The Jeffrey Epstein files have erupted across headlines, drawing celebrities, billionaires, and politicians into public scrutiny. Prince Andrew’s arrest this past week renewed focus on the narrative of perverted, powerful men going through Epstein for sexual pleasure. It also adds pressure on U.S. authorities to consider charges against other figures connected to the infamous procurer. Cable news repeatedly frames the story as “trafficking of children,” though the media largely showcases then-teenage girls swept into Epstein’s orbit rather than the prepubescent kids that the phrase suggests. Coverage rightly centers women who claim Epstein and his circle preyed upon them, which is a necessary step toward reaching the truth. However, it is crucial to remember that benevolence did not inspire the media spectacle we see on TV today. It reflects a broader cultural drama that sells, where women leverage exposure to confront powerful men. These women are often giving interviews and statements as willing participants, yet they are caught in a larger social and moral battlefield that both cable and independent outlets profit from: women hating men, and men hating women. Division generates the horse race mentality that keeps viewers engaged. Headlines highlighting conflict between men and women drive clicks, ratings, and subscriptions because, well, everyone is either a man or a woman. It is easy to pick a team. High-profile careers are already faltering. Hollywood figures and business leaders linked to Epstein have lost positions or influence without legal conviction as the industry moves toward self-preservation, reflecting a sway of public opinion and social pressure. This begins to echo the impact of #MeToo post-2017, which saw at least 201 powerful men lose their jobs or major roles, according to the New York Times. In the reshuffling that followed, women assumed leadership in a substantial share of case — 54 of the 124 men replaced — highlighting both the gains and the tensions created by cultural upheaval. Today, Epstein carries a near-mythical weight as a symbol of hidden depravity and elite privilege. Epstein’s crimes with young women were grotesque. Whether technically legal in certain jurisdictions or not, or even if these young girls were banging on Epstein’s door to make a quick buck, no reasonable man would want his daughter involved in such things. Sexual exploitation, grooming, and coercion violate moral norms and inflict lasting harm. Media coverage emphasizes “the survivors,” a term of feminist empowerment coined to replace the word “victim.” Talking heads flatten the complexity of this issue into a moral play, casting men solely as predators and women solely as arbiters of justice. In his known network, the media poses Epstein as the final boss. Political context complicates perception. In 2016, President Donald Trump faced several public allegations of sexual misconduct, yet Epstein did not surface in political discourse, despite his earlier arrest. Cultural awareness of elite trafficking networks was treated as a conspiracy theory or a meme. Today, Epstein carries a near-mythical weight as a symbol of hidden depravity and elite privilege. Public fascination presents him like a single apex predator, though evidence suggests he functioned within a broader system of exploitation. Cultural dynamics intensify the hysteria. Modern feminism promotes exposure and accountability, framing men as default oppressors. Men face social pressure to display passivity even when assertiveness will serve them best. Societal messages urge women to emulate male assertiveness. These pressures invert natural roles and foster gender antagonism: men constrained by expectations meant to tame inherent behaviors that helped propagate civilization for centuries, and women navigating power in ways that sometimes perpetuate conflict. Participation by women in Epstein’s network, whether willing or coerced by circumstance, illustrates how individuals become instruments in cultural and social warfare. Whatever the truth of the Epstein saga may be, a deeper truth remains: men and women depend on each other. Societies flourish when sexes complement each other rather than compete for dominance. Civilization would die if either sex went extinct. The Epstein files dramatize misconduct and expose power imbalances while revealing how gender conflict, magnified by media spectacle and financial incentives, undermines cooperation. Women and men are each other’s greatest weakness, which can only be transformed into strength through mutual respect, empathy, and recognition that collaboration — rather than conquest — is the foundation of lasting society. READ MORE from Julianna Frieman: How COVID Created the 15 Second Generation Suing Social Media Won’t Save the Children — But It Could Silence Everyone Why Has Nancy Guthrie’s Case Become America’s Only Story? Julianna Frieman is a writer who covers culture, technology, and civilization. She has an M.A. in Communications (Digital Strategy) from the University of Florida and a B.A. in Political Science from UNC Charlotte. Her work has been published by the Daily Caller, The American Spectator, and The Federalist. Follow her on X at @juliannafrieman. Find her on Substack at juliannafrieman.substack.com.