After The Washington Post leaked a tape from 2005, in which Trump made a multitude of remarks that glorify sexual harassment, we learned just how the Republican nominee for president viewed women. The tape immediately sparked internet conversation and many major republicans renounced their support for Trump, including Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, and John McCain. Many other media figures and politicians expressed their disapproval and called for an apology.
Change in the public consciousness has developed quickly, as many call for an advancement in the way Americans understand the ideas of consent, relationships, rape and sexual assault. That is, everyone besides Trump himself.
\Trump’s “apology” video statement and bizarre pre-debate Facebook live stream reflected how little knowledge he pertains about the seriousness of sexual harassment. After acknowledging that he regretted his comments – including the now infamous grabbing women “by the p***y” remark -Trump continued by calling it a “distraction from the important issues.”
Here’s why violence against women is an important issue. According to a survey taken by The Association of American Universities, 27.2 percent of female college seniors reported that they had experienced an unwanted sexual advance – from touching to rape- since entering college. That means one in four female students by her senior year has experienced sexual assault in some form.
The proportions grow even bigger when women enter the workforce. A Cosmopolitan Magazine survey of 2,235 females found that one in three have experienced sexual harassment at work. Is this still not an “important issue,” Donald?
After dismissing Anderson Cooper’s statement in the second presidential debate that his comments in the leaked video were sexual assault, and denying thirteen (and counting) women’s accusations, it is clear Trump doesn’t seem to understand what sexual assault is.
Here is the Department of Justices’ definition:
Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. Falling under the definition of sexual assault are sexual activities as forced sexual intercourse, forcible sodomy, child molestation, incest, fondling, and attempted rape.
In an interview with USA Today, Trump responded not so unexpectedly to a hypothetical question about his daughter, Ivanka, being mistreated in the workplace. “I would like to think she would find another career or find another company if that was the case,” he said. When asked about former Fox News head, Roger Ailes – who resigned due to multiple sexual harassment allegations – Trump had many opinions. He told NBC’s Chuck Todd he questioned the motives of the women who came forward against Ailes. “I know how much he’s helped them,” said Trump, “Now, all of a sudden, they’re saying these horrible things about him.”
Trump is sending a message to the entire nation that rather than make college campuses and workplaces less hostile, he expects women to either let sexual harassment happen and get over it, or leave. Women have been fighting for years, and are still fighting, to be equal to men. We should not let years of suffrage be thrown away. Only misogynists who truly believe women are inferior to men are humored by Trump’s ill-witted comments. No presidential candidate should be allowed to mock and degrade victims to perpetuate the idea that sexual harassment is okay.
Women are not just aesthetically-pleasing items nor will we allow you to objectify us as such. Powerful women are constantly defying the stereotypes that women are just homemakers and child bearers. We have the ability to grow and produce new life and have a flourishing career. I say that actually gives us more strength than the strongest man on the planet. Whether you consider yourself a feminist or not, we should not condone these behaviors or let them infiltrate our democracy.
Trump’s words and actions allow people to think that they can get away with sexual harassment, or worse, that it is even okay. If elected, with the ability to appoint a Supreme Court Justice, he could change how sexual assault cases are prosecuted, in giving more lenient punishments than most offenders already receive. Worst of all, he continues to spread the stigma that keeps victims from coming forward in fear of not being believed, which stops hundreds of victims from ever getting the help they need.