Trump’s return to office has reignited fear among women across America. His leadership brings back memories of his previous administration’s harmful policies. Trump’s earlier actions restricted funding for women’s health organizations and targeted the Affordable Care Act, limiting reproductive healthcare for women (Adeniyi et al., 2024). These restrictions left women with fewer options and increased financial burdens. As Trump steps into office again, concerns about eroding women’s rights and emboldened misogyny grow even louder.
These fears came to life when a chilling tweet went viral after Trump’s election victory: “your body, my choice.” The tweet, posted by a well-known influencer, captured the immediate fear that women’s autonomy would again be threatened. Its timing struck a chord, igniting debates and prompting thousands of retweets—both in solidarity and alarm. This viral response showed how those with misogynistic and racist views, previously hidden, felt emboldened by Trump’s rhetoric. The urgency to resist efforts to strip away women’s hard-earned rights has never been clearer.
Trump’s leadership and toxic masculinity
Trump’s leadership style embraces toxic masculinity, portraying empathy as weakness. This reminds me of my own upbringing. Growing up in an extremely religious household, I faced strict control over my autonomy. My father refused to let me leave the house simply because I was a girl, while my brother roamed freely. He sensed vulnerability in us like an eagle and attacked, humiliating us into hiding emotions. Although emotional suppression is often seen as a male problem, it affected me deeply too. Typically, society allows women more freedom to express emotions, while men face shame for showing vulnerability. However, in my family, both genders faced rigid emotional control. Despite being a woman, I was shamed for expressing emotions just as much as my brother. This led to long-term struggles with emotional suppression, a burden that I carry even now.
bell hooks (2004) called this a patriarchal culture—one demanding men suppress emotions to fit rigid masculine standards. This suppression harms men’s well-being and builds barriers to gender equality. Trump’s use of derogatory language against women and minorities discourages respectful dialogue, instead encouraging hostility (Heilman et al., 2019).
Trump mocked female journalists, belittled political opponents, and signaled that aggression defines leadership. This attitude undermines inclusive leadership, favoring intimidation over empathy. By rejecting vulnerability, Trump promotes toxic masculinity, pressuring men to conform to harmful standards and preventing genuine connections. His behavior tells men that emotional suppression is a virtue, pushing them to hide emotions in pursuit of a twisted version of strength.
These toxic values permeate schools, workplaces, and communities. They teach young men that dominance, not collaboration, defines authority. This culture leads to increased bullying, relationship issues, and reluctance to express vulnerability. As a result, toxic masculinity fosters emotional suppression, poor mental health, and broken social connections. Trump’s model of leadership—built on exclusion and aggression—devalues empathy, which in turn limits human connection and social cohesion.
The societal consequences of toxic masculinity
This toxic culture has significant economic and social costs. Harmful masculine norms cost the U.S. economy $15.7 billion annually, contributing to violence, depression, and binge drinking (Heilman et al., 2019). Toxic masculinity also drives male-perpetrated violence, costing $772 million annually. Leaders like Trump signal that dominance is admirable, which perpetuates violence and emotional suppression (Heilman et al., 2019). As bell hooks (2004) emphasized, patriarchal norms socialize men to value control and dominance, which in turn perpetuates harm.
Trump’s aggressive leadership reinforces the notion that true leadership is about domination. Young men, observing these ideals, may internalize harmful behaviors, resulting in violence and poor mental health. Trump’s persona suggests toughness over genuine connection, affecting women’s rights in politics and society (Heilman et al., 2019). His behavior signals to others that effective leadership means rejecting vulnerability and that aggression is the key to authority.
The mental health toll of toxic masculinity
Trump’s leadership, which glorifies emotional suppression, has dire effects on mental health. This culture contributes to stress, anxiety, and physical health issues. Toxic masculinity costs $2.4 billion annually in productivity losses due to depression (Heilman et al., 2019). Many men feel discouraged from seeking help for mental health, resulting in higher rates of anxiety, depression, and even suicide—costing the US economy $4.4 billion annually (Heilman et al., 2019). This reluctance to seek help supports bell hooks’ (2004) argument that patriarchy maintains control by repressing emotional vulnerability, ultimately harming men and creating barriers to equality.
Trump’s leadership style, which glorifies harmful traits, limits compassionate leadership opportunities. It hinders progress toward an equitable society. As bell hooks (2004) suggests, dismantling these harmful norms requires valuing emotional expression and genuine human connection.
Trump’s leadership and the glass ceiling
Trump’s leadership has also reinforced the glass ceiling, preventing many women from advancing in their careers. His administration reversed policies aimed at addressing gender inequality, such as rescinding pay reporting requirements that promote wage transparency. This stunted progress toward closing the wage gap, affecting women, especially women of color (hooks, 1983). Without transparency, it became harder for women to advocate for fair compensation (Chisholm-Burns et al., 2017).
Reversing these policies signaled that addressing gender bias was not a priority. bell hooks (1984) explained that patriarchal structures thrive when inequities remain unchallenged. Women were left in lower-paying roles with limited opportunities, further solidifying the glass ceiling (Blair-Loy et al., 2015). Systemic challenges, like unpaid domestic work and a lack of supportive policies, continued to hinder women’s growth, particularly young professionals balancing careers and family responsibilities.
The impact of policy reversals on gender equality
Reversing gender equality policies exacerbated discriminatory hiring practices. Research by Mwita and Mwakasangula (2023) found that some employers still held biased stereotypes, assuming certain roles were more suitable for men. This discouraged qualified women from applying, reinforcing barriers to advancement and limiting women’s growth.
While the government has failed to prioritize gender equality, businesses can play a crucial role in counteracting these barriers. Organizations must adopt inclusive hiring practices. Blind hiring practices, for instance, reduce unconscious bias and evaluate candidates based on qualifications, not gender. Work-life balance policies, paid parental leave, and flexible working arrangements promote gender equality (Chisholm-Burns et al., 2017). Such measures empower women to pursue their careers without sacrificing personal responsibilities. By dismantling these barriers, businesses can foster diverse leadership and promote fair advancement opportunities, helping fill the gap left by government inaction.
Exclusionary policies’ effects on marginalised communities
Trump’s leadership serves as a stark reminder of how power without empathy harms those already oppressed. His actions deliberately cut healthcare access, attacking the equity and justice vulnerable communities fought for. Women of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and low-income families lost access to contraception and mental health support, reversing progress (Esquierdo-Leal & Houmanfar, 2021). These exclusionary policies perpetuate barriers to gender equality and embody the toxic masculinity embedded in our institutions.
Reversing protections for transgender individuals deepened disparities and fostered hostility. These actions ensured that only privileged groups thrived while marginalized individuals struggled without support (Adeniyi, Akpuokwe, Bakare, & Eneh, 2024). Leadership that lacks inclusivity reinforces a system valuing exclusion over upliftment.
These exclusionary policies kept marginalized communities trapped in cycles of poverty and discrimination. Women of color lost affordable reproductive care, limiting their education and independence. LGBTQ+ individuals faced untreated health conditions, resulting in a diminished quality of life. These exclusionary policies kept marginalized communities trapped in cycles of poverty and discrimination. Women of color lost affordable reproductive care, limiting their education and independence. LGBTQ+ individuals faced untreated health conditions, resulting in a diminished quality of life. Akkan (2020) reminds us that intersecting vulnerabilities—gender, age, socio-economic status—compound the negative effects of discriminatory policies
A Call for Real Leadership
Trump’s tenure reinforced systemic oppression, refusing to challenge toxic masculinity or dismantle systemic barriers (Esquierdo-Leal & Houmanfar, 2021). Real leadership prioritizes equity and inclusivity, dismantling oppression rather than reinforcing it. True leadership values compassion, breaks down barriers, and creates a just society.
Leadership should not be about maintaining power through exclusion. Instead, leaders must prioritize the well-being of all people, especially those marginalized. Inclusive leadership means listening, empathizing, and acting to uplift those left behind. Compassionate leadership dismantles barriers and lays the foundation for a world where everyone has the chance to thrive.
Trump’s tenure reinforced systemic oppression, refusing to challenge toxic masculinity or dismantle systemic barriers (Esquierdo-Leal & Houmanfar, 2021). Real leadership prioritizes equity and inclusivity, dismantling oppression rather than reinforcing it. True leadership values compassion, breaks down barriers, and creates a just society.
Leadership should not be about maintaining power through exclusion. Instead, leaders must prioritize the well-being of all people, especially those marginalized. Inclusive leadership means listening, empathizing, and acting to uplift those left behind. Compassionate leadership dismantles barriers and lays the foundation for a world where everyone has the chance to thrive.
Conclusion: Moving towards compassionate leadership
Trump’s leadership—built on control, exclusion, and divisiveness—reminds us of the need for change. Patriarchal norms rooted in toxic masculinity deepen inequality while offering false promises of strength to those in power. True strength comes from inclusion—offering everyone a place at the table.
Effective leadership thrives on empathy and collaboration. Leaders who value diverse perspectives create policies that uplift all voices, not just the privileged few. bell hooks once said, “Power used in the service of domination cannot be reconciled with compassionate leadership principles.” Domination divides, but compassion unites. True leadership builds communities, dismantles barriers, and fosters a society where everyone can thrive.
We must reject exclusionary “strongman” leadership models and champion practices that lift everyone. Embracing this future means redefining strength—standing together, not despite our differences, but because of them. It’s time to leave behind illusions of control and domination and create a future built on empathy, inclusion, and justice for all.