Feminism

Yup, exactly what happens. Thinking that a smart classy woman could be successful breaks their world view. It literally breaks their personality, they cannot resolve it in their head they are so solidified. So it is literally more acceptable that they must be men. If not, it would force them into a confrontation with themselves that would seriously break them.

My dad did it with Michelle Obama. Couldn't handle a strong elegant black woman with so much respect.

It's a big thing with why they latch onto conspiracy theories, they give their brains an exit. It doesn't matter that it's complete hogwash, it allows them to keep their beliefs.

15 minute cities were a good example, that changing our cities to be more walkable and bikeable (which is proven to make a city healthier both physically and economically at the expense that you might have to park a block away from your destination) actually was a conspiracy to trap people inside their neighborhoods who are not allowed to leave. It's absolute insanity to think that way, but to think anything else would mean they have to actually confront their own beliefs

To be clear this is mostly subconscious, they aren't actively doing it, but usually more it's a built in defense mechanism.