As we approach tonight’s debate, it’s good time to review what JD Vance stands for. The GOP war on women and all things gender.

TAT readers,

Happy hump day to all. Today’s topic is sensitive but a must understand, in order to fully understand the MAGA GOP’s war on not just women, but all issues related to gender. If you think of our earth as, “mother earth,” their ongoing assault on the environment, also fits nicely into their extremist, conspiracy theory laden gender wars. This essay has many facets and not all of them are common in media. Today we’ll look at this core element of GOP and other global, far-right movements, in order to see how their attacks on women and gender, are the very essence of dangerous.

Now that VP Kamala Harris is the presumptive Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, the GOP’s historical denigration of women’s rights since the early 80’s, is about to come into sharp focus. They may try to run from their record, change the subject when it comes up but make no mistake, it is there and they will act upon their beliefs, if elected. If you love the women in your family, you will be sentencing the women among your family and friends to second- or third-class citizenship by supporting this MAGA version of the GOP.

There is plenty to get to, so let’s get at it.

First and foremost, now that VP Kamala Harris is the presumptive Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, the role of gender will play a significant role in the election, no matter how hard the GOP tries not to. Now that the GOP has been conditioned by immoral influence campaigns to subconsciously act in a predictable manner, they won’t be able to help themselves. This is precisely how NW or Narrative Warfare works. It shapes identities of individuals and groups to be triggered predictably and most often, subconsciously. A simpler way to say NW, is to simply say, “effective influence operations.” Tragically, our national security community is clueless to what this means.

So, here’s the ugly truth, the global far-right extremist movements that somewhat reached their current zenith, 2015-2020 have a shared, underlying extremist ideology, that can be seen around the world. Gender issues that do not conform to antiquated paradigms, such as Victorian England or the popular TV series, “The Handmaid’s Tale” are under assault globally. For current high-profile examples, simply see what goes on in draconian theocracies like Iran, the Taliban in Afghanistan or now here in the states. I see this daily in Texas whose MAGA-led state government, is pejoratively named, “the Texas Taliban,” due to their abusive, vigilante abortion laws.

Coventry Patmore’s narrative poem, "The Angel in the House" is perhaps the best known of the Victorian images of ideal womanhood. Written to his wife, Patmore lauds the virtues of a dependent wife who maintains a domestic haven with little interest or activity in the larger world outside her home, husband and children. Her specific qualities of  “unselfish grace, gentleness, simplicity, and nobility reveal that she is not only a pattern Victorian lady but almost literally an angel on earth” (Gilbert and Gubar, 22). Patmore’s poem became a Victorian best-seller. So influential was the poem that Nina Auerbach notes that it “became a convenient shorthand for the selfless paragon all women were exhorted to be, enveloped in family life, and seeking no identify beyond the roles of daughter, wife, and mother” (67-69). But as Gilbert and Gubar point out, even from the eighteenth century conduct books for girls stressed the feminine virtues of “modesty, gracefulness, purity, delicacy, civility, compliancy, reticence, chastity, affability, politeness” (23). In exchange for embracing this domestic role, a woman was promised security and protection.

- The Idealized View of the Victorian Woman
- Lehigh University
- Margaret Murray
- 2016

Whether it is Russia or here in the US or Europe, far-right ideology shares the same or very similar traits. One of the highest profile, populist movements in conjunction with this type of extremism, is the US GOP. Since the current GOP is part of the wave of global far-right populist movements, of course they share ideological core elements.

Far-right ideology can encompass a plethora of overlapping, sometimes inconsistent narratives and beliefs, including white supremacism, neo-Nazism, conspiracy theories, anti-immigrant sentiment, accelerationism, Christian nationalism, misogyny, and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment. Despite this “salad bar” of ideologies, constructions of femininity and masculinity, including roles for men and women, are an important aspect of far-right identity formation. This means understanding how gender narratives manifest and are exploited in the far-right context is essential to countering the threat.

- The Exploitation of Gender and Masculinities on the Far-Right
- The International Peace Movement Global Observatory
- Michaela Millender
- October 25, 2023 

Anyone that primarily experiences right-wing media, has been already “conditioned” to extremist beliefs, or is open to them. Yes, this is a cold, hard fact of how radicalization works. Once it crosses a certain threshold roughly defined as, aggressively acting on such beliefs publicly, there is a significantly low rate of recovery. This is true of all types of extremism.

Those in my former field of CT and who understand radicalization and the dynamics of extremist movements are tragically aware of the potential for societal harm, due to extremist ideologies. Any number of premier research and expert communities have commented on the topic of today’s essay. It would be a book-length effort to review and sort out all of these sources so today, I will leave below some excellent sources for those interested. Please see these as your interest dictates.

Gender and far right ideology

Scholars have noted that discourses and practices pertaining to gender are integral to far right nationalist ideology.(4) Notions of “masculinity” or “femininity” are deployed as symbolic capital, ideological resource, and as a rhetorical device to problematize the identities of those against whom they believe themselves fighting.(5) Marking differentiated others as ethnic, religious, or gendered threats to imagined sameness can legitimize and validate prejudice, and hence produce images of the “good and innocent nation”, righteous and tolerant.(6) During the so-called refugee crisis of 2015, a range of far rights actors propagated images of “hypermasculine” dark-skinned migrants, violently imagined as “rapefugees” that threatened the purity of “our women”, as well as of feminine nationhood. Such racialized and gendered imaginaries of the perceived menace of Middle Eastern enemies can be used to mark white masculinity and morals more desirable.(7)

- What role does gender play in the far right?
- Inger Skjelsbæk, Eviane Leidig, Iris Beau Segers, and Cathrine Thorleifsson
- University of Oslo

• Gender and Far-right Nationalism: Historical and International Dimensions. Introduction – Isabel Heinemann, Alexandra Minna Stern, 2022 (sagepub.com)

• THE RIGHT MEN: HOW MASCULINITY EXPLAINS THE RADICAL RIGHT GENDER GAP, King’s College, London

• Male supremacy and inceldom

  

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  The rise of far-right and right-wing populist ideologies seems to go hand in hand with a backlash to gender equity and feminist movements. This becomes observable in the banning of gender studies in Hungary, in the mobilization against gay marriage in Germany and in concerted opposition on EU-level, such as in case of the Estrela-Report on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Gender-essentialism and a sense of male superiority unite movements and groups across the right and reach into wider society. Their relationship to feminism is ambiguous: On the one hand, right-wing populist parties such as the AfD and groups such as the Identitarian Movement exploit feminist issues for their own xenophobic and racist agendas, a strategy termed femonationalism in recent research. This cooptation allows them to present themselves as being in favor of women’s rights, while simultaneously strictly opposing policies aiming towards gender equity, such as female quotas, abortion rights or gender-sensitive language. They thereby defend core elements of nationalist ideology, which bases on highly traditionalist gender roles. It thus becomes clear that misogyny serves both as a strategic and as a symbolic function within the far-right.
  Therefore, misogyny is a connecting link between far-right and male supremacist movements, whose ideologies cross-fertilize each other. The inter-connection of supremacist ideologies, as well as their transmission into the mainstream warrants academic attention.
  
  - United in Misogyny: Male Supremacy, the Far-Right, and the Mainstream
  - European Consortium for Political Research
  - 
  - Chair(s)
     Susanne Reinhardt
     Freie Universität Berlin
  
  - Co-Chair(s)
     Greta Sophie Jasser
     Leuphana Universität Lüneburg
  
  - Panel Discussant(s)
     Matthias Hoffmann
     Babeş-Bolyai University
  

As earlier noted, there is an enormous body of work that explains and researches all things, extremist and in today’s environment, far-right extremism is the dominant form experienced in the West. In a world connected in a millisecond via technology, the dissemination of populist/ far-right narratives and related propaganda, become a key factor in exponentially increasing its threat. During the Trump administration, he was only one of the primary world leaders riding the wave of extremist, right-wing populism. Every major economy existed under the thumb of far-right extremist authoritarians.

Putin, Xi, Modi and others still control their nations via far-right populism and other draconian types of governance. In recent Indian elections, Indians across the board pushed strongly against Modi’s BJP party which has as its underlying far-right ideology, Hindutva or rather, violent Hindu nationalism. Think of Hindutva as the Hindu version of White Christian Nationalism. The reason that I draw the connectivity between the leadership of far-right major powers, is that its threat, can be seen in places like the wars in Ukraine, Israel and especially in our own elections for November. At the core, Russia is the primary Pied Piper of core, global, far-right narratives and their associated themes and messaging.

I highlighted the quote below because the new GOP VP candidate, J.D. Vance is now coming under fire for his criticisms of Democratic Presidential candidate, Kamala Harris for being, “childless.” This criticism comes directly out of Putin’s playbook. In fact, Russian and GOP culture wars are nearly synonymous.

Last year saw a spike in ideologically driven lawmaking in Russia, with women and the LGBT+ community, especially transgender people, emerging as key targets. Gender transition – both surgical procedures and hormonal therapy, along with changing one’s gender on official documents – was completely banned. Those who had already transitioned were forbidden from adopting children. On November 30, the Russian Supreme Court declared the non-existent “International LGBT Movement” an extremist organisation and prohibited its activities. Essentially, same-sex relationships are now illegal, as are any symbols associated with the ‘movement’, including rainbow earrings and My Little Pony.

Another key theme is pro-natalism. A bill prohibiting the promotion of childlessness is currently under consideration in the Duma, stating voluntary childlessness “goes against traditional family values and the state policy of the Russian Federation”. But on abortion, authorities have yet to arrive at a definitive stance. Some regions have instituted penalties for “encouraging abortion” and engaging in the “propagation of abortions”. This was followed by a Ministry of Health directive limiting access to emergency contraception. Then, in November 2023, Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, petitioned Vyacheslav Volodin, Chair of the State Duma, seeking endorsement for the prohibition of abortions within private clinics.

- Conservatism by decree: Putin as a figurehead for the global far-right
- European Council on Foreign Relations
- Ksenia Luchenko

The point to all of the background up until this point in today’s essay, is that today’s GOP is part and parcel, of a global, far-right extremist/ populist wave. By definition, their agenda is not only un-American, but fake American values. It has been so, since at least 2012 and in my opinion, dating to the Newt Gingrich era. Today’s extremist GOP works against our constitutional republic and founding principles, not in support of them. This has been the biggest “con job” of American voters, since the US civil war. Assaulting the rights of women is merely part of the overall, global far-right movement, not the exception.

Next, let’s bring this background up to date.

The overt, illegal and unconstitutional attacks against American women and all other gender related issues are as demonstrated, global far-right extremist and populist, by definition. Putin primarily leads the global movement. The GOP is simply marching in lockstep. They can spew their fake patriotism all they like, but a simple read of our history and founding documents, clearly show the overt dishonesty of their fake patriotism. Another Trump administration, underpinned by Project 2025 and elite wealth oligarchs like Elon Musk, Harlan Crow and others, will eviscerate American democracy.

The reason I raise the gender issues now, is because the GOP attacks on Kamala Harris as a woman of color and partial immigrant background, will be fierce. In fact, any and every woman not completely obedient to the GOP gender manifestos, will be a target should they get in the way of the MAGA extremist steamroller.

This is no political rhetoric. There are countless examples like J.D. Vance’s disgusting attack on not only Kamala Harris but all women. As the video with the Putin-protégé’, Tucker Carlson shows, he discusses women and other gender issues derogatively and from a position of male superiority. His statement to Carlson was the following: “We are effectively run in the country, via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs,” he told Carlson, “By a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made, and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too.”

As noted at the beginning, no matter how much the GOP tries to not attack Candidate Harris as a woman and an immigrant, they still will and in increasingly aggressive ways. This will invariably, transfer to other women in politics as well. Only women elected as GOP senators and representatives will defend misogyny, due to putting party over country. Like I always say regarding identity, “once it is established, it’s very difficult to evolve.” Understanding identity is the very core of understanding Narrative Warfare.

The sources for such understanding, are nearly countless. Here are but a handful from the prestigious Pew Research Center with serious data about today’s essay regarding the differences between GOP and Democratic perceptions of gender issues in the US.

BYJULIANA MENASCE HOROWITZANDRUTH IGIELNIK

BYJULIANA MENASCE HOROWITZANDISABEL GODDARD

As always, my home state of Texas, with its thirty years of progressively hostile GOP, now MAGA leadership, leads the way for the entire GOP in discrimination against the non-white gay and otherwise communities. This is just another version of their White Christian Nationalism, always on prominent and unconstitutional display. They are often the prototype for other so-called red states and for the national Republican Party agendas. Issues regarding women’s rights and all other gender issues, are the perpetual part of the overall GOP attempt to legislate their Talibanesque views of women, onto all Texans.

The same applies to immigrants. This is important because like President Obama, Harris is from a bi-racial and split immigrant family. None of this sits well with GOP voters. For a nation of immigrants proclaiming that everyone is equal and while still wearing the stain of slavery on our history books, discrimination such as this could hardly be more, un-American.

As I wrap up today’s essay, I believe that the truest path for voters, is to honor our constitution and our founding principles. It is crystal clear that the deeply indoctrinated GOP will not honor either. It is written into their 2024 platform and in their Project 2025 strategy. It is far less about policy this year because we have but two choices, one that keeps their policies between our constitutional guardrails and the GOP who is hellbent on destroying our constitutional republic, and replacing it with an authoritarian/ fascist nation, underpinned by oligarchy and White Christian Nationalism.

I cannot speak for readers, but I can assure you that in order to maintain my oath of military service, I will vote against every single GOP candidate or initiative. Whether there are good candidates or not, the party agenda is pure MAGA. There is zero chance any longer, for principled conservatism.

I hope that you will join me in support for our constitutional system of governance, that so many have fought and died to protect. While that I want nothing to do with party political machines, I swore to protect our constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic at 17 as I raised my right hand and joined the US military, just like my dad before me and my son afterwards. I take oaths seriously. Today’s GOP does not. They may be a minority, but these bullies control the House of Representatives, local elections, the Supreme Court and other levers of power. They are in fact, the Four Horsemen of the constitutional Apocalypse.

Candidate Harris, like every other woman under the yoke of misogynistic governance, deserves the equality demanded by our constitution. In 103 days, America must decide if we are to treat women and other gender minorities, with the respect constitutionally guaranteed every citizen, or not. These women and girls as well as those who embrace their gender differently are our family, friends and neighbors. We must also decide on whether to embrace a party that will honor that constitution or the one hellbent on destroying it. Our survival as a republic depends on understanding these threats accurately, not via the extremist ideology. I always say, “do what is constitutional and moral, and party politics will take care of themselves.”

My best for the rest of everyone’s week,

Paul

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