Parenting Expert Madison Cawthorn Encourages Americans To “Raise Monsters”

When you become a parent, friends, and family offer all sorts of advice, whether solicited or not. From attachment parenting to breastfeeding to “sleep when the baby sleeps,” everyone is filled to the brim with opinions on how you should raise your offspring. As a parent, your job is to take the advice that is relevant to your experience/parenting style and to discard the rest. And the newest entry on top of that discard pile is this bizarre and brazen rant by Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.).

The right-wing congressman appeared in a clip shared by activist group Right Wing Watch, where he railed against parents who “de-masculate young men” because “they don’t want people who are going to stand up.” Cawthorn continued, “All you moms here — the ones who I said are the most vicious in our movement — if you are raising a young man, please raise them to be a monster.”

Cawthorn’s gross advice was met with some whistles and cheers, as he promotes outdated ideas to foster and grow toxic masculinity. Because for men like Madison Cawthorn, being brutish, controlling, and monstrous is analogous with being a man. Naturally, Cawthorn himself embraces these ideals.

When he’s not visiting Hitler’s vacation retreat, he has a pattern of sexually harassing women.

His sexual misconduct was so flagrant that over 160 former students signed a letter describing Cawthorn’s time at Patrick Henry College as rife with “gross misconduct towards our female peers, public misrepresentation of his past, disorderly conduct that was against the school’s student honor code, and self-admitted academic failings,” including that he “established a reputation of predatory behavior.”

And being a classic overachiever, Cawthorn has displayed monstrous behavior throughout his short tenure in congress. He voted against renewing the Violence Against Women Act, and referred to the Capitol riot insurrectionists as “political hostages.”

Many spoke out against Cawthorn and his mission to instill toxic masculinity and violence in young boys. Ultimately, Cawthorn’s premise is one borne out of deep-seated feelings of insecurity, inadequacy, and impotent rage. It would be sad if it weren’t so terrifying.

(image: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Chelsea Steiner

Chelsea was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. An pop culture journalist since 2012, her work has appeared on Autostraddle, AfterEllen, and more. Her beats include queer popular culture, film, television, republican clownery, and the unwavering belief that 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' is the greatest movie ever made. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, with her husband, 2 sons, and one poorly behaved rescue dog. She is a former roller derby girl and a black belt in Judo, so she is not to be trifled with. She loves the word “Jewess” and wishes more people used it to describe her.

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