Jon Ronson on UFC Fight at White House

The cage match at the White House was a bromantic (bullish and paternal, but not bad, like bull mixed with romantic (bros)( bulloutside the norm for both partisans and men. Not just the event: Jon Ronson's report on contemporary masculinity included a hit inside the heavyweight cage fight at the end of Trump's presidential term. This past summer, the book The Psychopath Test, Unmasking the Masked Man—complete with cage-fighting ring—ended in his provocative, inside-out novel.

The Raising of Modern Masculinity

What we hear from men about gender isn't what we hear from the White House in the shadow of the White House, but things that were said and did happen. Ronson took a deep dive into three lives that represent masculine men. In response, he reveals how these men's ideas exist in a world of “total disinhibition.” Men have created bubbles to justify anything they do based on a few concepts: power. The bubble has been put in place by high-profile figures. While they all have status, they encounter controversy. They feel their position isn't enough to control women's autonomy. Take UFC fighter Sean O'Malley as an example. UFC fighters have status, which may embed from their successful careers and matches. Their ego has shown them to be more entitled as they climb the ladder. Several patriarchal men look at women's bodies as objects to buy and manipulate. For example, O'Malley believes his wife should never have sex with other men. His wife, Dania, finally drew a line in the sand. O'Malley realized that the world didn’t work through his lens — there were repercussions to being a maverick man. The outcome showed O'Malley that the bubble burst, revealing his masculinity as a facade.

The Realities of Extreme Masculinity

Men have been emboldened by trends that have removed any repercussion for their actions: the culture wars, canceled culture and a lack of accountability. This clash of ideas was amplified during Trump's presidency. Cancel culture had led to a rise in extreme masculinity and threats of violence. Disinhibition is the lack of inhibition. This comes from the 17th century Latin word disinhibere which means to free from restraint. Disinhibition is a loss of social norms. During Trump’s presidency there was an increase in open talk about extreme masculinity. Now that Donald Trump left office, people got more comfortable revealing their true perspectives. The realities of the Trump White House were obvious. The bubble of disinhibition has burst, revealing the effects of these behaviors. The extreme macho man lives in a paradox. Disinhibition is easier to manage online than in person. Yet, the ease of disproving this lie grows more challenging. The bubble seems to break more frequently. Disinhibition was characterized by the lack of accountability for those who exercised power during Trump's presidency. Cancel culture is the practice of withdrawing support for public figures or companies after they have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive. The social world’s culture wars are the result of cancel culture.

The White House Infusion

The most intriguing part of Ronson's research is the UFC fight at the White House. Cage fighting is the ultimate display of strength from a subculture. With its origins in Brazil, the UFC is a modern combat sport where the fight is in a cage - otherwise prohibited by combat sports. At the White House, the fight symbolizes the intersection of these themes. The combat sport at the White House is an invitation to Ronson's "total disinhibition."

Status and Statusless

Status is about what you have compared to what you don’t. In the case of Sean O'Malley, status elevated him. O'Malley believed women could accept his U-turn because he was a heartthrob fighting champion. “Status-free people” differ because they have no inherent power. Their status comes from the result of their actions. In Ronson's view, people with no status have created their own bubbles, which lead to violence and aggression. The White House's cage match is more than the ultimate showcase of strength. This embodies the ability to engage in extreme masculine behavior without repercussions. What happened in the real world is another level of what this signifies.

The Markers of a Failed Experiment

Disinhibition was the benchmark for society during Trump's presidency. This created a world where men believed they could do anything they wanted. The consequence of the failed experiment showed the bubble of disinhibition. In the extreme practices of masculinity of the Trump dynasty, this failed completely. The result is a world in which the rules still apply. Really, these are more than football games and cage fights. It turns into a loose cannon, misery, and a new way of looking at masculinity.

The Ego of the Extreme Masculine

Society gave problems to the men who were bullied and marginalized. The bubble of disinhibition has ended, and the world has been more vocal about accepting men who have more egalitarian views on gender. For men trying to build on this concept, inspiration comes from men like Banjo Fletcher. Sean O'Malley, who also believes in women's independence, show ways to get out of today's masculine bubble. These men believe in standing up for women and changing their perceptions of masculinity. This is only the first step in showing the general public that an extreme masculine man is no longer necessary. If you are intrigued by the intersection of masculinity, combat, and American politics, the fight at the White House is a fascinating event. It’s now possible to see what happened at the White House and its effects. The bubble is bursting, however, and these groups of men are becoming less relevant. This fight is a symbol. It means masculinities are shifting, and it’s fascinating to see what is next.