Dear Cenk,

I really like you. I enjoy the Young Turks immensely. You have a certain measure of optimism and self-assurance that it takes to run a (super relevant) progressive show and (quite impressively) remind viewers of the importance of employing media literacy skills.

But I have to keep it real with you. I think you have some “work” to do around gender (in)equality. I say this with as much sensitivity that I can muster.

Here’s why:

Your “Why Democrats are “With” Hillary Clinton” video where you show compassion toward a viewer who stated that her alliance with Hilary is related to her personal history as a woman Democrat for the past 40 years was limited in several ways. While you were able to correctly identify that American women have gone through a lot of sexism and overcome barriers, you speak about it as if it’s in the past. Gone. Dead. Now, I won’t presume to know your thoughts on this matter, but I am responding to statements I’ve seen you make in past clips, including this one.

1. My first point. Sexism is far from over. Like racism, it is transformed into something more palatable (individual choice is empowering: and insidious, but it feels as suffocating and nasty to me, a woman, as what I’ve read about in books. Perhaps because I’m so aware of it. 1 out of 4 women in the US will be assaulted in her lifetime. 1 out of 3 women will be victims of physical assault in her lifetime. If a woman turns up dead, the most likely suspect? 1 out 3 times it is a former or current (male) partner12. The daily violence that women face is constantly derided and belittled by men, as if it isn’t important. I am sexually harassed on an almost daily basis. I mean every, single, day. Last week, I was so annoyed by this foul man’s attempts to compliment me I told him “I don’t appreciate your compliment”. He responded by condescendingly telling me that I should appreciate his compliment even more because he’s a stranger, that it should mean more to me. I made sure he didn’t follow me out of the store. And yes, I’ve been followed on the street by men — many, many times. I’ve had my picture taken, been cursed at, and touched by strange men on the street. This is not stated as a humblebrag, it is well documented that the majority of women have experienced these things — starting as young as age 11 (and no doubt even younger).

The internet has facilitated a proliferation of disgusting misogyny and sexism that, with unbridled immediacy, has made the Trolls exponentially nastier. Have you read your comments lately? I never fail to see a foul sexualized remark from viewers in reference to Ana — what they want to do to Ana, what they are attracted to about her, how something she said or what she wore turned them on. This is everyday sexism.

I could go into all of the well-documented research and evidence showing that women face appalling amounts of sexism and inequality today, in 2016, but I won’t. I will simply leave a few links for those who dare to take a more critical look at what women endure:

· 1

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I use my personal experiences with objectification and the threat of male violence to simply elucidate how even psychological and emotional threats take an accumulated toll. I’m a Black woman — imagine my surprise when I discovered that men feel comfortable telling sexist jokes in front of me even if they wouldn’t dare to betray their “colorblindness” to make a racist joke (but don’t get me started on microaggressions). But I suppose this is because sexist jokes are still socially acceptable. Even, apparently, joking about raping, beating, stalking, and killing women. It’s just a joke, right?

Which leads me to my second point:

2. You and your co-hosts often loudly express your disdain at the Clinton campaign’s claims of sexism or the scourge of “Bernie Bros”. Sometimes you even ponder the ways in which the Clinton campaign would shout sexism, were Bernie to do and say the things she has. Part of me agrees, but something about it also feels too dismissive. In your opinion, does sexism truly play an insignificant role in the electorate’s (not the mainstream media’s) perspective of this woman? Obama incited a rage toward a president I had never witnessed. Bush was despised and dismissed as an idiot — but Obama is the spawn on Satan to many. Does it surprise you to know that Stormfront membership increased 60% since Obama’s presidency?

Clinton’s haters have a similar level of vitriol that gives me an uneasy feeling. Not because I’m too sensitive, but because sexism is real, and even (of course) Hillary Clinton faces it. Even Trump’s nasty dismissal of her only having the “woman card” is a way in which ascribed characteristics of oppressed groups are used against us. With one statement, he diminished an experienced and ambitious politician to her gender assignment. Wow. I could almost hear the call and response… “All she has is her woman card!” “Yeah — Stupid bitch!”

Until you have experienced and perceived sexism, you don’t know what it feels like. The toll it takes on you. All that it exacts from you.* When you flippantly dismiss these claims, you operate in a world where sexism only means being hired as a typist when you really want to be a journalist. Rather, sexism also means that if you want to be hired you have to dress in a way that isn’t too sexy, nor too drab. That you navigate learning how to confidently engage with male superiors while not appearing desirous of sexual advances. That you conquer the task of “leaning in” without fear of the repercussions of appearing “bitchy” or “hawkish” (term I just learned that’s used to describe Clinton over and over). And worse yet, that you not complain or speak openly about enduring sexism for fear of the incredible backlash of misogynists who would destroy you for daring to speak your truth (or worse, conduct a systematic critique of sexism in the media).

3. For the record, I am *not* a Hillary Clinton supporter. At all. Not even a little bit. Like, forreal, just no. But I wanted to make it clear that I think your assumption is reductive — that women are supporting Clinton “just because” they want to see a woman in office. That’s far too simplistic — “just because” of gender. I suspect that part of it is a reaction to all that gender has wrought and all that it means. I am sure there are plenty of Black people who voted for Obama because he was the Black Democrat — not “just because” of race, as though it is as arbitrary as a birthday, but due to all that race has wrought. And all that it means. To diminish that is to deny the importance of other perspectives that you know not. You have shown compassion to your viewer who is a Clinton supporter. Please, show similar compassion to the reality of sexism. And ask Ana about her experiences — I would be curious to know.

** Beyoncé explores some of these themes in her visual album LEMONADE. I recommend it.

Please keep fighting for us and growing with us.