Donald Trump stands at a rally in Wisconsin, amidst a triumphant backdrop of supporters holding “47” signs. He smiles superciliously, proclaiming, “I’m going to do it whether the women like it or not — I’m going to protect them.” Cheers erupt.

This was an emphatic — and weirdly ominous — culmination to a campaign that witnessed a slew of derogatory moments against women, from Trump supporting the suggestion that Harris slept her way to the top to a resurgence of his appalling comments on Access Hollywood and Vance’s dig at “childless cat ladies.” As Trump secured 270 electoral votes, both jubilance and disquiet took on unsettling forms. There was a 4,600% increase in comments like “get back to the kitchen” and “your body, my choice” on the social media platform X. Sales of Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale, set in a dystopian patriarchy, soared by almost 7,000%. Google searches for birth control and even potential bans spiked.

When discussing the implications of this election, we finally need to confront the ramifications of the growing global ideological gender divide amongst young people. 56% of men aged 18-29 backed Trump, in contrast to 40% of women. This was hardly a surprise. Young men veered right in many major elections around the world even when parties took on overtly misogynistic tones, as these parties stoked their growing resentment of the status quo.

Amidst all this grows the manosphere, a legion of podcasters, bloggers, and online communities for men that go far beyond just incel rhetoric. Spewing sigma narratives that hinge on toxic masculinity and misogyny, it catalyzes growing rates of loneliness, depression, and uncertainty in young men to center hate towards gains in gender equality and the social changes that have resulted from it. Trump’s campaign strategy involved conversations and podcast appearances with manosphere stalwarts like Adin Ross and Joe Rogan.

Keeping political preferences aside, social attitudes seem to be aging backwards, even so with women (see the tradwife trend). A 2024 Ipsos study showed that 31% of Gen Z men agree that a man who stays home to look after his children is less of a man, as compared to 11% of baby boomer men. 62% of Gen Z men agree that men are expected to do too much to support equality.

2024 and the U.S. presidential election, in particular, have shown us that misogynistic echo chambers simmering unfettered on social media are translating into voting choices and possibly subsequent policymaking. This threatens to undo a significant chunk of progress that has been achieved, particularly amidst a growing romanticization of the “good old days” of constricted women’s rights. At a grassroots level, there needs to be a concerted effort towards actively involving young men in conversations surrounding feminism and gender equality. There needs to be a redefinition of masculinity at home and in schools, particularly amongst young boys.

We must not go backward.