The 'amazing' confrontation between men and women

(CLO) As the 2024 US presidential election approaches, a remarkable phenomenon has been exposed through the latest polls: gender polarization between male and female voters towards candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

According to a recent survey by DailyMail.com and JL Partners, the gap in support between men and women for the two candidates is growing, revealing an unprecedented divide in American political history.

If the 2016 election was called an "education election" — where voters split based on education level — then 2024 is a gender contest.

The chart shows Mr Trump leading Ms Harris by 22% among men (left), but losing by 14% among women (right).

The poll found that Trump leads among men by 22 percentage points, while Harris leads among women by 14 percentage points, a gap that is particularly striking given the tight race between the two candidates.

Gender language differentiation

The survey polled 1,000 likely voters to gauge the gender split in support for the two candidates. The results showed that when asked to describe Trump in one word, women were more likely to use words like “corrupt,” “strong,” and “crazy.” Men, on the other hand, described him as “strong,” “corrupt,” and “competent.”

Men often used words like "incompetent," "fake" and "competent" with Harris, while women described her as "strong," "fake" and "competent."

This stark difference is also evident in Ms. Harris’s speeches. At an event in Phoenix, Arizona, she criticized Mr. Trump when he said he would protect women “whether they like it or not.” Ms. Harris emphasized: “He does not respect women’s freedom and intelligence to decide for themselves what is best for them.”

Mr Trump has exploited this gender divide by appearing on podcasts with predominantly male audiences, while Ms Harris has focused on encouraging female voters to turn out.

Strategies to exploit the gender divide

The gender divide in the 2024 election is comparable to the education divide in 2016, when college-educated voters backed Hillary Clinton and non-college-educated voters backed Trump, said James Johnson, co-founder of JL Partners. In 2024, Trump was supported by more men than women, while Harris received the support of a majority of women.

Ms Harris' campaign is counting on high female voter turnout to help her win the White House. Photo: Getty

The poll found that 59% of men were willing to vote for Trump, while only 37% of men supported Harris. In contrast, 54% of women supported Harris and 40% supported Trump. This gap is the largest ever in a race between the two candidates. Johnson also commented that "this gender divide is a major challenge in the political behavior of American voters."

Impact of social issues

The debate over abortion rights, especially after the overturning of Roe v. Wade (which made abortion rights no longer a given), has boosted female voters’ support for Harris, suggesting she may see it as a “secret weapon” in her campaign. But it’s also worth noting that the number of men who have switched to supporting Trump since 2020 has increased significantly.

"Trump can win despite losing significant points among women, as long as he maintains strong support from men," Johnson said. He also emphasized that if Trump's male voters turn out in large numbers, he can win the election despite the support from women.

The impact of candidate language and behavior

The poll also found that some women were upset with Mr Trump’s language and behavior, saying he frequently called people names and attacked them. “He calls people names all the time,” said a 36-year-old woman from the battleground state of Michigan who supports Ms Harris.

Mr Trump has focused on his appeal to young men, appearing on male-friendly podcasts. Photo: Getty

In addition, billionaire Mark Cuban, one of Harris' supporters, criticized on "The View" that: "You will never see Donald Trump around smart, strong women. He simply does not like to be challenged by them."

The 2024 election is not just a policy contest, but also a reflection of how gender shapes American politics. With the gender gap at its widest ever, the election results will likely reflect not only support for candidates but also a testament to the gender polarization in modern American society.

If this trend continues, the 2024 election will likely be remembered as a watershed moment in American political history, where the gender divide played a central role.

Cao Phong (according to Reuters, dailymail, CNN)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bau-cu-my-2024-cuoc-doi-dau-dang-kinh-ngac-giua-nam-gioi-va-nu-gioi-post319611.html