The Myth of the "Woke Right"

There’s a popular idea going around that tries to equate the political left and right as two sides of the same identity-politics coin. You’ve probably heard it: the woke left says “smash the patriarchy,” and the “woke right” blames feminism for everything. The left claims blacks are victims of systemic oppression, the “woke right” supposedly claims the same for whites. So—same tactics, different targets?

It sounds neat. But it falls apart the moment you actually look at what’s being said.

False Equivalence in Disguise

Here’s an analogy:

• The left: “2+2=5.”
• The right: “2+2=4.”
• The critic: “Wow, both sides are being dogmatic!”

You see the problem. There’s a difference between saying something radical and saying something true. Just because two positions are delivered with conviction doesn’t mean they’re equally valid—or equally dangerous. You don’t get to claim neutrality by shrugging and saying “both sides.”

And that’s exactly what happens when people lump the “woke right” in with the radical left. It’s not “woke” to state that men and women are different, that marriage is good, or that traditional moral norms are worth preserving. It’s just... sane.

The Straw Man

Another problem is this idea that the “woke right” is claiming victimhood on behalf of whites in the exact same way the left does for minorities: “whites are oppressed too—don’t hold them accountable!”

That’s not what’s happening. That’s a straw man.

What many conservatives are actually pushing back on is the blatant double standard. When progressive groups riot or rage or push bizarre ideologies, Christian institutions twist themselves into knots to be understanding, generous, and nuanced. But when conservative Christians want to draw basic moral lines—or simply disassociate from modern secular culture—they’re labeled as hateful, bigoted, or “not really Christian.”

That’s not victimhood. That’s calling out hypocrisy.

The Real Sin: Partiality

At the root of this is something Scripture warns us about: partiality.

“You shall not do injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.”
— Leviticus 19:15

If you show compassion and patience toward every cultural darling—BLM, Taylor Swift, progressive activists—but treat conservative Christians as suspect, harsh, or disposable, that’s not discernment. That’s favoritism. And it’s a serious problem in the church.

Unless, of course, you think white, conservative Christians are uniquely strong (or, dare I say, "superior") and should just “take it” as they are the "bigger people"—in which case you’ve ironically embraced the very bias you claim to oppose.

In Closing

Not every voice on the right is thoughtful or gracious. But disagreement—especially strong, moral disagreement—isn’t the same thing as being bitter or “woke.”

Sometimes, it’s just someone telling the truth—and fed up of being punished for it.