I just see it as a way some people of all genders try to fill the space left by religion. It doesn't necessarily have to be coded as an activity exclusive to one gender. I know plenty of guys into stuff like that. I've heard others describe this phenomenon as a way to question the accuracy of outcomes predicted by the secularization thesis.
Regardless, I still am diplomatic with people who like that stuff, despite me not believing in it. I don't want to come off the same way the New Atheists did when discussing religion. That sort of militant attitude can be off-putting when trying to make the case for socialism.
I'd say the best way to discourage taking such practices too seriously, I'd suggest deconstructing such practices by reading about it's history. Understanding the history of a topic helps one realize the fallible and changing nature of a supposedly unchanging process for discerning truth. I use the same approach with religion
Roughly, what I've heard is that they made gains under the NLRB regime of the Wagner Act but, at the price of having that be dependent on the state, which has the power to certify and decertify unions. The period of significant gains was short, lasting from the mid 30s to Taft Hartley. Then you had the post war labor compact, which lasted until the profitability crisis of the 70s made capital take away the seat they gave labor at the table to help recoup profitability.
Plus to do this, they abolished the concept of whiteness that was part of the oppressive colonial heiarchy by declaring the new Polish citizens of Haiti to be black.
Isn't this the trap that Matt told us about in his description of how the two parties operate: The Bourgeois electoral system as a competition to see which faction can mobilize it's base of supporters to make the opposing faction's supporters miserable by utilizing the machinery of state.
Basically the temptation to get lost in electoralism by owning the libs/chuds.
I think the equivalent of that in my area were these nylon book socks. We would stretch them over the textbook covers.
@Red_Sunshine_Over_Florida
@hexbear.net