On Monday, Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz suggested that men are being distracted from voting, drawing a comparison to a plotline in the 2023 *Barbie* movie. This comment follows reports of a higher early voter turnout among women than men.
Gaetz’s wife, Ginger Gaetz, was among those who publicly criticized the *Barbie* movie, calling for a boycott due to its perceived "woke" themes. In response to a post encouraging more men to vote, Gaetz shared a GIF of Margot Robbie as Barbie, captioning it with, "The core plot of the Barbie movie was distracting men so they wouldn't vote. Don’t make the Barbie movie come true."
As of November 2, over 38 million U.S. voters had cast early or mail-in ballots, with women accounting for more than 54% of the early turnout, according to the University of Florida's Election Lab. Republican analysts worry that women are more likely to support Vice President Kamala Harris, while men show greater support for former President Donald Trump. Recent polling by *Newsweek* reveals that Harris has the support of 52% of female voters and 43% of male voters, while Trump garners 53% support among men and 44% among women.
Gaetz’s comments about *Barbie* sparked discussion on social media, with his office later telling *Newsweek* that his statement "speaks for itself." In the film, the Barbie characters are depicted as leaders, while the Kens spend their time relaxing. Eventually, the Kens stage a rebellion, attempting to subdue the Barbies, who later reclaim their autonomy and work toward gender equality. Gaetz and his wife had attended the *Barbie* premiere at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., where they later voiced criticism of the film.
Both the Harris and Trump campaigns are working to mobilize undecided voters and those in states often considered party strongholds. Trump has appeared on popular male-oriented podcasts, such as *The Joe Rogan Experience*, and brought figures like Elon Musk and Hulk Hogan to rallies to engage male voters, who historically have lower turnout rates. Meanwhile, Harris’s campaign has focused on issues like reproductive rights, aiming to connect with both women and men who may be influenced by this stance.
At a recent rally in Kalamazoo, Michigan, former First Lady Michelle Obama encouraged men to consider the women in their lives when voting. The Harris campaign has also directed ads to male voters, highlighting the impact of reproductive rights. Trump, in contrast, has assured female voters that he will act as their "protector" if re-elected, underscoring his appeal to traditional values.
Comments
Post a Comment