Trump’s love of fossil fuels is about more than money | Moira Donegan

In a surprising revelation, the decision to lift emission limits on coal and gas plants in the United States appears to be driven not solely by economic considerations, but by a perceived notion of masculinity associated with these industries. When attempting to demonstrate intellectual prowess in social settings, the fact that there are more yoga instructors in the US than coal miners can serve as a striking illustration.

However, the disparity between these figures is far greater than it may initially appear: there are more than three times as many yoga instructors employed in the United States as there are people working in the entire coal mining industry, from miners to ancillary workers. Specifically, approximately 38,000 individuals are employed in the coal industry, compared to around 100,000 registered yoga instructors with the Yoga Alliance, an industry association.

While one might assume that a politician would instead focus on the interests of yoga instructors, their contributions to American families, and the potential for growth in the yoga industry, they predominantly emphasize the coal industry. This is likely due to the perception that coal mining is perceived as hardworking, honorable, and masculine, while yoga is often viewed as indulgent, cosmopolitan, and feminine.

This perception is so strong that discussing the interests of yoga teachers or highlighting their role in the American dream is unlikely to be taken seriously, and doing so would likely result in ridicule.