Well, I wasn’t planning on getting political over here, but I want to share this. And hey, this *is* my website after all!
Okay, I’ve tried to not post anything political, but I can’t be quiet anymore. I saw a post shared on my Facebook feed last night and it absolutely infuriated me, so it’s time to unpack everything that’s wrong with this, and with Trump as a candidate. (See a screenshot of the post I wrote this in response to, to the left.)
You don’t care that he called a woman fat? Cool. How about the fact that he LITERALLY said it is okay to sexually assault a woman? One in every six American women has been sexually assaulted at one point in her life. Trump’s comments, and people who think like he does, are not okay by any means! That line of thinking is why we have people like Brock Turner in our world. So hey, if you’re not okay with Brock Turner (which please, tell me you aren’t) and you’re not okay with things like rape, you should definitely not be excusing Trump’s comments.
While we’re on the topic – a woman (or man!) embracing their sexuality, or having CONSENSUAL sex, is not equivalent to sexual assault!!!! A woman should be free to make the CHOICE of modeling for Victoria’s Secret if she wants to. If you’re not comfortable with it, it’s your decision not to watch, just as it’s her decision to participate. Sexual assault – what Trump was talking about – is NON-CONSENSUAL AND IS NEVER OKAY BY ANY MEANS. And no, it doesn’t matter if he spoke those words privately. Not one bit. (Keep in mind that he has also been accused of rape multiple times, including at least one underage case, and was reported as ‘walking unannounced into dressing rooms at Miss Teen USA’ — walking in on undressed contestants AS YOUNG AS 15.)
In addition, the sexualization (which is not necessarily the same as degradation & those things need to be discussed separately) of women in rap music/etc. IS NOT EQUIVALENT TO SEXUAL ASSAULT EITHER. Earlier this week, someone shared a meme that basically equated the reading of Fifty Shades of Gray, a fictional piece of fantasy literature, to sexual assault in real life, in an attempt to say that it’s okay. THOSE ARE NOT THE SAME THINGS!!! That’d be like me stealing your car and then saying “Well, you play Grand Theft Auto, dude. Same thing.” IT’S. NOT. (Of course, the people who think Trump’s words were okay, but are against things like Victoria’s Secret etc. are the same people who think a woman who is raped was ‘asking for it.’) UGH.
Lately, this site has turned into “book review” central. But what can I say? I’ve been reading a lot of gems recently and have enjoyed writing about them, in the hopes that others will be inspired to pick them up themselves. Sorry – not sorry.
thoughts of Melissa 