This comment connects the dots so incredibly well compared with what I see from my angry conservative family.
They can’t imagine someone sincerely supporting a cause they care about and assume we all only do it for recognition among our peers, because that’s the way they use causes. To signal to the in-group that we are one of them.
Fuuuck, that is exactly the mindset I was raised to have, and which I very much had during my angry teenage years. Fortunately that was a long-ass time ago and in the decades since I’ve had everything from college to the internet to let me consider the thoughts and arguments of other less angry/hateful/bigoted/sociopathic people.
Well said!
And I will emphasize that this point:
is part of the problem with the whole conservative strong male image before you even get to the relationship status. I was raised to think that way, not being explicitly told that but it being an ingrained part of the culture.
And even THAT is a subset of the value placed on conformity and pursuing the goals you are supposed to pursue rather than what brings you actual fulfillment.