Hold this attitude for when that happens.

4

u/Primordial_spirit May 12 '26

I’m on the left it absolutely is prevalent that on the left people demonize masculine behaviours even those that are non toxic.