Allegations Vs. Accolades: How Doug Emhoff Became America’s New ‘Manly’ Icon

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By Greg Moriarty | Monday, 28 October 2024 05:15 AM
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Image Credit : Hindustan Times Getty Images

In a recent interview with MSNBC, Doug Emhoff, the second gentleman and husband to Vice President Kamala Harris, was lauded by host Jen Psaki for having "reshaped the perception of masculinity."

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The specifics of how Emhoff achieved this were not detailed by Psaki, leaving room for speculation.

Emhoff's self-identification as "an advocate for justice and equality" on social media and his expressed support for "pay equity, child care, family leave and all of these issues" during the interview could be contributing factors. Psaki's labeling of him as a "wife guy" – a term used to describe a man whose status is derived from his wife's – may also play a part.

However, Psaki's praise for Emhoff's masculinity seems to overlook some controversial aspects of his past. Emhoff's alleged infidelity with his first wife's child’s elementary school teacher and nanny, a 2019 lawsuit accusing him of fostering a sexually charged, female-hostile work environment, and a 2012 incident where he allegedly slapped a girlfriend in public out of jealousy were not considered in Psaki's assessment.

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When questioned about the latter incident on "Morning Joe," Emhoff did not explicitly state that he would never strike a woman. Instead, he claimed he "does not have time to get p---ed off." Psaki has not revisited her stance on Emhoff's masculinity in light of these allegations.

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Psaki's interview does, however, raise an important question: What is masculinity? According to the Torah, Moses is the epitome of a man, or "ish." His actions in Exodus 2:12, where he intervenes in an instance of injustice, and Exodus 2:19, where he protects seven young women from harassment, demonstrate physical strength used nobly and a caring tenderness that seeks to ensure the safety and wellbeing of women.

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Moses is also portrayed as a man of action, appreciative of strong women, humble, critical of his people in an effort to improve them, and willing to take responsibility for his actions. These qualities, as depicted in the Torah, could be seen as a model for masculinity.

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In contrast to Emhoff, Moses is a "strong, silent type," who values the strength of women, is humble, defends his people externally while criticizing them internally for their betterment, and takes responsibility for his actions.

Psaki's interview with Emhoff has sparked a discussion on the perception of masculinity, offering an opportunity to compare and contrast the models of masculinity represented by Moses and Emhoff. The question remains: Which model – Moses or Doug Emhoff – is the ideal?

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