The Reckless and Dangerous Misogyny of Zuckerberg and Musk

By Jan Lundius
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan 16 2025 (IPS)

In anticipation of Donald Trump’s inauguration his gold-studded Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, is at the heart of political power games, where influential businessmen like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk are positioning themselves as key players in his orbit. Apparently unfazed by legal controversies and scandals, Trump is preparing for his return in collusion with already powerful men, who in their pursuit of personal gain and political influence reflect a disturbing trend of billionaire oligarchy merging with politics. A worrying development that might have significant consequences for the future of free speech and women’s rights.

These actions are particularly troubling given Zuckerberg’s recent comments about gender equality during an interview with Joe Rogan, a podcaster known for promoting conspiracy theories and pseudoscience. Zuckerberg revealed his newfound admiration for a “positive view of masculinity,” emphasizing the need to balance support for women with the celebration of “aggressive energy.” Drawing on his martial arts experience, Zuckerberg described masculinity as a necessary and positive force in global culture. While such views might be dismissed if voiced by lesser-known figures, they are deeply concerning coming from one of the world’s most powerful tech magnates.

Equally troubling is Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, whose controversial views often spill over into his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). Musk, with over 212 million followers, frequently makes headlines with his divisive opinions. In one instance, he reposted a tweet from 4chan, a notoriously unmoderated platform, which suggested that “women and low-T [testosterone] men” are incapable of free thought because they cannot defend themselves physically. The tweet stated that only “high-T alpha males and neurotypical people” are capable of making decisions, insinuating that men with higher testosterone levels are more fit for leadership. Musk’s comment to his re-tweet of such nonsense was that it was an “interesting observation,” thus signalling his tacit endorsement of pseudoscientific, misogynistic rhetoric. A discourse that plays into a growing conservative backlash against gender equality, is not only scientifically unfounded but deeply harmful.

The global context further complicates the picture. Worldwide important strides have been made toward gender equality, though there are places where women’s rights remain circumscribed and others where they have experienced a backlash. Gender-based violence remains a tool of war, used to terrorize and displace entire populations. The United Nations’ upcoming Commission on the Status of Women in March 2025 will focus on the progress and setbacks regarding the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a groundbreaking framework for advancing women’s rights. The commission will address the fact that no country has so far achieved full gender equality, and that threats to women’s rights are in some areas becoming ever more evident.

In this context, the views of Zuckerberg and Musk take on greater significance. Their platforms amplify regressive, misogynistic ideas that not only harm women but threaten to undo years of hard-won progress. Their influence could fuel a broader cultural shift toward the normalization of sexism, as their comments provide cover for a growing global movement against gender equality. Musk’s recent confessions about his drug use—he admitted to using ketamine, a powerful anaesthetic—further cast doubt on the rationality behind some of his statements. Columnist Arwa Mahdawi humorously suggested that Musk’s bizarre musings could be attributed to ketamine use or, more likely, his deeply ingrained misogyny – “perhaps he’s just high on misogyny: it’s one hell of a drug.”

The reckless and dangerous views espoused by Zuckerberg, Musk, and other members of Trump’s inner circle are far from benign. They threaten to worsen the already precarious position of women and girls globally, whose rights and safety continue to be under siege. We must confront the role these men play in spreading dangerous ideologies. Their influence is vast, and if left unchecked, it could further erode women’s rights worldwide, leading to a future in which gender equality is relegated to the past.

Ultimately, the rhetoric of Zuckerberg and Musk is not just a matter of personal opinion; it is a reflection of a broader societal problem. As these billionaires gain political power and control over public discourse, we must remain vigilant. The dangers they pose are not just theoretical; they are real and have real-world consequences for women’s lives. The world cannot afford to let their misogynistic views go unchecked. It is time to hold these men — and the systems that enable them — accountable before their reckless influence causes even more harm.

Main sources: Mahdawi, Arwa (2024) “Elon Musk is intrigued by the idea women can’t think freely because of ‘low T’,” The Guardian, 7 September; and Remnik, David (2025) “The Inauguration of Trump’s Oligarchy,” The New Yorker, 12 January.

IPS UN Bureau