The Men Who Think Toxic Feminism Destroyed America

The Men Who Think Toxic Feminism Destroyed America

From Plain English with Derek Thompson by The Ringer

May 22, 2026 · 59 min

About this episode

Derek Thompson interviews journalist Helen Lewis about the rise of masculinism and its implications for American politics.

Over the past century, attitudes about gender roles have become one of the clearest dividing lines in the country. Many Republicans, both men and women, say men are getting a raw deal in modern America. Many Democrats see that claim as completely off base. So where does that split come from, and why has it become so central to politics? Journalist Helen Lewis calls this emerging worldview “masculinism,” an ideology that pushes back against feminism and reflects a broader nostalgia for traditional gender roles. Today, Lewis joins Derek to talk about the rise of this phenomenon and what it reveals about the growing schism in American politics. Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@PlainEnglishwithDerekThompson If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com. Host: Derek Thompson Guest: Helen Lewis Producer: Devon Baroldi Additional Production Support: Ben Glicksman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Derek Thompson

Guest: Helen Lewis

Topics covered

  • gender roles
  • politics
  • masculinism
  • feminism
  • American schism

Keywords

  • toxic feminism
  • gender roles
  • masculinism
  • political divide
  • traditional gender roles

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Ringer

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