There has been a steady rise of conservatism around the globe. Conservative parties have assumed power in the last decade in India, the USA, and Brazil. Internet icons like Andrew Tate who represent ultra-conservative, ultra-masculine values enjoy massive popularity. The ‘Trad-wife’ is the new ideal. But what are the reasons behind this shift? Is it simply a fluke or something more?
While several factors contribute to this trend, I would like to highlight the crucial role played by Third-wave feminism. Cultures globally seem to be experiencing a surge in anxiety, as more and more women enter the workforce and become self-reliant, leaving men feeling redundant.. Social and Familial life is not what it used to be. Women have more agency; they openly reject and oppose patriarchal values.
Marriage as an institution is experiencing failure as is evident with the rise in divorce rates. Radical feminist movements such as the ‘4B’ movement from South Korea, advocate for a rejection of all relationships with men, from dating, marriage, and sex to childbearing. Caught up in the myriads of rapidly shifting gender roles, it is difficult for most to adjust to this new reality. This is where the appeal of leaders like Modi and Trump lies.
They represent a sort of ‘father figure’, a powerful, traditional, masculine man, the typical patriarch our society is so used to. Behind their façade of ultra-nationalistic pride and power is the promise of success and stability. The same is true for opinions espoused by personalities like Tate. They fascinate a lost generation of men and give them an ideal to strive for. Tate’s call for entrepreneurship and success, as a surefire way to “procure” a woman, reveals the fear and inadequacies experienced by men in this day and age. The ‘Trad-wife’ is but a natural byproduct of the circumstances – Ones who cannot fight the patriarchy, and attempt to please it to ensure their survival. Thus, we can safely argue the rise of conservatism is not simply a fluke but a natural consequence of shifting social and gender dynamics. Social media and populist movements give impetus to the popularization of conservative ideals. But change is underway. We are already experiencing the preliminary disintegration of these regimes, with the ousting of Trump and the withdrawal of the popular support from Modi but the ideological waves still permeate the general psyche. It would be interesting to see where we go from here.
Edited by Sreepriya Ramesh
Article 19 