Around the world, women are dealing with rising levels of violence, political oppression, and a lack of control over their bodies. What’s behind all of this? It’s not just random events—it’s part of a pattern that involves politics, social attitudes, and cultural values. Be sure to read part two, that turns this around!

Violence Against Women Pervasive

In France, we’ve learned about a horrific case where a man faced little consequence for allowing other men to rape his wife after drugging repeatedly for over a decade. 72-year-old Gisèle Pélicot is facing her now ex-husband and 50 men whom the court was able to identify.

In the case of Sean Combs, he’s facing charges of sex trafficking, kidnapping, abuse, and more. He turned his sexual assaults into a business and for years, he was able to use his wealth and status to perpetuate this behavior. And the people around him, from the housekeeper to the moneymen, were all there to support the infrastructure.

In Georgia, the abortion ban has resulted in the deaths of two women this week. The law is so strict that doctors were too scared to provide life-saving care. Parts of our society, primarily our GOP leaders, see women as less important and their pain as less urgent. Even though there are laws to protect women, they are often not enforced strongly enough, leaving many women vulnerable to violence.

Donald Trump despises women. He once again claimed he had never met E. Jean Carroll and dismissed the allegations as fabricated. This response was consistent with previous statements that led to defamation lawsuits, resulting in verdicts awarding Carroll $5 million and $83 million in damages. Trump also attacked Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, other victims, calling their allegations “totally made up.” He downplayed Leeds’ claim by stating she “would not have been the chosen one.” This reflects a continued pattern of Trump dismissing sexual misconduct accusations as politically motivated or false despite mounting legal consequences.

His history of bragging about mistreating women and being accused of sexual assault hasn’t stopped him from being a major political figure. This reflects a deeper issue: in some parts of society, women are not viewed as equals. When men with power mistreat women, and face little consequence, it sends a message that women’s value is less important.

What Experts Say Is Happening

Experts are warning that we are in a dangerous time for women. Social, political, and cultural systems are being used to control women’s bodies and limit their rights. According to various reports, there’s a growing trend where men in power—whether politicians, celebrities, or average citizens—are using that power to oppress women. These actions are often justified by outdated moral or religious beliefs that put women in second place.

This is not just about individual cases of violence or laws that restrict women’s rights. It’s about a deeper cultural problem where women are still seen as lesser than men. Whether it’s through political decisions or social behaviors, women are being told that their choices, bodies, and lives don’t matter as much as men’s.

In short, the fight for women’s equality isn’t over. In fact, in many ways, it’s just beginning. Women are still being treated as less valuable in society, and it’s time for everyone to understand what’s at stake.

Women! Get Up and Get Ready to Fight for Yourself, Your Family and Your Friends

Women, especially those who assert control over their lives, can be seen as a threat to certain ideologies, including white Christian nationalism. These fears are based on deeply ingrained beliefs about gender roles and power dynamics. When women challenge these structures, it feels like a threat to the stability and identity of those who rely on them for power.

I’ve identified five key areas where men may fear losing control as women gain independence and autonomy. We’ll look at real-life examples and scenarios to help you understand how these dynamics might play out in your everyday life.

Women Challenge the Patriarchy

When women assert control over their own lives—whether through their careers, education, or reproductive rights—it can disrupt the traditional male-dominated hierarchy that has long existed in families and society. Men who have grown up in this system may feel threatened by women’s independence.

• Loss of Control and Power: Imagine a family where a wife gets a promotion and earns more than her husband. He may feel anxious about losing his primary breadwinner and decision-maker role. In this scenario, the husband fears that his authority in the family will be challenged, leading to power struggles.
• Erosion of Traditional Gender Roles: A man who believes a woman’s place is in the home may feel threatened if his wife decides to pursue a full-time career. He fears that the family dynamic he’s familiar with will fall apart if women don’t conform to traditional caregiving roles.
• Economic Competition and Financial Threat: In the workplace, a man may feel anxious if his female colleagues are advancing more quickly than he is. If he grew up believing men should dominate professionally, this cultural shift can feel like a loss of status and security.

Women are Gaining Political and Social Power

Some men feel their political dominance slipping away as women gain influence through voting, activism, and leadership. Women have played central roles in movements for civil rights and reproductive rights, which threaten male-dominated political systems.

• Fear of Losing Political Influence: Picture a man who has always been politically active. When more women start running for office and winning, he may worry that policies will shift toward women’s issues, reducing his ability to influence political outcomes that benefit him.
• Fear of Marginalization: A man might feel that if women become more active in social justice movements, his own concerns will be sidelined. He may believe that the more attention women’s rights get, the less society will focus on men’s issues, leaving him feeling left out.
• Fear of Reversal of Power Dynamics: Some men fear that if women gain equal political and social power, men will have less control over laws and societal norms. This fear can manifest as a fear that the tables will turn, and men will lose their historical privileges.

Women Have the Right to Body Autonomy

The ability of women to control their reproductive choices through access to contraception and abortion can be deeply threatening to ideologies that tie women’s roles to motherhood and family. Women who control these decisions disrupt the belief that their bodies should serve family or societal needs.

• Loss of Control Over Family Structure: Imagine a couple whose wife wants to delay having children to focus on her career, while the husband expects her to become a mother immediately. The husband might feel threatened that her reproductive choices are undermining his expectations for a traditional family.
• Fear of Diminished Legacy: A man may feel that his ability to pass on his family name and values is in jeopardy if his wife or partner chooses not to have children. For some, this challenges their sense of masculinity and legacy.
• Anxiety Over Declining Traditional Norms: In religious or culturally conservative families, a man might feel that access to abortion and contraception is eroding societal values. If his wife opts for these choices, he may think that traditional family and moral structures are being dismantled.

Women Embrace and Succeed at Cultural Change

Women’s increasing participation in public life—through education, business, and politics—represents a broader cultural shift. For men who are used to traditional gender roles, this change can feel deeply unsettling.

• Loss of Social Dominance: Consider a man raised to believe leadership is a male role. When he sees women becoming CEOs, doctors, or political leaders, he may feel his sense of dominance slipping away, leading to feelings of inadequacy.
• Fear of Irrelevance: As more women enter public life, a man might feel that his contributions are no longer valued. For example, a man who prides himself on being a protector may feel less needed in a world where women can financially and socially support themselves.
• Fear of Losing Control Over Social Norms: Men invested in traditional values may worry that women’s participation in shaping culture—through media, politics, and education—will lead to losing control over societal rules, like marriage or gender roles.

Women Desire Economic Independence

When women are financially independent, they are less likely to conform to the dependency-based gender roles that have long favored men. This shift can feel threatening in both private and public spheres.

• Loss of Control in Personal Relationships: Imagine a marriage where the wife earns more than the husband. The husband may feel insecure, fearing that he no longer controls financial decisions, which could lead to tension in the relationship.
• Fear of Rejection and Insecurity: Men who believe they must provide for their families might feel rejected if their partner doesn’t rely on them financially. For example, if a woman chooses to leave a relationship because she’s financially secure, the man may feel abandoned and inadequate.
• Threat to Masculine Identity: A man who ties his self-worth to being the breadwinner might experience a crisis when women in his workplace outperform him or rise to leadership positions. He may feel that his role as a “provider” is no longer valued or necessary, which can create anxiety and resentment.

Understanding these fears can help us better see what’s happening behind the curtain. I am not suggesting we fall back into the role of hand-holding these man babies. I am suggesting that understanding the thought processes behind the hate might help us individually confront these dated beliefs and allow our men to grow into healthy, purposeful individuals who don’t need to oppress others to feel manly.

Real men already know this, and most of them have outstanding partnerships with women, gay people, people of color, and so on. You know. Americans.