Welcome to Sex and the State, a newsletter about power. I’m a writer working on decriminalizing and destigmatizing all things sex. I use evidence and stories to interrogate existing power structures to propose better ways of relating. To support my work,
This is right on target. It’s important to realize that it not just “one thing” that men have to overcome. It’s multiple factors that have created a brutal and unforgiving economy that is fundamentally hostile to working class people in general. White men haven’t escaped this fact.
Success , economic or otherwise, is comprised of a thousand things all going right or at least not going wrong. A lot of those things are now going wrong for white men.
Another factor that we don’t talk about so much, but I think plays a large role is religion. Christianity -- primarily the fundamentalist evangelical variety -- justifies the economic and social status quo. Men are told they’re the head of the household and women are subservient helpmates.
It’s hard to overcome religious conditioning that you’re the privileged one even when your experience tells you otherwise.
At the other end of the spectrum is the New Age/New Thought/positive thinking/prosperity gospel idea that you “manifest” everything that happens to you. It’s always your fault in other words.
It’s surprising how many people buy into this kind of loony thinking. (Trump is a believer.) But like Christianity, it’s ideas extend far beyond its actual followers.
This is right on target. It’s important to realize that it not just “one thing” that men have to overcome. It’s multiple factors that have created a brutal and unforgiving economy that is fundamentally hostile to working class people in general. White men haven’t escaped this fact.
Success , economic or otherwise, is comprised of a thousand things all going right or at least not going wrong. A lot of those things are now going wrong for white men.
Another factor that we don’t talk about so much, but I think plays a large role is religion. Christianity -- primarily the fundamentalist evangelical variety -- justifies the economic and social status quo. Men are told they’re the head of the household and women are subservient helpmates.
It’s hard to overcome religious conditioning that you’re the privileged one even when your experience tells you otherwise.
At the other end of the spectrum is the New Age/New Thought/positive thinking/prosperity gospel idea that you “manifest” everything that happens to you. It’s always your fault in other words.
It’s surprising how many people buy into this kind of loony thinking. (Trump is a believer.) But like Christianity, it’s ideas extend far beyond its actual followers.