While there is limited knowledge on how the mainstream right (PP) engages with gender issues in Spain, even less is known about how it contrasts with the radical right’s (VOX) strategy to capitalize on modern sexism, particularly among young men. Previous research has highlighted how radical right parties globally target incel communities and the so-called "manosphere," exploiting narratives of male grievance. Studies have also demonstrated that modern sexist attitudes are significant predictors of radical right voting. However, this study is the first quantitative analysis to explore how sexual frustration moderates the effect of modern sexist attitudes on electoral preferences.
Focusing on young voters, the results reveal that for young male VOX supporters, modern sexism becomes a powerful predictor of voting behavior when coupled with personal frustrations related to sexual dissatisfaction. The study examines key moderating factors such as the desire to have a partner, affective-sexual dissatisfaction, and pornography consumption. Among these, sexual frustration amplifies the explanatory power of sexist attitudes, making VOX particularly appealing to those who feel personally aggrieved by feminism. This dynamic does not hold for PP voters, whose voting behavior is less influenced by personal grievances of this nature.
Our findings provide new insights into the ways in which VOX attracts young men, distinguishing it from PP. By capitalizing on male frustrations and combining them with anti-feminist rhetoric, VOX consolidates a base of support rooted in the private sphere, where sexual dissatisfaction fuels radical right voting.