From frustration to radicalization: sexual-affective grievance and modern sexism among young right-wing voters in Spain

Far-right parties across Europe have increasingly capitalized on narratives of gender backlash, mobilizing young male voters through grievances rooted in sexual-affective dissatisfaction and modern sexist attitudes. This article contributes to this growing literature by examining how sexual and affective frustration – combined with modern sexism – shapes voting preferences for far-right versus mainstream right parties. Sexual-affective dissatisfaction acts as a gateway to far-right support among young men – VOX becomes a symbolic refuge for those who feel left behind in love, sex, and gender politics. Drawing on original survey data of young voters in Spain, we find that sexual-affective dissatisfaction significantly increases the probability of supporting the far right (VOX) among men, but not among women, and not for the mainstream right (PP). Moreover, this frustration magnifies the effect of modern sexist attitudes on far-right voting. In contrast, no such effects are observed among mainstream right voters. Our findings reveal the centrality of male grievance politics in far-right mobilization and help clarify the gendered pathways through which backlash against feminism and unmet affective needs translate into political behaviour.