Insights from college student, Female Futurist Nachala Waters: “The results of this election underscore a harsh reality: Despite years of feminist advocacy and the #MeToo movement’s bold attempts to engage men in the fight for women’s rights, many men remain indifferent to or even antagonistic toward these issues.”
Who she is: A goal-oriented, purpose-driven woman on a mission to stand up for one another, support one another, and push forward, even in the face of resistance.
What she does: I am attending Towson University pursing a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Mass Communications, and working full-time to be to afford my education.
Why she does it: I am personable, adaptable, and possess the ability to build authentic relationships that will help further organizational success.
What she thinks about being Empowered Together: In the recent election, a notable shift occurred in the voting patterns of men, with a significant increase in support for Donald Trump across multiple demographic groups.
According to the Associated Press, 25% of Black men cast their ballots for Trump, with the majority of them under 45 years old. Hispanic men also showed increased support, roughly half favoring the former president, while 60% of white men voted for him. The results left many surprised, given Trump’s history of offensive, racist, and sexist rhetoric. However, these voting patterns show a troubling reality: the struggle to garner male support for women’s rights despite decades of feminist efforts.
For context, let’s look at the genesis of the #MeToo movement. According to the Global Fund for Women, the #MeToo movement, founded in 2006 by Tarana Burke, was created to support survivors of sexual violence, especially young women of color from low-income communities, by providing healing resources and fostering a community of advocates. The movement gained global attention in October 2017 when the #MeToo hashtag went viral, encouraging survivors worldwide to share their experiences with sexual assault. For millions of women, this was the start of no longer continuing the shame and feelings of guilt for experiencing sexual abuse, and they instead began calling out their abusers and turning that shame and public humiliation onto them.
The movement aimed to expose the extent of sexual violence against women and highlight its long-lasting impact. As part of this reckoning, high-profile men—including Trump—were publicly accused of sexual misconduct. In May 2023, Trump was found liable for sexual abuse against journalist E. Jean Carroll (Neumeister et al., 2024), a pivotal moment that added fuel to the ongoing conversation about the abuse of power in the workplace and society at large.
Yet, despite this cultural shift, the 2024 election results suggest that many men, particularly in key demographic groups, rejected the feminist call for change. While some men did listen, reflect, and support the #MeToo movement, others seemed to view the growing conversation around sexual violence as a personal attack. Rather than embracing a call for empathy, many turned to backlash, with Trump’s reelection campaign benefiting from this male resistance. The day after his victory, the slogan “Your body, my choice”—a stark parody of the pro-choice mantra “My body, my choice”—began circulating, a symbolic gesture of the regressive wave that Jia Tolentino of The New Yorker has warned could define a new era of gendered backlash.
The results of this election underscore a harsh reality: Despite years of feminist advocacy and the #MeToo movement’s bold attempts to engage men in the fight for women’s rights, many men remain indifferent to or even antagonistic toward these issues. For many, women’s struggles are seen as peripheral to their own lives, and as a result, empathy for women’s rights often remains scarce.
These electoral outcomes must not discourage women. While the majority of men may continue to prioritize their own interests, there are still spaces where women can find solidarity and strength. The path forward lies in continued mutual support—whether by shopping at women-owned businesses, volunteering at shelters, or helping one another access healthcare and abortion services. The fight for women’s rights is far from over, and the challenges ahead may be great, but we must remain motivated.
Together, we can continue to stand up for one another, support one another, and push forward, even in the face of resistance.
