Kamala Campaign Needs to Apologize to Men for False Accusations of Sexism

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Contact: Henry Herrera

Telephone: +1-301-801-0608

Kamala Campaign Needs to Apologize to Men for False Accusations of Sexism

November 1, 2024 – The Pew Research Center reported in September that sexism has become an important factor in the presidential election, but with a new twist: Kamala Harris is now the chief beneficiary of widespread pro-female bias.

Among registered voters responding to the Pew pollsters, 40% say Harris’ gender will help her in November, while only 30% believe Harris’s gender will hurt her chances. The remaining 30% say her sex would not make much difference (1).

But when the Washington Post ran an article on the role of sexism in the presidential race, the headline misled the reader to the point of dishonesty: “Harris Faces a Familiar Foe: Sexism.” Writers Maeve Reston and Ashley Parker highlighted numerous testimonies of anti-female sexism, all designed to reinforce a well-honed narrative of pervasive female disadvantage (2).

But when it came to discussing the all-important Pew study, the WaPo writers devoted a scant two sentences to its findings. The female authors would only admit that “Forty percent said it [Harris’ gender] would help,” with only 30% saying her sex would “hurt her chances in November.” That revelation was buried deep in the lengthy article, assuring that most readers would gloss over it.

Lacking a factual basis, the Washington Post article became an outworn exercise in gender bias. And predictably, politicians ran with the male sexism narrative.

One month after the Pew results were released, former president Barack Obama delivered a tongue-lashing to Black men. “You’re thinking about sitting out or supporting somebody who has a history of denigrating you, because you think that’s a sign of strength, because that’s what being a man is? Putting women down? That’s not acceptable,” the former president charged (3).

But it was Michelle Obama who issued an even more unhinged tirade. On October 26 she lectured, “I am asking you all from the core of my being to take our lives seriously. Please! Do not, do not put our lives in the hands of politicians, mostly men, who have no clue or do not care about what we as women are going through.” (4)

Ironically, the ill-founded crusade against male sexism has backfired. A review of national polls tracked by RealClearPolitics reveals a stunning turn-around in recent weeks (5):

July to early October: Virtually every poll showed Harris with a solid lead.
Mid-October: Polling results began to split.
End of October: The RCP Average showed Trump leading by a spread of +0.5.

Research shows that men still support the goal of gender equality (6).

Political candidates need to challenge antiquated stereotypes of the female electorate as “sugar and spice and everything nice.” Indeed, modern women possess their share of vices, including a tendency to unfairly stereotype men as biased against the female gender.

Canadian columnist Janice Fiamengo has accused feminism of being a “man-hating, man-blaming kind of movement.” (7) And columnist Josh Hammer recently charged Democrats with engaging in a form of man-hate known as “misandry.” (8)

The Kamala Harris campaign needs to demonstrate its commitment to fairness and the truth by offering a sincere apology to men.

The Domestic Abuse and Violence International Alliance – DAVIA — consists of 166 member organizations from 37 countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. DAVIA seeks to ensure that domestic violence and abuse polices are science-based, family-affirming, and sex-inclusive. https://endtodv.org/davia/

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