Straight White American Jesus It's in the Code ep 179: “A Father’s Virtues?”
Feb 11, 2026
A close reading of Josh Hawley’s claims about fatherhood and the virtues he ties to it. Questions about who counts as a father and whether those traits are uniquely male. Analysis of the cisgender and heteronormative assumptions behind his account. Discussion of how exclusionary rhetoric can push people toward controlling religious communities.
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Masculinity Assumes Cisgender Heteronormativity
- Dan Miller shows Josh Hawley assumes masculinity means cisgender, heterosexual men by default.
- This gender essentialism frames Hawley's whole argument about roles like father and husband.
Kinder, Gentler Messaging Conceals Exclusion
- Miller argues the "kinder, gentler" approach hides exclusionary content by leaving it implicit rather than stated.
- That strategy draws people into a community before controversial views surface, facilitating gradual radicalization.
Friend Joins Church Despite Exclusionary Beliefs
- Miller recounts a friend who joined a conservative church that had exclusionary beliefs on its website.
- The friend said the church "doesn't really teach that," illustrating how implicit doctrines attract inclusive-seeming people.
