The man has been in the media as one of the US Presidential candidates but his taped remarks from an old television appearance have been him in the media for the wrong reasons. Here, blogger and writer Emma Critchley gives her thoughts on Donald Trump, and his comments on women.
When I think of Trump, I think of a cartoon character. His bright bold bouffant sits atop a perma-tan face in a way that he resembles a character from The Simpsons. Well, guess what? He is a character from The Simpsons! In a recent animated short about the presidential race, Trump is depicted getting a call at The White House. And in flash-forward fantasy sequence in the Bart to the Future episode from 2000, Lisa Simpson references the Trump presidency.)
I would say that his Simpsons’ character is an improvement. Even the Hitler-loving cartoon version of him is nicer than the real-life version.
The Trump presidency was a storyline greeted by laughter back in 2000. The cartoon has become a new twisted and sad reality. Actually, sad isn’t the right word. Tragic is closer to the mark.
Here we have a man that is running for president and whilst I compare him to a cartoon character, he certainly isn’t a cartoon I would want my daughters to watch. Underneath the expensive suits is a dangerous man who boasts about sexually abusing women. Hardly a glowing example of democracy.
In the week that saw us celebrating International Women’s day, we all heard or read about the recording of Trump gleefully sharing how he likes to treat women: “I like to grab ‘em by the pussy.”
We might, if we are unlucky enough, know or have even come across men like Trump in our day to day to life.
Here’s one of my experiences: I was at a pub in Bingley, when a man grabbed me from behind, pinning me to him, then spit in my ear the question, “When are you going to sleep with me?” I was shocked but calmly informed him that I was married. He replied, “If I was married to you, I would lock you up in a cellar and never let you out”.
I pointed out that, luckily for me, I had married a man who believed in equality. This didn’t go down too well with this man, who believed he was paying me a compliment. He was nonchalant as he explained this to me, laughed at me for being outraged.
He wasn’t being harmless, he was describing predatory behaviour. This kind of behaviour is never harmless, the kind of behaviour where a man sees a woman as his property, something to lock away or even dispose of after he has used it. Trump, on the other hand, is really dangerous. If this man gets in, then what kind of message is that sending to all the Trump-alikes out there?
We might not be American but we can’t ignore this. In Trump we have a man who attempts to normalise sexist talk by calling it “locker room banter”. That’s an insult to all athletes and to all of the good men, men like my husband, the father of my daughters.
We need to make it clear there is no excuse for sexual assault. A point that Michelle Obama made in her excellent speech in the wake of the news story. In the speech, she described Trump and his statement as “shaking her to the core”. We need to follow her example and make our feelings known. A woman is not a pussy: a woman is not an object. I am raising two daughters and I worry about what kind of message this will send to them, what kind of future they will have in a world that could see misogynistic men like Trump ruling America. It’s terrifying enough that he is even in the running. How did that happen? A man running for presidency who with his callous, crude comments seems to condone a rape culture. This is the stuff of nightmares. For the future of our daughters we need to end this nightmare.
Emma Critchley writes at Island Living 365.
Tell us what you think about Trump. Have you experienced behaviour like Emma describes in her piece?
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Jane Taylor
Monday 17th of October 2016
Well said. Sorry you've suffered at the hands of one of these predators. It is a nightmare that such a man should have gotten so far. If he actually gets in, then this circus that is touted as democracy will finally have caused some real damage.
This is what happens when it's all about the money....
Pat - white camellias
Monday 17th of October 2016
I have never experienced it fortunately. This makes my blood boil.
A Mum Track Mind
Monday 17th of October 2016
Can you believe this oaf is in the running to be one of the most powerful men in the world?! Shows you that it's not about policies, or morals or beliefs - running for President is clearly only about how much money you have and how much influence you can pay for. Sad times. Great post though Emma and you're right, he does look like a cartoon character! x
Sarah
Monday 17th of October 2016
Yep, I was assaulted in the exact way Trump brags about when I was walking through a crowded nightclub dancefloor. I couldn't see who it was, but to this day I wish I'd gotten hold of that hand and snapped a few fingers. He's a terrifying prospect, a loathsome individual.