Elite feminists trade principle for power

High‑profile feminist leaders sometimes publicly defend or downplay alleged male abusers when they judge keeping political allies in power will protect key policy gains (abortion rights, appointments, institutional influence). That tradeoff creates recurring internal splits, fuels accusations of hypocrisy, and reshapes how movements adjudicate allegations of sexual wrongdoing. — If elites routinely prioritize tactical alliances over consistent support for survivors, public trust in feminist institutions and the politics of sexual‑assault accountability shift in predictable ways.