At Momo’s Club in Austin, Texas last Saturday, Gloria Steinem electrified 150 people in their mutual support of Hillary Clinton.

The men in attendance enjoyed her talk too. I spoke with almost all eight of them.

More Clinton signs lined the walls at Momo’s than there were beer bottles lining the bar. The patio on the second floor had been opened as anxious supporters waited for Steinem to appear. The event relied heavily on a mingling atmosphere, as the women wandered the space and found willing conversation. Most of the men hung back in the booths, keeping their drinks company.

Of course, the prospect of hearing one of the great feminist leaders may not have served as a great motivator to attract men to the club that night. Campaign shirts reading “Girls Night Out” handed out free at the door probably didn’t help. Most of the men at the little-publicized event came with female friends or spouses. The rest were volunteers, most from out of state.

Throughout the night, a more surprising reason for the low male turnout became clear. With all the alleged sexism revolving around Clinton’s run for office, media-driven or otherwise, one facet of the discussion that has not been mentioned are the attacks on Clinton supporters.

“Men voting for Hillary Clinton in Texas take a lot of [abuse],” said Teresa Van Deusen of Voter Virgin. “It’s crazy.”

Samrong So, a volunteer from New York City, acknowledged that the gender composition of the Clinton campaign differs in Texas to that of the Senator’s own jurisdiction.

“The sense I’ve got,” said So after making calls for Clinton, “is that there are more men willing to vote for other candidates [in Texas]. It’s not a generalization to say [Sen. Barack] Obama has more male support.”

While it may be “natural for men to side with men,” So admitted the situation in Texas can go beyond simple comradery.

“I do think there is an element of sexism involved,” said So. “Maybe not knowingly, but it’s the same as racism,” where the subconscious effects are just as real.

Throughout this election year, the Clinton campaign has commented on the status of sexism in America just like the Obama campaign has dealt with racism. Often the Senator has claimed that the former has become more socially acceptable than the latter. Except, this time, the sexism exists as a fight between men over giving their vote to a woman.

So compared McCain and Obama’s Texas supporters to a “boys club” who, like children teasing their buddy about his first crush, demean anyone who has chosen to support the woman.

Gloria Steinem touched on elements of sexism and double standards throughout her speech as well.

“What if John McCain had been Joan McCain?” asked Steinem, referring to McCain’s experience as a veteran and prisoner of war. “They’d be asking her, ‘What did you do to get captured?’”

“The media definitely has a role,” said So, “whether or not it’s perpetuated purposefully or not.”

Steinem praised Clinton for the added dimension her point of view provided at each debate with “the boys,” referring to opponents Obama and Senator John Edwards, who dropped out prior to Super Tuesday.

That feminine point of view, argued Steinem and So, will never attract the necessary male support in Texas, a state known for its masculine desire to appear strong, as long as the media and her political opponents continue to imply that the Senator’s femininity will prove insufficient to handle the pressures of the Oval Office.

“Men are loved if they win and hated if they lose,” Steinem said of Clinton’s political nominees. “Women are loved if they lose and hated if they win.”

Such is the feeling among Clinton’s male supporters here in Texas. They believe they will hear nothing but ridicule from their competitors as long as she stands as a viable candidate, let alone as the Democratic nominee. All will be forgiven, of course, should Obama take the nomination.