There were a lot of truly great moments for women in 2015. Hilary Clinton announced a run for president. The U.S. soccer team shattered ratings records. Women courageously spoke up about their abortions. ADELE CAME BACK TO US!
But in the same year, a lot of completely shitty, sexist stuff happened to -- and was said about -- women in the United States. This list of 24 of those moments (in no particular order) is not about shaming Donald Trump anyone, or trying to dampen holiday cheer; it's about reminding ourselves that we have a collective obligation to do a hell of a lot better by women next year. Let's do this thing, 2016.
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1
When an anti-abortion group doctored "sting" Planned Parenthood videos...
Andrew Burton via Getty Images
The California-based Center for Medical Progress (an anti-abortion group) generated an enormous amount of attention when it claimed it had a series of "sting" videos showing Planned Parenthood employees discussing the sale of fetal tissue. But the videos were debunked in numerous investigations that concluded they were doctored, misleading and did not contain any evidence of the mishandling of fetal tissue.
2
...And then Carly Fiorina lied (and lied) about them.
Christian Science Monitor via Getty Images
In a GOP debate this fall, Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina made the rather startling claim that she had watched a Planned Parenthood sting video that showed a fully-formed fetus on a table -- while someone in the room warned it must be kept alive "so we can harvest its brain." On the occasions that Fiorina has been called out for that claim -- because, again, no such video exists -- she has doubled down rather than copping to her distortion, going so far as to tell Meet The Press "that scene absolutely does exist."
3
When GOP leaders threatened to defund Planned Parenthood.
Olivier Douliery via Getty Images
Despite the fact that most Americans oppose defunding Planned Parenthood -- and a whopping 1 in 5 women in the United States have accessed care via the provider at some point in their lives -- GOP-ers threatened Planned Parenthood's funding throughout the year. In early December the issue came up again, with Republicans in the Senate voting to eliminate federal funding for the reproductive health services provider.
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4
When a gunman attacked a Planned Parenthood clinic.
Handout via Getty Images
Yes, it's yet another story related to Planned Parenthood, but that's because the health care provider was attacked multiple times in 2015 and in multiple ways. In November, a 57-year-old named Robert Lewis Dear allegedly attacked a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic killing three people and wounding several others. He reportedly had a history of violence toward women, and may have may have vandalized abortion clinics in the past.
5
When far too many trans women of color were targeted and killed.
DIMUSE via Getty Images
"The list of slain transgender women in 2015 continues to grow at a troubling rate," The Daily Dot reported this fall -- and trans women of color make up a disproportionately high number of the victims.
6
When the list of women accusing Bill Cosby of sexual assault continued to grow.
David A. Smith via Getty Images
In 2015, the number of women who have accused Cosby of sexual assault continued to rise, and now stands at more than 50. The statute of limitations, which varies by state, for many of those cases has lapsed, which is largely why Cosby has yet to face any charges. Several of Cosby's accusers are now working to lengthen or dismantle those limits.
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7
When T.I. said he couldn't vote for a woman president.
Prince Williams via Getty Images
And why, pray tell, not? Because "women make rash decisions emotionally," the rapper charmingly explained, adding -- "I think you might be able to the Lochness Monster elected before you could [get a woman]."
8
When Donald Trump defended women who wear burqas in the most sexist possible way.
SAUL LOEB via Getty Images
Trump, who has a history of saying utterly ridiculous things about women, reached new heights of insight and nuance when he said he totally gets why some women chose to wear burqas. It's because they don't have to put on any makeup, obvs.
9
When Vanity Fair celebrated the "titans" of late night -- and they were all dudes.
Twitter/Vanity Fair
To its credit, the magazine did acknowledge the lack of diversity on its cover -- and also pointed out that programs featuring women like Chelsea Handler and Samantha Bee are in the works. But the spread nonetheless celebrated the male-dominated world that is late night, and highlighted just how far network TV still has to go.
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10
When bandage dress designer Herve Leger hated on curvy women and gay women.
Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho via Getty Images
Who can wear Herve Leger's bandage dresses? Neither curvy women, nor lesbians (?!) according to the designer. "Voluptuous” ladies should avoid his skin-tight designs, he reportedly told The Mail On Sunday, as should "committed" lesbians (whatever that means) who "would want to be rather butch and leisurely." You know, as is their wont as lesbians.
11
When Apple photoshopped a woman to make her smile.
Stephen Lam via Getty Images
Apple is a mighty male-heavy company, so it may have sounded like a good thing that a woman made an appearance in its much-publicized fall demo of new products. Alas, said woman was a model whose picture was photoshopped on stage to make her smile more.
12
When ever more abortion restrictions were passed.
Olivier Douliery via Getty Images
Reminder: abortion is legal throughout the United States. But in many states, it is increasingly restricted -- and things continued to get worse last year. The Guttmacher Institute estimates that in the first half of 2015 alone, more than 51 new abortion restrictions were enacted. The U.S. Supreme Court recently announced it would hear a challenge to abortion restrictions in Texas, which could help clarify how much states are -- or aren't -- allowed to restrict abortion access moving forward.
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14
When the media body-shamed one of our greatest living athletes.
CLAUS FISKER via Getty Images
Serena Williams is an indisputably fearsome competitor, but in 2015 the media focused on her body almost as much as her world class skills. Perhaps the most glaring example was a New York Times article that explored how in the world tennis' top women are able to balance body image ambition, talking about Williams' "large biceps" and how competitors choose not to "emulate her physique." Huh?
15
When a Sufragette photoshoot got feminist messaging all wrong.
Mary Rozzi
The t-shirts worn by the film's actresses in a shoot for Time Out London may have been quoted from famous suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, but they definitely highlighted feminism's ongoing race problem. "The message that Streep and company are co-signing with their grinning faces and suffragette tees is that one cannot be both enslaved and a rebel," The Root explained. "And tucked between those lines lies the erasure of a dual existence that black women have been forced to navigate in one form or another throughout history."
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16
When Greg Hardy was reinstated by the NFL.
Joe Robbins via Getty Images
The NFL has made public promises to crack down on domestic violence among its players, but it has since basically failed on that front with the Dallas Cowboys' Greg Hardy. As Think Progress explains, Hardy was found guilty of domestic violence, but had that verdict vacated. Just before his next trial was slated to start, the charges were dropped because his ex-girlfriend had stopped cooperating, and the DA said he'd heard rumors of a civil agreement. So what did the NFL do? It put Hardy on paid leave, then gave him a 10-game suspension, which was soon reduced to just four games.
17
When Ted Cruz showed he had no understanding of women's contraceptive needs.
Tom Williams via Getty Images
According to Ted Cruz, access to contraception is not at all a problem in this country, because he believes condoms abound -- and they obviously satisfy all of women's health and reproductive needs. "Last I checked, we don’t have a rubber shortage in America," Cruz said in a campaign stop in Iowa. "Look, when I was in college, we had a machine in the bathroom, you put 50 cents in and voila. So yes, anyone who wants contraceptives can access them, but it’s an utterly made-up nonsense issue."
18
When a 9/11 widower returned an award because of Caitlyn Jenner.
Glamour magazined honored Caitlyn Jenner with an award at its annual Glamour Women of the Year event -- and she, in turn, said some truly lovely things about her hope to make a difference in the world by living authentically. Then a man whose wife died in the 9/11 attacks and who had been honored by the magazine for helping people escape reportedly returned her award, saying the magazine's choice to recognize Jenner was "insulting" to his wife's memory. Sad faces, all around.
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19
When no one would shut up about Hillary Clinton's "likeability" issue.
Darren McCollester via Getty Images
If you're a woman and you run for president in this country, you should prepare to be constantly questioned on whether you're likeable enough -- as Clinton has been again and again. "Clinton is frequently depicted as stony and cold in a way that men in politics simply aren't, and what's treated as "go-getter" behavior from men is considered "bitchy" from Clinton," Bustle put it.
20
When fat shamers took it upon themselves to reveal women's "#thinnerbeauty."
Project Harpoon
Ah, just what we needed in 2015: A "skinny acceptance," "pro-health" campaign that photoshops images of plus-size women (and men, too, they want you to know) and makes them skinnier to reveal their "#thinnerbeauty." We'll take a hard pass on this one.
21
When multiple women accused porn star James Deen of sexual assault -- and faced backlash online.
Venturelli via Getty Images
In November, porn actor (and industry darling) James Deen's ex-girlfriend Stoya accused Deen of rape on Twitter. Her public allegation led to a string of other women coming forward to allege Deen had also sexually assaulted them. (Deen has said he's "shocked" by the allegations.) In the face of these allegations, some questioned whether sex workers can even be raped. (Spoiler alert: Anyone can be raped, no matter their profession.)
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23
When politicians kept comparing abortion to slavery and terrorism.
Ethan Miller via Getty Images
Abortion and slavery are basically the same thing -- at least according to Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson, who likened women who have abortions to slaveowners. Then there's Mike Huckabee who implied that the actions of women who legally terminate pregnancies are comparable to those of ISIS. Um, no.
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