Rape Culture: The 2016 Presidential Campaign
This is what Rape Culture looks like—Donald Trump’s “locker room” chat that was recorded and is now before us. I am not as offended by the lewdness of his comments as I am by his aggression and his assumption of entitlement to women...
This is what Rape Culture looks like—Donald Trump’s “locker room” chat that was recorded and is now before us. I am not as offended by the lewdness of his comments as I am by his aggression and his assumption of entitlement to women:
“I’ve got to use some Tic Tacs, just in case I start kissing her,” Trump says. “You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait.”
“And when you’re a star, they let you do it,” Trump says. “You can do anything.”
“Whatever you want,” says another voice, apparently Bush’s.
“Grab them by the p---y,” Trump says.“You can do anything.”
I doubt that Donald Trump has ever even contemplated the notion of consent in a sexual context. His perfunctory apology [“I apologize if anyone was offended.”] was followed by a formal one: “I said, I was wrong and I apologize.” Neither convey any comprehension of what he revealed: “Any one who knows me knows these word don’t reflect who I am.” Well, actually they do reflect who he is, and sadly, who a lot of men are. This audio tape just pulls back the cover on what some men do when no women are present. It isn’t surprising; it is disturbing.
I've been watching how men have responded. Some have perpetuated the “boys will be boys” excuse that just seems so old and tired. But some men have stepped up and been very clear that this kind of attitude and conduct is unacceptable. I commend them and I ask them, when they are in the room with men only and this kind of conversation ensues, interrupt it right there. Don’t just withdraw; man up and stop it.
I promised myself that I wouldn’t discuss politics in my blog during the election. But who would have guessed that this is where the campaign would go?
In the interest of being “fair and balanced,” I would point out that while Republicans are dealing with the revelations of Trump’s misconduct, Donna Brazile, head of the Democratic National Committee issued this statement in recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month:
“In millions of homes across the country, women, children and men are the victims of domestic violence each year. During the month of October, survivors of domestic violence and their families, friends and allies work together to raise awareness of the problem, and to end the cycle of violence. The Democratic Party and our presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, are proud to join them in that cause.
“Democrats passed the Violence Against Women Act twenty-two years ago – the first piece of federal legislation to seriously address domestic violence and sexual assault against women. Because of that law, fewer people have been victims of domestic violence, more victims are reporting domestic and sexual violence to law enforcement, and more women have access to the services and support they need to rebuild their lives after a crime. As a senator, Hillary Clinton co-sponsored the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. As first lady, she supported the creation of the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women. And as secretary of state, she rallied the international community to act to end violence against women.”
The contrast is stark. Gender based violence is at the heart of this campaign.
Please vote.
Rev. Dr. Marie M. Fortune
www.FaithTrustInstitute.org
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rape culture