"Trump" Propaganda & How It Discourses Feminism: Why We Always Blame The Woman

At the risk of sounding redundant, we’re all very aware of the gender inequality that has pervaded the ongoing biases and events in history. And at the risk of being whiny; mostly the female demographic has fallen victim to this misogyny, chauvinism or just utter ostracization for no good reason.

We already knew this, but Trump (involuntarily?) reminded us that much hasn’t changed in the last decade or century or ever? Despite all the progress that’s been made with women’s rights and celebrity activists, you would think people would learn how not to be sexist. But apparently, not so much...

Trump’s outdated (not to mention blatantly ignorant) views not only set women back 50 years, but reinforce that certain generalizations should remain “right” for a reason; such as women being disposable in the workforce because of their biological properties to become nurturers or stay-at-home moms (not necessarily correct), being to blame as victims of sexual harassment/assault (because of their bodies or sex appeal), and using such to blur the lines as to what he can pass off as “normal” groping i.e a form of physical invasion (”grabbing them by the ____”).

In a way, Trump’s perspectives stimulate our minds and allow us to rebel with a cause; if you will. Our critical thinking gives us all the ammunition we need to break each dangerous stereotype; surrounding the health and well-being of women.

First of all, Trump, you can’t just grab anyone by the (you know what)...or anywhere, for that matter. Unless you have their permission to, of course. Suggesting otherwise just imposes the idea on others that if you - all omnipresent, omniscient force in our nation - are permitted to do so, then it’s not only okay but glorified to repeat your behaviour as well. Secondly, it inadvertently challenges the boundaries as to what’s considered appropriate contact. And if it isn’t obvious enough already, touching anyone without their consent not only directly violates their privacy but diminishes the rights to their own body. Promoting such false logic doesn’t just condone men (or anyone) in general to manipulate or coerce anyone against their will (even if it is just touching); but encourages the ambiguity of what is deemed sexual assault so others can get away with doing it more and impede women with coming forward with their traumatic experiences. Describing women solely based on their appearances and bodies (including that of your own daughter) further demeans and degrades them to be perceived as objects void of emotion or voice. This talk strips away with their freedoms and rights to say “no”; blaming themselves on the way they dress, how sober they were, or if they were flirtatious...on something someone else did TO them. Establishing a codependency, a syndrome to protect or take accountability for another’s actions out of their control. This is the worst kind of crime against women, and we’re appalled that someone with this much authority to inspire difference is utilizing his power in this way.

This not only specifically addresses such issues of sexual harassment and assault; but essentially speculates concerns of the role of the women in general...the injustice that is thrown at her every single day. Being paid less than her male counterparts, being treated as expendable in a heteronormative and patriarchal workplace, being automatically blamed as the next girlfriend or the other woman, being instantaneously casted as the cliquey female friend, fetishizing the woman’s body for its shape and shaming/blaming it for deserving certain incidents because of the way it appears - the list goes on!

All of this is primarily due to the superficial assumptions and old-school ideologies of the “man”. At the risk of sounding hypocritical, this is the reality we created. We should know better than to excuse blaming women for a man’s initiation of occurrences; if even by participating in his advances, the ulterior motives of his were there. We need to stop segregating women and making them feel like second-class citizens. When we treat women a certain way because of the way they look, the way their bodies are shaped, or just being the gender they are...we are teaching our daughters that this is all right, and that’s the last thing we need.