As a history student, I have seen patterns in which normal social relationships break down. Government changes, unaddressed social inequities, wars, and famines often cause these pattern changes.
In one example, from 1979 to 2015, the Communist Party declared that most Chinese couples could not have more than one child. Aside from the inevitable decline in births, most couples wanted boys. This led to lots of abortions, not only to stay under the limit, but also after it was discovered that the embryo was female. After the dust settled, China’s birthrate declined, as the Party intended, but there was also an imbalance in the number of males amongst the children born between 1979 and 2015.
A more complicated example of marital relationships occurred in America after the Civil War. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union was founded in 1873 to combat the perceived dangers of alcohol. However, these women also advocated for women’s civil rights, the right to vote, social justice, and the Protestant religion. Ultimately, the movement led to the ratification of the 18th and 19th Amendments to the US Constitution. We lack time and space for a complete dissection and explanation of this movement. However, there was an increase in divorces in America between 1890 (3 couples in 1,000) and 1920 (8 couples in 1,000). There were many cases in which the husbands and wives conflicted over the issue of female equality. Simply put, the existing men in the male-dominated culture wanted women to stay in their place, while a growing number of women were unhappy with their fate.
Cultural conflict was created after the Civil War when many women with children were left to fend for themselves after their husbands were killed. This problem was particularly acute in the South because the women not only lost their husbands, but the Southern economy was devastated.
The seeds of the modern Women’s movement in the USA started when millions of young women were suddenly injected into the workforce during World War II. In the face of a male-dominated culture, it took several decades for women to have a modicum of equality in the workplace.
A black president upset the White Christian Nationalist crowd in 2008, and the old cultural wars were renewed. The progressive forces sought equal rights to all (for example, to marry whom they want), which upset many Conservatives.
Cultural conflict has social ramifications that can lead to uncomfortable situations. Disagreements during Thanksgiving Day meals often stem from unresolved familial and cultural differences. As cultural wars erupt, many people stop communicating for fear of stepping on toes. When communication is curtailed, misunderstandings increase, and the potential for conflict increases.
Today, there are cultural and political differences between men and women. 59% of married men are Republican or lean Republican, while only 44% of married women follow their husbands’ lead. As the divide between the two political parties becomes more divisive, interpersonal conflict between husbands and wives is likely to increase. While the adage that opposites attract has some validity, the growing cultural divide emerging from the more brazen MAGA movement will inevitably spell doom for many marriages.
Since a significant difference in political allegiance exists between married men and women, potential marital conflict increases as the current political war intensifies. This will be particularly true for fully committed MAGA men married to women who do not share their passion. If these couples do not separate or divorce, they will likely be MINOs (marriages in name only).
Among some new MAGAs are men more interested in technology than Trumpian politics. Although MAGA has proven to be a disaster for most technology entrepreneurs like Elon Musk, many of these control freaks fell into Trump’s trap. Trump has used men like Musk as foils for many of his hairbrained, if not criminal, activities. In exchange for fealty to Trump, Musk has lost billions and sullied his once progressive brand. Musk undoubtedly expects some payoff from Trump, like a ticket to Mars, but so far, he looks more like Wile E. Coyote than the Road Runner. Likewise, many investors and technology followers of men like Trump have gone with Musk to dark places. Whether they feel betrayed or foolish, it is hard to tell.
Many MAGA men will paint themselves into a corner socially. Their only friends, if they have any, will be other MAGAs. Of course, there are MAGA women, but like Chinese females born between 1979 and 2015, many fewer. As the circle of friends gets smaller, the social skills, economic opportunities, and worldviews for MAGAs will narrow.