Since this comic is generating a fair amount of discussion, I thought I would share an excerpt from my blog post about it:

I’ve been wanting to write a comic for a while about how virtually everything is gendered, especially when it comes to political rhetoric. A large swath of the American electorate is, unfortunately, swayed by tough talk — however stupid — and a fear of being perceived as weak or "female." (cont'd)

@jensorensen

Funny but not exactly funny. Why can’t we all just be actively concerned people? Also exert our lives as humans over the fiction of the corporations which are killing us. I know cartoons are meant to amuse and politics are full of gendered nuance (more like sledgehammers) which is why this makes me somewhat uncomfortable. The whole hyper-masculine bit is a little too Fascist no matter who does it .

@jensorensen Realtalk: the massive upsurge in truck and SUV sizes are are about fear.

It's the bunker brutalism of the 1970s (which is what ruined brutalism's reputation, really), but this time vehicles. All these buildings became bunkers because the war generation was _terrified_ of the civil rights movement and 70s crime so every new building for a while there became just a bunker.

This is the same urge, but it's vehicles.

@jensorensen

That might seem appealing until we flip over the ‘masculine’ coin and see whats on the other, ‘feminine’ side; and then notice the repulsive mess sheltering in the dirt underneath all of *that*

@jensorensen I had this book once, "Meat is for pussies", which tried to label veganism new. How you also can be strong and a ultra-maratjon-runner or weightlifter or whatever and be a vegan at the same time. I even had a t-shirt. Wore it a lot and liked it.

Now I'm ashamed of the sexism. I don't think using the machismo stuff helps.

@jensorensen @Vincarsi

my small suggestion:

rebrand green energy “UNLIMITED POWER” since it isn’t based on limited oil supplies

@jensorensen

Wouldn't it be even better to stop using the word "feminine" pajorattively?

Instead, let's call the dumb Bubbas "inadequate".

#feminism #GenderEquality

@jensorensen

Reminds me of my thoughts about "convincing conservatives/nationalists of renewable energy":

'Do you really want to use energy we bought from communists and muslims [alternatively: Whoever the far-right hate the most at the moment]?

Solar energy: From the ["god-given", insert of religious country] sun that shines over our great nation [name of country] directly into our industries and homes ["the way god intended", insert if religious country]!'

@jensorensen Interesting idea.

It's true, that attitudes towards climate actions & other forms of responsibility are genderized.

Successfully "masculinizing" climate action might actually work...which is really disturbing, because the idea that in order to be respected, reason and ethics must be wrapped up in a package that is toxic, violent, misogynistic and founded on forming hierarchies for the purpose of picking on others. Which are not attitudes that deserve one square cm more room in any society that wants to call itself civilized.

@jensorensen I think it’s good to openly judge people play-acting manliness with rhetorical jujitsu. E.g.

“Oh, you’re carrying a gun? I could never. I wouldn’t want everyone thinking I was a coward.”

Some might say that’s manipulative, but what if I also believe it’s true. Whenever I see someone with open carry my first reaction is “what an ass” but my second is “what a wimp”.

@jensorensen

I want there to be ads for taking the bus, and they're in the style of those tough-guy truck ads, and they have pictures of buses driving around in the mud and it emphasizes how many horsepower it has and how it's the biggest thing on the road.

@jensorensen

It's a more fundamental issue.

It's toxic masculinity vs. masculinity.

Unfortunately, toxic masculinity has been the brand for a long time.

@jensorensen "Our Changing Climate" did a great bonus video on this topic just a few days ago. It's on Nebula though, so you may not be able to see it: https://nebula.tv/videos/occ-why-ecological-masculinity-isnt-enough/

Essentially the thesis is that toxic masculinity favours dominance and eschews collaboration & inclusion, so merely redirecting current forms of masculinity towards a better purpose isn't enough. We need collaboration & inclusion to fight climate change.

@jensorensen

I hate that this makes sense.