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December 27, 2025

The year in patriarchy: Taylor Swift, Trump 2.0 and the Epstein files | Arwa Mahdawi

Talking Points: "The Year in Patriarchy: Taylor Swift, Trump 2.0 and the Epstein Files" by Arwa Mahdawi

  1. Protagonist and Context: Arwa Mahdawi serves as the critical voice in this narrative, highlighting the stark contrast between celebrity culture and the harsh realities of women's rights and global conflicts in 2025.

  2. Argument Overview: Mahdawi argues that while superficial advancements in female representation, such as Katy Perry's space mission, are celebrated, they overshadow grave issues like the ongoing wars, human rights abuses, and the rollback of reproductive rights under Trump 2.0.

  3. Key Implications: The juxtaposition of glamorized female empowerment against a backdrop of systemic patriarchy reveals a troubling trend where women's issues are commodified, suggesting that true progress remains elusive amidst powerful political and social forces.

  4. Call to Action: Mahdawi's analysis urges a reevaluation of what constitutes empowerment and a recognition of the urgent need for substantive action to address the real struggles women face globally, rather than settling for performative gestures.

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Stoic Response

Justice & RightsCulture & IdentityPolitics & Governance

Addressing the Students of the Stoa

Greetings, seekers of wisdom. Today, we gather to reflect upon the pressing matters of our time, as illuminated by the keen observations of Arwa Mahdawi in her discourse on patriarchy. Let us engage with her insights, not merely as spectators, but as active participants in our own moral development.

The Challenge of Unhealthy Judgments

  1. Recognize the Illusion:

    • Acknowledge that the glamor of celebrity culture often distracts us from the harsh realities faced by women globally.
    • Understand that superficial advancements do not equate to genuine progress.

  2. Challenge Your Assumptions:

    • Question the narratives that celebrate mere appearances of empowerment.
    • Discern the difference between performative gestures and substantive actions.

  3. Focus on the Real Struggles:

    • Direct your attention to the ongoing wars, human rights abuses, and the rollback of reproductive rights.
    • Recognize that true empowerment requires more than applause; it demands action.

Anchoring in the Discipline of Desire, Impulse, and Assent

In the face of these challenges, let us cultivate discipline in three critical areas:

  1. Desire:

    • Desire wisely; seek not the fleeting pleasures of fame, but the enduring satisfaction of justice and equality.
    • Let your desires align with the greater good, not personal gain.

  2. Impulse:

    • Restrain your impulses to react emotionally to sensationalized news.
    • Reflect before you act; consider the implications of your responses on the broader societal context.

  3. Assent:

    • Be discerning in what you agree to accept as truth.
    • Do not hastily give your assent to narratives that serve the powerful while neglecting the vulnerable.

Call to Action

As Mahdawi urges us, let us reevaluate our understanding of empowerment and take meaningful steps toward change:

  • Engage in Dialogue: Discuss these issues with others; create a community of awareness.
  • Advocate for Rights: Support movements that champion women's rights and social justice.
  • Educate Yourself: Seek knowledge beyond the surface; understand the complexities of these issues.

In closing, remember that true progress is not merely a matter of visibility but of equity and justice. Let us strive for a world where empowerment is not just a word, but a lived reality for all. Engage your desires, temper your impulses, and exercise your assent wisely. This is the path to wisdom and virtue.

Article Rewritten Through Stoic Lens

The Year in Patriarchy: A Stoic Reflection

Protagonist and Context

In this discourse, we examine the observations of Arwa Mahdawi, who articulates the dissonance between the superficiality of celebrity culture and the pressing realities of women's rights and global conflicts in 2025. As Stoics, we recognize that our focus should be on virtue, wisdom, and the pursuit of justice, rather than being swayed by external circumstances.

Argument Overview

Mahdawi highlights the celebration of superficial advancements in female representation, such as Katy Perry’s brief foray into space. While such events are often lauded, they distract from the more substantive issues at hand: ongoing wars, human rights violations, and the erosion of reproductive rights under the Trump administration. Here, we must reflect on the nature of true empowerment, which lies not in fleeting moments of glamor, but in the steadfast pursuit of justice and virtue.

Key Implications

The contrast between glamorized female empowerment and the harsh realities of systemic patriarchy illustrates a significant truth: the commodification of women’s issues does not equate to genuine progress. True empowerment arises from virtuous actions and the courage to confront injustice, rather than from mere appearances. We must acknowledge the forces beyond our control—political and social structures—while focusing on what we can influence: our own responses and actions.

Call to Action

Mahdawi’s analysis serves as a reminder to reevaluate our understanding of empowerment. It is imperative to recognize the need for substantive action that addresses the real struggles faced by women globally. Instead of succumbing to performative gestures, we should cultivate temperance and wisdom, committing ourselves to meaningful change that reflects our values.

Reflection on Events of 2025

  1. The Case of Adriana Smith: The tragic situation of Adriana Smith, who was kept alive against her family's wishes to carry a pregnancy to term, underscores the importance of justice and ethical considerations in medical decisions. This highlights the need for laws that respect individual autonomy and the moral implications of such decisions.

  2. Waste of Contraceptives: The decision to allow tens of millions of dollars' worth of contraceptives to expire reflects a failure to prioritize human welfare. This situation calls for a rational assessment of policies that affect reproductive rights and the moral responsibility of leaders to ensure the well-being of their constituents.

  3. Recognition of Femicide in Italy: The acknowledgment of femicide as a distinct crime in Italy represents a step towards justice. It illustrates how societal norms can evolve to better protect the vulnerable, reminding us of the power of collective action in the pursuit of virtue.

  4. Consent in Rape Law: The addition of consent to rape law in France is a significant advancement in the understanding of justice. It emphasizes the necessity of clear ethical standards in legal frameworks, reflecting the Stoic principle of acting in accordance with nature and reason.

  5. Political Developments in Japan: The election of Sanae Takaichi as Japan's first female prime minister, despite her conservative stance, prompts reflection on the nature of progress. True advancement must be measured not only by representation but by the values and policies enacted by those in power.

  6. Marriage Equality in Thailand and Liechtenstein: The recognition of same-sex marriage in these regions demonstrates the gradual shift towards justice and equality. It is a testament to the perseverance of activists and the importance of virtue in societal change.

  7. The Epstein Files: The release of the Epstein files, albeit heavily redacted, serves as a reminder of the complexities of justice in a political landscape. It illustrates the need for transparency and accountability, urging us to maintain our commitment to truth and ethical governance.

  8. The Fall of Andrew: The loss of royal titles for Andrew, formerly of the British royal family, reflects the consequences of actions that violate societal norms. It serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of integrity and the inevitable repercussions of failing to uphold virtue.

  9. Sean Combs' Sentencing: The sentencing of Sean Combs reinforces the principle that actions have consequences. It invites us to reflect on the moral fabric of society and the need for accountability in all spheres of life.

  10. Censorship by Meta: The actions of Meta in restricting access to abortion advice and queer content highlight the ongoing struggle for justice in the digital age. It underscores the importance of advocating for free expression and the ethical responsibilities of corporations.

  11. Celebrity Relationships: The public interest in the relationship between Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau serves as a reminder of the distractions posed by celebrity culture. We must remain vigilant in our pursuit of virtue, not allowing ourselves to be sidetracked by the trivial.

  12. The Drunken Raccoon: The image of a raccoon succumbing to intoxication in a liquor store symbolizes the weariness many feel in the face of societal challenges. It serves as a metaphor for the importance of maintaining our composure and rationality, even when confronted with adversity.

Conclusion

In reflecting upon the events of 2025 through a Stoic lens, we are reminded that while we cannot control external circumstances, we can govern our own responses. By focusing on virtue, wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance, we can navigate the complexities of our world with integrity and purpose. Let us strive for true empowerment, grounded in the principles that guide us toward a just society.

Source Body Text

The year 2025 would have been far better if we could have sent a few billionaires and world leaders into intergalactic exile. Instead, we had to make do with Katy Perry spending 11 minutes on the edge of space as part of Blue Origin’s all-female crewed mission. Perry promised us all that, in service of women’s empowerment, the crew would “put the ‘ass’ in astronaut” and “make space and science glam”. Truly, one giant leap for womankind! Space may have got glam, but it was another glum year for many on Earth. The war in Ukraine continued, with increasing numbers of women volunteering to fight. The civil war in Sudan raged on, with the UN urging the world not to ignore harrowing details of targeted sexual violence, torture, and abductions from the region. The slaughter in Sudan is so extreme that the blood can even be seen from space. Although I’m not sure the billionaires and celebs doing celestial joyrides in their expensive rockets are particularly bothered by that view. Meanwhile, a ceasefire was supposedly brokered in Gaza in October. But, as the past few months have made clear, it is effectively a ceasefire in name only: the genocide, media blackout and aid blockade continue. Malnutrition remains rampant, particularly among children and pregnant and breastfeeding women. Babies who aren’t starving are freezing to death. Over in the US, a year of Trump 2.0 has had a devastating impact on human rights protections at home and around the world. One of Donald Trump’s first acts as president was to reinstate the Global Gag Rule, which restricts aid from going to any groups that provide abortion services or advocate for abortion rights. The year also saw sustained attacks on access to birth control and abortion pills in the US. Even a woman’s right to vote is now being questioned by some prominent Maga members. In fluffier news, Taylor Swift got engaged to football star Travis Kelce, a man who once joked he needed to find “a breeder”. Kim Kardashian released a pubic hair thong and failed the bar exam. (Or rather, the Washington Post opined, the bar exam failed her.) Sydney Sweeney got everyone talking about her “great genes” – but failed to get fans to show up for her mediocre Christy Martin biopic. Sabrina Carpenter sparked a debate on sex-positive feminism. And an awful lot of Maga women have a podcast now, as well as exactly the same Mar-a-Lago face. And that’s just a snippet of a very exhausting 2025. To wrap things up, here are six-seven memorable moments from the year in patriarchy. And six-seven is my brainrot, slightly rage bait way of saying 12. 1. A brain-dead woman in Georgia was used as a human incubator Adriana Smith was almost nine weeks pregnant when she fell ill and was declared medically brain dead. Under Georgia’s strict laws, abortion is banned after about six weeks of pregnancy and Smith was kept alive to carry on the pregnancy, without any regard for what her family wanted and despite doctors noting the chances of her delivering a healthy newborn were very small. The newborn, called Chance, was delivered prematurely in June. As of early December, Chance was still in a hospital Nicu, unable to breathe on his own. 2. The Trump administration let tens of millions worth of contraceptives go to waste After the Trump administration brought in new laws that prohibit sending US aid to organizations associated with abortion services, the state department decided to let contraceptives valued at between $10m and $40m expire rather than send them abroad to women in need. The Center for Reproductive Rights has said the loss of these contraceptives “could result in more than a million unintended pregnancies and thousands of maternal deaths”. 3. Italy recognized the crime of femicide In November, Italy’s parliament approved a law, backed by the conservative government of Giorgia Meloni, that made femicide a crime. It is one of very few countries in the world to specifically classify every murder of a woman that is motivated by her gender as femicide. 4. French parliament voted to add consent to rape law This historic move was prompted by outrage over the mass rape of Gisèle Pelicot. 5. Sanae Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister Not exactly progress considering the ultra-conservative politician, who cites Margaret Thatcher as an influence, then appointed just two women to her 19-member cabinet. 6. Thailand and Liechtenstein recognized same-sex marriage After a very long struggle by activists, Thailand became the first country in south-east Asia to recognize equal marriage. In Europe, Liechtenstein’s marriage equality bill (passed in 2024) took effect. 7. The REDACTED REDACTED Epstein files got released While running for president in 2024, Trump promised to declassify the Epstein files. Funnily enough, he didn’t quite make good on that. For most of the year, the president tried, unsuccessfully, to get people to stop talking about what he termed a “Democratic hoax”. Finally, in December, a bipartisan push forced him to release a tranche of documents. The only problem was the “most transparent” administration in history redacted most of it. While we have learned a few new things about how Jeffrey Epstein operated and who he associated with, justice still has not been even remotely served. Trump massively over-promising and under-delivering? Who would have guessed it! 8. The Andrew formerly known as Prince had a very bad year In November, after a lot of Epstein-related embarrassment, King Charles finally took away the former Duke of York’s royal titles. He is now just Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – and the butt of a lot of jokes. 9. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was sentenced to more than four years in prison Over the summer, the disgraced music mogul was acquitted of the most serious charges against him, but found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. His team have asked Trump for a pardon, but it hasn’t been forthcoming so far. 10. Meta shut down global accounts linked to abortion advice and queer content Meta has denied escalating censorship, but campaigners say the company is taking its do-whatever-Trump wants approach to women’s health issues global. And Meta isn’t alone: a lot of companies seem eager to do whatever it takes to ingratiate themselves with the Trump administration. 11. Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau went Instagram official Very cool that the former Canadian prime minister is dating an astronaut. 12. A raccoon couldn’t take it any more, got wasted and passed out drunk in a Virginia liquor store That raccoon is the perfect embodiment of how many of us are feeling after the end of a very long year. Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist and the author of Strong Female Lead