Drilled Carbon Bros, Ep 2: Energy Dominance
Aug 1, 2025
Cara Daggett, a Virginia Tech political scientist and creator of 'petromasculinity,' dives into how energy dominance reflects gender dynamics in America. She discusses the transition from revering nature to exploiting resources, linking fossil fuels to masculinity and power. The conversation explores the historical roots of land ownership ideologies and critiques contemporary attitudes towards climate activism. Daggett highlights how traditional views on masculinity intertwine with climate denial, revealing psychological factors behind resistance to environmental policies.
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Energy Dominance Means Power
- The Trump administration's use of "energy dominance" centers on power, not independence or security.
- This dominance reflects control over fossil fuels to exert geopolitical and individual power.
Masculinity and Extraction Linked
- The link between masculinity and resource extraction evolved from viewing Earth as a nurturing mother to a resource to exploit.
- Climate change denial intertwines with backlash against feminism and challenges to male supremacy.
Hegemonic Masculinity Defined
- Dominance and aggression are not inherently masculine but characterize hegemonic or toxic masculinity.
- Hegemonic masculinity emphasizes dominance as the defining trait of manhood, influencing how men relate to nature.
