How Donald Trump Made Misogyny Cool Again.
Before I begin, I have spread several, escalatingly horrifying quotes said by former President Donald Trump, about women, throughout this article, objectifying everyone from 1 and 12 year olds to women in general.
They are far worse than men. [Source]
I would like to preface this article by saying that this contains descriptions of sexual harassment and abuse. Also that Trump’s direct contribution to Dobbs V Jackson and the overturning of Roe V Wade was abhorrent for women’s rights but i am mostly focusing on his actions and comments before his presidency. If i wanted to get into that it would take a lot longer and i feel like these issues are much less reported, especially as of late.
Donald Trump’s repeated rhetoric regarding women and his efforts to diminish women’s rights has, quite disgustingly, made misogyny “cool” again. He brought it back to the mainstream and into the public view once more, borderline promoting it.
The former president was the owner of and heavily involved in the “Miss Universe” and “Miss USA” beauty pageants until 2015 when racist comments he made forced him to sell after NBC pulled out of broadcasting. Since then, especially during his 2016 presidential campaign, a plethora of women have come out against him with claims of misconduct. Many were aspiring models and significantly younger than Trump.
Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything. [Source]
On October 13th 2016, a story from the huffington post broke saying Trump “insisted that the women walk across the table, allowing him to peer up their skirts while they did so” and “ commented on whether they were wearing underwear and what their genitalia looked like”.
On October 14th 2016, the Washington Post reported on allegations by Kristin Anderson who said Trump “slid under her miniskirt, moved up her inner thigh and touched her vagina through her underwear.” in the early 1990s.
On October 15th 2016, the Guardian reported on allegations by Cathy Heller who said Trump, in the 90s, became angry when she avoided a kiss. He then “grabbed” her and, when he tried to kiss her, she turned her head. So Trump kissed her on the side of the mouth “for a little too long” and then he left her.
(To a female reporter:) Like you wouldn’t have your job if you weren’t beautiful. [Source]
It would take several pages to detail all of the horrible allegations against Trump and I’ve read many of them. They’re heartbreaking but I don’t have the time to detail them in a 5 minute read. So, here is the list of women who have made allegations against him:
Mindy McGillivray (2003)
Rachel Crooks (2005)
Natasha Stoynoff (2005)
Juliet Huddy (2005/2006)
Jessica Drake (2006)
Ninni Laaksonen (2006)
Cassandra Searles (2013)
Karen Johnson (early 2000s)
Karena Virginia (1998)
Amy Dorris (1997)
Temple Taggart McDowell (1997)
Jessica Leeds (1980s)
Alva Johnson (2016)
Summer Zervos (2007)
E. Jean Carroll (1996)
Jane Doe (1994)
Jill Harth (1992)
Ivana Trump (1989 — Recanted)
Next in Trump’s arsenal of major misogyny is his Pageant dressing room visits. I’ll further go into them but read this quote from the man himself and you’ll understand it all too well.
“I’ll go backstage before a show, and everyone’s getting dressed and ready and everything else. …You know, no men are anywhere. And I’m allowed to go in because I’m the owner of the pageant. And therefore I’m inspecting it. … Is everyone OK? You know, they’re standing there with no clothes. And you see these incredible-looking women. And so I sort of get away with things like that.”
Several women have come forward about his surprise visits to their dressing rooms. One, Samantha Hovey said, “He eyed me like a piece of meat. I was shocked and disgusted. I have never felt so objectified.”. Trump has also been closely associated with the likes of Harvey Weinstein, Gerald Marie and John Casablancas all of whom have received a barrage of accusations relating to sexual harassment, sexual assault and sleeping with underage girls.
I’ve known Paris Hilton from the time she’s 12 […] and the first time I saw her she walked into the room and I said, ‘Who the hell is that?’ [Source]
Finally, I’d like to talk about the horrors on the “Spirit Of New York”, a boat that set sail on September 1st 1991, with a 45 year old Donald Trump and a 48 year old John Casablancas as well as 58 aspiring young models from around the world. Girls in mini skirts and evening dresses as young as 14, hoping to get a modelling contract were on the boat, dancing for several older men. The little known about Trump’s participation was that he was there but, it’s been reported that the girls danced downstairs while a group of older men surrounded them and then pressed themselves up against the girls. It’s also been recalled by a girl who was present and 14 at the time, that they were encouraged to parade downstairs and dance for Trump. The girls recall being told that if they refused they would be excluded from the competition and it’s large cash prizes so with many being poor from even poorer towns felt extremely pressured to perform.
That must be a pretty picture, you dropping to your knees. [Source]
Trump, the former president and potentially future president, brought this objectification and misogyny into the mainstream, he made it seem okay for far too many young men. If the President can do this, why can’t everyone else. Trump’s campaign has denied every allegation. But even if you believe that 99% of them were false, the fact that even one was true, plus all the quotes from Trump should make you sick to your stomach.
Trump has made it abundantly clear that he is a man who sees women as objects, regardless of if theyre 1, 12 or 20 years old. Built purely for his satisfaction, a man drunk on power and far too used to getting away from things. He has been described by some as a “Serial Rapist” and after writing and researching this article i feel that isn’t entirely inaccurate, a court ruled earlier this year that it was not defamation to call him a ‘Rapist’, a fact which doesn’t help his case. One women detailed an encounter with trump where he put his hand up her skirt and described it feeling as if he did it just to prove that he could.
(About his 1 year old daughter:) She’s a really beautiful baby, and she’s got Marla’s legs.” Motioning to his chest, Trump added: “We don’t know whether she’s got this part yet, but time will tell. [Source]
I don’t ever ask for or encourage any donations to certain causes, but researching and writing this article has made me feel so physically ill and disgusted that I must. If you agree this man should not be president, consider donating to the Biden Campaign: here. Or if you understandably cannot donate to the Biden campaign for whatever moral reasons, RAINN is a charity working against sexual violence in the US and do outstanding work, you can donate: here. Lastly a group doing great work but this time internationally is the Malala fund, which you can donate to: here.
“She does have a very nice figure. I’ve said if Ivanka weren’t my daughter perhaps I’d be dating her.” [Source]
If you liked this story you might like this article which links to feminism and misogyny in american politics: How progressives elected Donald Trump: Misogyny, Horseshoe Politics and the Democratic Party’s ultimate failure. Or you may like this one about how one of America’s largest political parties has failed with women’s rights and will soon feel the pain of it: The Republican Party’s Final Fatal Miscalculation
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If you are looking for further reading, i’d suggest a great article and major source for this one, by the guardian, available: here.
