Have We Reached Peak Testosterone?

Politics has seemed obsessed recently with performing masculinity. If there’s one factor that animated Donald Trump’s reelection and continues to animate the political right in general, it’s “masculinism,” a movement to fight back against the advances of feminism and reassert the primacy of men, as the Atlantic staff writer Helen Lewis wrote in her June cover story. As the midterms approach, though, the administration—and masculinism with it—seems deflated. Have we reached “peak testosterone” already? Hanna Rosin talks with Lewis and her fellow staff writer Sophie Gilbert at a live taping from last month’s The Atlantic Festival about the evolution of the manosphere, why both Republicans and Democrats have put masculinity on a political pedestal, and where that leaves feminism. - - -Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices