Kesley Townsend
@kesleytownsend.bsky.social
Stanford Political Science PhD Candidate | Identity and political behavior
Reposted by Kesley Townsend
This is no small reason why pronatalism is so important to this administration.
If women are busy having and raising kids - and the US further weakens its childcare infrastructure and job protections - then women will be increasingly relegated to domestic support roles.
If women are busy having and raising kids - and the US further weakens its childcare infrastructure and job protections - then women will be increasingly relegated to domestic support roles.
“What fascisms old and new have in common is they tend to look to women to fill in the gaps that the state misses."
And, I'd add, they get women to fill these gaps by making patriarchy's coattails the only way means by which women can achieve security or esteem.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
And, I'd add, they get women to fill these gaps by making patriarchy's coattails the only way means by which women can achieve security or esteem.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
From Nazi Germany to Trump’s America: why strongmen rely on women at home
Fascist regimes pushed narratives of domestic bliss, yet relied on women’s unpaid labor. In the US today, ‘womanosphere’ influencers promote the same fantasies
www.theguardian.com
September 21, 2025 at 4:52 PM
This is no small reason why pronatalism is so important to this administration.
If women are busy having and raising kids - and the US further weakens its childcare infrastructure and job protections - then women will be increasingly relegated to domestic support roles.
If women are busy having and raising kids - and the US further weakens its childcare infrastructure and job protections - then women will be increasingly relegated to domestic support roles.
Reposted by Kesley Townsend
"But when we systematically looked at all these posts, a broader trend emerged: The larger the Black share of the population, the more a city was mentioned alongside the phrase “voter fraud” in the aftermath of the 2020 election..."
Two troubling new studies find that lies about the 2020 election tapped into racist attitudes and white America’s long-standing fear of a real multiracial democracy. Read about the studies here: bit.ly/3Jqxp6A
The Racist Foundation of the Big Lie of a Stolen Election
New research shows how racist beliefs enable lies about voter fraud to spread.
www.brennancenter.org
August 23, 2025 at 12:58 PM
"But when we systematically looked at all these posts, a broader trend emerged: The larger the Black share of the population, the more a city was mentioned alongside the phrase “voter fraud” in the aftermath of the 2020 election..."
Reposted by Kesley Townsend
And sure, some of these women who are pushed out of paid work might gravitate toward conservative gender ideologies--embracing the idea that a woman's place is at home. But that's because they don't want to feel powerless. Which makes them targets for messages that valorize their roles at home. 1/
August 20, 2025 at 1:08 PM
And sure, some of these women who are pushed out of paid work might gravitate toward conservative gender ideologies--embracing the idea that a woman's place is at home. But that's because they don't want to feel powerless. Which makes them targets for messages that valorize their roles at home. 1/
Reposted by Kesley Townsend
My church does not leak. If someone there is talking to reporters it is an intentional shot across the bow to get Mike Lee to get his act together.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Mike Lee Can’t Stop Throwing Social Media Grenades. His Church Isn’t Happy.
The Utah senator’s online persona has further damaged his already frayed relationship with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
www.politico.com
July 11, 2025 at 6:04 PM
My church does not leak. If someone there is talking to reporters it is an intentional shot across the bow to get Mike Lee to get his act together.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Reposted by Kesley Townsend
In the U.S., we do have a generous welfare state—just not for everyone. It’s mostly reserved for those over 65: universal health care (Medicare) and a basic income (Social Security). Why? Seniors vote, donate, and hold office at much higher rates. 🧵⬇️
July 2, 2025 at 8:48 PM
In the U.S., we do have a generous welfare state—just not for everyone. It’s mostly reserved for those over 65: universal health care (Medicare) and a basic income (Social Security). Why? Seniors vote, donate, and hold office at much higher rates. 🧵⬇️
Reposted by Kesley Townsend
The editorial board of a publication in Sen. Mike Lee's home state of Utah called on him to apologize for his posts about the Minnesota shootings, writing that they “were unacceptable for anyone, let alone from a member of the Senate.”
Deseret News condemns Lee’s posts about Minnesota shooting
The editorial board of the Utah-based publication said the Utah senator cast a “poor light”’ on the Beehive State.
www.politico.com
June 18, 2025 at 4:08 PM
The editorial board of a publication in Sen. Mike Lee's home state of Utah called on him to apologize for his posts about the Minnesota shootings, writing that they “were unacceptable for anyone, let alone from a member of the Senate.”
Reposted by Kesley Townsend
This is the weaponization of the supermom myth--the idea that kids are under threat and that the only way to keep them safe is for moms to sacrifice themselves (i.e., by spending hours researching to keep kids safe from vaccines, rather than trusting the government to keep kids safe from measles).
4/ He promotes what sociologists call "intensive parenting," as a superior way to ensure kids are safe. That's a time/labor-intensive & stressful form of parenting many US *mothers* feel pressured to follow due to cultural norms/expectations around mothers as primary caregivers.
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April 30, 2025 at 10:33 AM
This is the weaponization of the supermom myth--the idea that kids are under threat and that the only way to keep them safe is for moms to sacrifice themselves (i.e., by spending hours researching to keep kids safe from vaccines, rather than trusting the government to keep kids safe from measles).
Reposted by Kesley Townsend
It's one case, but further evidence that this government can be shamed by public reporting and public opinion kslnewsradio.com/shows-podcas...
BYU student's visa reinstated after unexpected revocation
A Japanese doctorate student at BYU will now be able to stay in the U.S. after his visa was revoked earlier this month.
kslnewsradio.com
April 19, 2025 at 1:32 PM
It's one case, but further evidence that this government can be shamed by public reporting and public opinion kslnewsradio.com/shows-podcas...
Reposted by Kesley Townsend
As predicted, women in New Hampshire had a hard time voting yesterday because of the new proof of citizenship law:
“It doesn’t have my married name on it,” she said. Town voting officials then sent her away a second time, to get her marriage certificate.
www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025...
“It doesn’t have my married name on it,” she said. Town voting officials then sent her away a second time, to get her marriage certificate.
www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025...
NH’s new ID requirements send some would-be voters home to grab passports, birth certificates
The law requires all new voters to show proof of their U.S. citizenship. For some, that meant making multiple trips to and from the polls before finally casting a ballot on Tuesday.
www.nhpr.org
March 13, 2025 at 9:50 AM
As predicted, women in New Hampshire had a hard time voting yesterday because of the new proof of citizenship law:
“It doesn’t have my married name on it,” she said. Town voting officials then sent her away a second time, to get her marriage certificate.
www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025...
“It doesn’t have my married name on it,” she said. Town voting officials then sent her away a second time, to get her marriage certificate.
www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025...
Reposted by Kesley Townsend
"The more important difference between Democrats and Republicans isn't whether they are men or women," three political scientists write. "It's how they think men and women should behave."
Opinion | Republicans Really Do Care More About ‘Masculine Energy’
The men and women of the G.O.P. are changing their minds about how men and women should behave.
www.nytimes.com
February 27, 2025 at 9:00 PM
"The more important difference between Democrats and Republicans isn't whether they are men or women," three political scientists write. "It's how they think men and women should behave."
Reposted by Kesley Townsend
Every Republican senator should reflect on these words and the oath that they swore
February 5, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Every Republican senator should reflect on these words and the oath that they swore
Reposted by Kesley Townsend
From our new issue: "Selecting for Masculinity: Women’s Under-Representation in the Republican Party" by Christopher Karpowitz, J. Quin Monson, Jessica Preece, and Alejandra Aldridge. #ASPRNewIssue www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
December 17, 2024 at 2:56 PM
From our new issue: "Selecting for Masculinity: Women’s Under-Representation in the Republican Party" by Christopher Karpowitz, J. Quin Monson, Jessica Preece, and Alejandra Aldridge. #ASPRNewIssue www.cambridge.org/core/journal...