Michael Kimmel, One of the World’s Experts on Masculinity, Examines its Role in the Far-Right

The white man has long been the "default" person in our society: the voter, the professional, the taxpayer. In a way, it is still reflected in our legal systems. But during the Obama presidency in the US, some commenters began questioning that, and even "burying" the white male demographic. Donald Trump, however, was propelled to power, in part, by the "angry white men."

Michael Kimmel, one of the world's leading experts on masculinity, has researched the subject at length. For Angry White Men: American Masculinity at the End of an Era (2013), he's interviewed the men who used to be parts of neo-Nazi groups in the US, Germany, Sweden and the UK. In this interview, he talks about the connection between masculinity and the feeling of rejection, even humiliation, that so many men have suffered as the world was changing. His position is that, "if you ignore masculinity in understanding how these guys get into these movements, you will not be able to help them get out." 

One of the most interesting points in this interview is that demographically, far-right recruits are usually not privileged: many of them have suffered from abuse as children, did not fit in at school and did not find a satisfying job. "The camaraderie of the community validates their masculinity, and - even more importantly than that - gives them a sacred mission. That is really powerful for these guys," says Kimmel.