All indications point to the possibility that the partisan divide over evolving gender roles in society could become even more pronounced in the 2024 election. This development adds a new layer of unpredictability to an already highly contested race.
Recent statements by former President Donald Trump have highlighted his intent to secure the support of voters committed to traditional gender roles. However, this strategy carries the risk of alienating those comfortable with the social changes challenging these traditional norms, particularly among women.
Trump’s Appeal to Traditional Gender Roles
Donald Trump’s recent assertion to female voters, ‘I will be your protector,’ indicates his strategy to consolidate the support of voters adhering to traditional gender roles and family structures. This group includes not only many men but also a significant number of women.
Political strategists from both parties are concerned that Trump’s stance may further distance him from voters who embrace the social evolution that challenges traditional family patterns. Younger, college-educated, and single women are especially likely to resist the notion that they need protection from any man, including Trump, who has faced allegations of sexual misconduct from numerous women.
The Anxiety Among Women Voters
Republican pollster Christine Matthews remarked that the perception of needing protection by a man is ‘clumsy and dated and just irrelevant’ for most women voters. This sentiment is particularly ‘cringeworthy’ coming from Trump. However, Trump’s pledge to protect women appears to be an effort to narrow his deficit with female voters against Vice President Kamala Harris, who leads among women voters by double digits.
Polling data reveals that women generally experience more anxiety about their lives and their position in American society compared to a few years ago. Trump’s campaign aims to channel this anxiety towards concerns about physical security, particularly focusing on threats from crime and undocumented immigrants.
Challenges Facing Trump’s Security Narrative
The heightened anxiety seen in polls among women is driven by concerns that many associate with Trump himself.
Daniel Cox of the American Enterprise Institute points out an irony in Trump’s use of security language, given that many women consider him a source of their difficulties. He further notes that many women feel that the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision, which Trump supports, has heightened their anxieties about women’s rights.
Paternalistic Messaging in Trump’s Campaign
Trump’s portrayal of himself as a protector used paternalistic language, reinforcing traditional gender roles. This was evident at the GOP convention, where Trump aligned himself with hyper-masculine symbols like pro-wrestler Hulk Hogan and UFC President Dana White.
JD Vance, the vice presidential nominee, has also reiterated traditional family values, criticising women who do not prioritize childbearing. These signals aim to appeal to voters resistant to changing gender roles at home and in the workplace, further dividing the electorate along cultural lines rather than class distinctions.
Polling Data Reflecting Gender Role Attitudes
Recent extensive polling by various organisations indicates that a majority of Republicans, including GOP women, resist changing traditional gender roles. For instance, 83% of Trump-supporting men and 55% of his female supporters believe obstacles that inhibited women from advancing in society are now ‘largely gone.’
Additionally, many within the Trump camp feel that society no longer needs to ensure equal rights for women. Notably, nearly half of Republican men and about 3-in-10 Republican women are uncomfortable with women retaining their maiden names after marriage.
Importance of Traditional Family Structures to Conservatives
Surveys from institutions like the American Enterprise Institute and Public Religion Research Institute reveal that a substantial number of Republican men and women endorse traditional family structures with a wage-earning father and homemaking mother. These views are particularly prevalent among evangelical Christians.
Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster, suggests that a segment of working-class White women, especially those prioritising economic over cultural concerns, resonate with Trump’s message, believing life was more affordable under his presidency.
The Impact of Cultural Attitudes on the Election
The upcoming election could see gains for Trump among older women drawn to his ‘protector’ messaging. However, this might be offset by a backlash from single, college-educated, younger, and Black women who view his stance on women’s rights as regressive.
The critical challenge for Trump will be to appeal to suburban women who are increasingly comfortable with the evolving gender roles and family dynamics since the 1950s. Without securing substantial support from this demographic, his strategy may fail to bridge the existing gender gap in voter preferences.
Harris’s Strong Position Among Key Female Demographics
Kamala Harris has garnered significant support among young women, college-educated White women, and Black women, who largely reject Trump’s traditionalist messaging. State and national polls indicate that Harris is outperforming Trump among these groups, compared to Biden’s performance in the 2020 election.
Despite economic challenges, Black women continue to resist Trump overwhelmingly. Harris’s lead among these pivotal voter groups highlights the difficulty Trump faces in reshaping his image as a protector of women’s rights and freedoms.
Conclusion
The 2024 election is profoundly influenced by the ongoing debate over gender roles. While Trump’s appeal to traditionalist views may win over some voters, it risks alienating a broader, more progressive electorate.
Kamala Harris’s strong support among key female demographics emphasises the complexity of this gender dynamic, which will play a critical role in the forthcoming election.
The 2024 election is profoundly influenced by the ongoing debate over gender roles. Trump’s appeal to traditionalist views may win over some voters, but it risks alienating a broader, more progressive electorate.
Kamala Harris’s robust support among key female demographics highlights the complexity of this gender dynamic, which will play a critical role in the forthcoming election.
