Donald Trump and the Lost Boys

Dr. Pasha Dashtgard
Polarization Extremism Research & Innovation Lab, American University

Correspondence: N/A

Received: January 15, 2025
Accepted: February 22, 2025
Published: February 22, 2025 

Abstract

This article examines the influence of online male supremacist spaces on the political behavior and gender identity of Gen Z men, focusing on the surprising yet consequential support for Donald Trump. By analyzing voting patterns that reveal a stark gender divide—where Gen Z men lean toward Trump while their female counterparts favor Kamala Harris—the study explores how digital ecosystems steeped in misogyny, anti-feminist discourse, and toxic masculinity have shaped young men’s perceptions of gender roles. The article argues that persistent exposure to extremist ideologies online, through platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, and Instagram, reinforces harmful stereotypes and limits the development of a more flexible, positive model of masculinity. It further discusses the broader implications of these digital influences for political polarization and mental health among young men, who face heightened risks of depression and substance abuse. Ultimately, the work calls for the creation of targeted educational resources and intervention strategies to help guide boys and young men in navigating evolving gender roles in the digital age.

Keywords: Anti-feminist discourse, digital echo chambers, extremism, gender roles, Gen Z, male supremacy, masculinity, misogyny, online influencers, polarization, social media

Introduction

The digital age has fundamentally transformed how young people form their political and social identities. This article explores the emergence of a troubling trend among Gen Z men, who have increasingly been drawn to male supremacist ideologies online. Recent voting data reveal a pronounced gender divide: while Gen Z women overwhelmingly supported Kamala Harris, their male counterparts favored Donald Trump—a disparity that reflects deeper cultural currents. Since Trump’s initial presidential campaign, a proliferation of online content—ranging from misogynistic streamers and anti-feminist YouTubers to niche social media influencers—has contributed to a digital environment that normalizes harmful, rigid definitions of masculinity. This introduction outlines how these online narratives not only shape political leanings but also influence broader perceptions of gender roles. By critically examining the intersection of digital media, political behavior, and gender identity, this article seeks to offer insights into the urgent need for resources and educational interventions that can foster healthier models of masculinity in an increasingly polarized society.

Main Text (Interview)

Author: Dr. Pasha Dashtgard

As someone who has studied male supremacist spaces online for close to a decade, Trump’s  popularity among Gen Z men was shocking to some but comes as no surprise to me. Gen Z  men voted for Donald Trump over Kamala Harris by 2% (48% to 46%), while their female  counterparts supported Harris over Trump by 27% (63% to 36%). This gender split in  popularity reflects an online ecosystem that, for years, has exposed young men to harmful  ideas about sex, relationships, girls and women. We must offer a new model of masculinity  to boys and young men, one that does not force a singular, rigid, limiting definition of  masculinity onto men.  

In our current digital landscape, it is impossible for boys and young men of any age to avoid  male supremacist ideas and ideologies online. Whether the online community is focused on  videogames, working out, dating and relationship advice, or career guidance, boys and  young men are being subjected to rhetoric that promotes a vision of sex and gender that is  hostile and radicalizing.  

We aren’t offering boys models of how to behave differently—leaving the door open for  manipulative influencers to guide them instead. While Feminism has illustrated new and  better ways for women and girls to think about gender and sex, there is no equivalent  model of new gender roles for boys and men. In this gap, filling this void, comes a horde of  misogynist streamers on Twitch, male supremacist YouTubers, trad wife influencers on  Instagram, the Man-O-Sphere… there is a whole ecosystem on the internet dedicated to  exploiting male insecurity, vulnerability, and despair. By weaponizing their depression,  their frustration, and their hopelessness, these online communities look to filter negative  emotions through the lens of misogyny, male supremacy, and anti-feminist discourse,  finding a way to blame women and feminists for all the harms that these boys and men  experience.  

The voting behavior of Gen Z men (defined as 18-27 years old) reflects the digital waters  they’ve been swimming in since 2015, when Trump began campaigning for president: full  of sexism, racism, and other hateful ideas. 

At the time, most of those boys were in middle school and high school, watching streamers  and online influencers making a living trying to embarrass feminists and ridicule men who 

challenge traditional gender roles, not understanding the relationship between edgy humor  online and the gradual normalization of sexism and misogyny. The addictive nature of  smartphones, the ease with which social media allows us to create and occupy our own  echo chambers, the way that online anonymity facilitates cruel and insulting comments rather than more careful and considerate speech face to face – all of this has played out with  our Gen Z boys over the last 9 years, and we are seeing the downstream effects in the  voting booth.  

Some might argue that these male supremacist influencers are reviving a vision of  masculinity that is good and strong. But the actual effects on boys and young men tell a  different story: men today are committing suicide at 4 times the rate of women, and self medicating with drugs and alcohol at twice the rate. Yet our boys are still given the same  restrictive ideals about masculinity they’ve always had, now just rebranded on social  media, forums, and apps in the form of modern male supremacist ideology. Contemporary  male supremacy promotes far more hostile views towards women, focused on grievance,  distrust in relationships, and the belief that sex with as many women as possible is the best  and only way to validate yourself as a man. This ideology leaves young men lost, angry, and  hopeless. 

The Southern Poverty Law Center, in collaboration with American University’s Polarization  & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL), is developing a resource on gender based bigotry called Not Just a Joke: Preventing Gender and Sexuality-Based Bigotry, which is  meant to help examine what narratives are being fed to young people about sex, gender,  sexual orientation, and how these ideas are connected to racism, conspiracy theories, and  supremacist ideologies. This resource on gender-based bigotry provides information,  conversation strategies, and a lay of the land for anyone who considers themselves a  trusted adult in the life of young people.  

It’s time to help boys and young men adapt to evolving gender roles. We need resources for  parents, teachers, and youth mentors, equipping them with knowledge and skills to guide  boys through the ever-shifting terrain of masculinity and sexuality on the internet.

Discussion

The findings discussed in this article underscore the profound impact that digital environments have on shaping the identities and political behaviors of young men. The pervasive presence of male supremacist ideologies online not only reinforces outdated and restrictive notions of masculinity but also translates into tangible political outcomes, as evidenced by the voting trends among Gen Z men. The significant gender gap—where young men demonstrated a measurable preference for Donald Trump compared to their female counterparts—suggests that exposure to misogynistic and anti-feminist rhetoric is influencing electoral behavior.

Digital platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, and Instagram serve as fertile grounds for the dissemination of extremist narratives. These platforms often promote a version of masculinity that is intertwined with aggression, entitlement, and a rejection of feminist perspectives. Over time, the normalization of such ideas can lead to a broader cultural shift in how masculinity is understood and enacted, with serious implications for both interpersonal relationships and political discourse.

Moreover, the mental health implications for young men navigating these echo chambers are particularly alarming. The continuous exposure to toxic masculinity, combined with the reinforcement of harmful stereotypes, has been linked to increased rates of depression, substance abuse, and even suicidal tendencies among this demographic. The digital space, while offering connection and community, simultaneously isolates individuals in ideological bubbles where vulnerability is exploited and alternative narratives are suppressed.

In response to these challenges, the article advocates for the development of comprehensive educational resources and intervention strategies aimed at offering healthier models of masculinity. There is an urgent need for collaboration among educators, policymakers, mental health professionals, and digital platforms to dismantle the echo chambers that perpetuate harmful ideologies. Such efforts should focus on promoting critical media literacy, resilience against extremist content, and the cultivation of a more inclusive and flexible understanding of gender roles.

Methods

None.

Data Availability

No datasets were generated or analyzed during the current article. All remains the intellectual property of the author and In-Sight Publishing.

References

(No external academic sources were cited for this interview.)

Journal & Article Details

• Publisher: In-Sight Publishing
• Publisher Founding: March 1, 2014
• Web Domain: http://www.in-sightpublishing.com
• Location: Fort Langley, Township of Langley, British Columbia, Canada
• Journal: In-Sight: Interviews
• Journal Founding: August 2, 2012
• Frequency: Four Times Per Year
• Review Status: Non-Peer-Reviewed
• Access: Electronic/Digital & Open Access
• Fees: None (Free)
• Volume Numbering: 13
• Issue Numbering: 2
• Section: B
• Theme Type: Idea
• Theme Premise: “Outliers and Outsiders”
• Theme Part: 33
• Formal Sub-Theme: None
• Individual Publication Date: February 22, 2025
• Issue Publication Date: April 1, 2025
• Author(s): Dr. Pasha Dashtgard
• Word Count: 736
• Image Credits: Photo by The Chaffins on Unsplash
• ISSN (International Standard Serial Number): 2369-6885

Acknowledgements

None.

Author Contributions

None.

Competing Interests

The author declares no competing interests.

License & Copyright

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© Scott Douglas Jacobsen and In-Sight Publishing 2012–Present.

Unauthorized use or duplication of material without express permission from Scott Douglas Jacobsen is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links must use full credit to Scott Douglas Jacobsen and In-Sight Publishing with direction to the original content.

Supplementary Information

Below are various citation formats for Donald Trump and the Lost Boys.

1. American Medical Association (AMA 11th Edition)
   Dashtgard P. Donald Trump and the Lost Boys. February 2025;13(2). http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/dashtgard-trump-lost-boys

2. American Psychological Association (APA 7th Edition)
   Dashtgard, P. (2025, February 22). Donald Trump and the Lost Boys. In-Sight Publishing. 13(2).

3. Brazilian National Standards (ABNT)
   DASHTGARD, P. Donald Trump and the Lost Boys. In-Sight: Interviews, Fort Langley, v. 13, n. 2, 2025.

4. Chicago/Turabian, Author-Date (17th Edition)
   Dashtgard, Pasha. 2025. “Donald Trump and the Lost Boys.” In-Sight: Interviews 13 (2). http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/dashtgard-trump-lost-boys.

5. Chicago/Turabian, Notes & Bibliography (17th Edition)
   Dashtgard, P. “Donald Trump and the Lost Boys.” In-Sight: Interviews 13, no. 2 (February 2025). http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/dashtgard-trump-lost-boys.

6. Harvard
   Dashtgard, P. (2025) ‘Donald Trump and the Lost Boys’, In-Sight: Interviews, 13(2). http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/dashtgard-trump-lost-boys.

7. Harvard (Australian)
   Dashtgard, P 2025, ‘Donald Trump and the Lost Boys’, In-Sight: Interviews, vol. 13, no. 2, http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/dashtgard-trump-lost-boys.

8. Modern Language Association (MLA, 9th Edition)
   Dashtgard, Pasha. “Donald Trump and the Lost Boys.” In-Sight: Interviews, vol. 13, no. 2, 2025, http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/dashtgard-trump-lost-boys.

9. Vancouver/ICMJE
   Dashtgard P. Donald Trump and the Lost Boys [Internet]. 2025 Feb;13(2). Available from: http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/dashtgard-trump-lost-boys

Note on Formatting

This document follows an adapted Nature research-article format, tailored for a scholarly article. Traditional sections such as Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Main Text, and Discussion are complemented by supplementary sections including Methods, Data Availability, and References. This structured approach ensures both academic rigor and clear presentation of the content.