Archetypal Daddy and Mommy Issues

The Culture War Left has daddy issues.
The Culture War Right has mommy issues.

That’s my claim—and yes, I just solved the culture war.

I am using the Culture War Left (CWL) and Culture War Right (CWR) as primordial polarities, loosely corresponding to political ideologies and party politics, but representing something different and deeper. These polarities are connected to core dualities such as feminine/masculine, yin/yang, being/becoming, and so on.

For each person, one pole tends to pull more strongly than the other. Even among the most enlightened centrists, these poles are chosen on a level of deep resonance. One motivating factor is fear. The CWL fears toxic masculinity, with unhealthy members disliking masculinity altogether, associating it with domination and oppression. The CWR fears toxic femininity, with unhealthy members disliking femininity altogether, associating it with manipulation and insanity.

To put this in Jungian terms: the CWL fears the “tyrannical father,” while the CWR fears the “devouring mother.” The former represents masculine authority gone wrong—unforgiving, cruel, and crushing their child’s spirit through control with an iron grip. The latter represents over-nurturing and overprotectiveness, smothering their child’s potential and creating perpetual dependence.

Below is how the greatest fears of each side of this polarity manifest in perspectives spreading across the internet:

The Culture War Left's Greatest Fear:

Power trumps love. He’s literally Hitler—but now the fascists have technology the Nazis couldn’t have even dreamed of. Democracy, science, and common goodness? All gone. The church and state have become one, conspiracy theories are “sane-washed,” and evolution is now “fake news.” Men rule forever, and they control women’s bodies forever too. “Your body, my choice.” The Handmaid’s Tale wasn’t fiction; it was prophecy. Enforced monogamy becomes reality, to the delight of undesirable, hateful little men. For men who fail to meet the standards of traditional masculinity, they are subjected to the hegemony of those who do: bullied and beaten until they submit to raw male power—because daddy always knows best.

The Culture War Right's Greatest Fear:

The Truth? No, it’s “my truth.” 2 + 2 = 5. Besides, math is racist and so are you. Now, apologize for your privilege—endlessly. Be a good little boy: you can’t do this and you can’t do that—in fact, you can’t do anything unless I say so. Women rule—but don’t you dare define what a woman is. Get castrated instead. We don’t need you anymore, so go back to the womb: the digital panopticon, aka BIG MOTHER. She needs to know where you are and what you’re thinking at all times to keep you safe and effective. NPC yourself and shut up; fire up your QR code so you can eat the bugs, take a knee, and act like you need me—because you’re useless without me.

Regardless of which fear you believe is more true, it’s true these fears exist—and fears shape reality. Here are some examples of influencers and celebrities directly tapping into these fears: