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Missouri Republican senator Josh Hawley has released his new book, Manhood: The Masculine Virtues America Needs, where he criticizes social media influencer and self-proclaimed “king of toxic masculinity”, Andrew Tate.
Hawley derides Tate for promoting misogyny by “sleeping with as many women as possible, berating them, abusing them and celebrating it all as manly, as ‘freedom’”.
Hawley also criticizes Tate’s “fake bravado” and “endless boasting” and compares him to a child pretending to be a man.
The Absence of Donald Trump in Hawley’s Criticisms
Hawley’s reference to “a locker room” could be seen as a reference to Donald Trump, who in 2016 dismissed the Access Hollywood tape, where he described kissing and grabbing women without their consent, as “locker room talk”.
However, Hawley does not mention Trump in his book at all.
The Guardian has obtained a copy of the book, which is set to be published in the US next week.
When contacted by The Guardian for comment, Hawley did not respond to whether his criticism of Tate could and should be applied to Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination.
Tate was arrested in Romania in December on charges of organised crime, rape, and human trafficking.
Hawley, who has been viewed as a possible contender for the Republican nomination in 2024, has dismissed rumors that Trump would pick him as his running mate.
However, he has also said that he believes Trump will be the nominee in 2024 and that he will support him.
Trump’s History of Misogyny
In his book, Josh Hawley discusses pornography and its negative impact on American men.
While Trump is absent from the book, the former president has been married three times, frequently boasted about his sexual conquests, and has faced allegations of sexual misconduct and assault from over 20 women.
Trump denies all wrongdoing, but one civil case is currently being tried in New York.
In his deposition last week, Trump was asked about the Access Hollywood tape and his claim that he could grab women “by the pussy” because, as a star, he could “do anything”.
Trump responded by saying, “Well historically, that’s true with stars.”
Hawley’s Critique of Pornography
Hawley’s new book on masculinity and manhood comes at a time when gender politics are in the spotlight, and debates about what constitutes acceptable male behavior are ongoing.
The book’s release is likely to spark further discussion on this issue.
Hawley’s criticism of Tate’s promotion of misogyny is a welcome addition to the conversation around gender politics.
However, the absence of any mention of Trump in his book raises questions about whether Hawley is willing to apply the same level of scrutiny to the former president as he is to social media influencers.
