Modern gender roles and evolving dating dynamics significantly influenced Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 US presidential election, according to a New York Times op-ed by playwright Sarah Bernstein. Bernstein highlights the “Cinderella effect,” a term derived from the traditional fairy tale that underscores societal expectations linking women’s success to finding a wealthy husband and men’s worth to their ability to provide.
As women have surpassed men in education and career achievements, these expectations have created friction. By 2022, only 42% of students in four-year colleges were men, a stark contrast to earlier decades when men dominated higher education. Bernstein argues this shift has left many men feeling marginalized, contributing to the rise of the “manosphere,” an online movement that champions traditional masculinity and emphasizes financial success as a marker of manhood.
Trump’s campaign successfully appealed to this demographic by engaging with influencers on platforms like The Joe Rogan Experience and Full Send Podcast, resonating with young male voters. In contrast, Kamala Harris’s outreach strategies, which included podcasts such as Call Her Daddy, failed to connect with the same audience.
The 2024 election saw a notable change in youth voting patterns. While Democrats have traditionally secured over 60% of the youth vote, Harris managed only 54%, reflecting growing divisions among young men and women over gender roles. Bernstein concludes that societal progress requires rejecting outdated norms perpetuated by the manosphere, promoting a future where both genders can thrive equally in work and relationships.
