Anti-feminist Backlash, Hostile Sexism, and the Public Resonance of Trump's Misogyny

• In Event: 2229 - Section on Political Sociology Refereed Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Political Sociology Refereed Roundtable #1

Abstract

Overt misogyny figured more prominently in the 2016 U.S. presidential election than in any in recent memory, casting further doubt on the postfeminist vision of an American politics free from "old-fashioned" sexism. While scholars have debated the extent to which Trump's campaign succeeded on nationalist or populist grounds, less attention has been paid to the resonance of his misogyny among parts of the electorate. This article analyzes the correspondence between voters' feelings toward feminists, feminism, and gender relations and their support for Trump in the general election, paying special attention to this configuration of attitudes among Republican women. Using the Gallup Daily Tracker poll, a quasi-experimental analysis finds that one particularly egregious instance of misogyny causes a significant, but only temporary, drop in Trump's popularity among Republican men and women before rebounding. The discussion puts these findings into the context of a renewed anti-feminist "backlash," asking whether the 2016 election is the tip of a resurfacing iceberg of public misogyny in American politics.

Author

• Ned Crowley, New York University