If you haven't already heard the released tape of Donald Trump speaking about women, I almost envy you. I wish I could hide from just horrific this election has gotten. While I feel like both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are literally the two worst choices to have for President, this new video goes beyond politics.
In the video released last Friday, Trump can be heard boasting to Billy Bush about how he forces himself onto women, grabs their genitals without consent, gets away with it because he is a celebrity and that is putting it nicely. We then see Billy Bush force the female reporter interviewing Trump to give them hugs and choose which one she would date immediately following his conversation with Trump.
Trump issued an apology online and at the last debate, but quite frankly didn't own up to the full extent of his words and actions. He blamed this incident on "locker room talk" and then deemed this topic unimportant by avoiding it and chose to talk about ISIS instead.
Let us break down what all this actually means.
First of all this is not "locker room talk", this is the perpetuation of rape culture. This is showing to boys, men, girls and women everywhere that you will not be held accountable for violating another person's body. This is no better than saying "boys will be boys" because no matter who you are, you are to be held accountable for your actions.
And for anyone; and I know there will be someone; who doesn't believe that rape culture is still an issue, here are some alarming statistics that prove otherwise. In colleges alone, 1 in 4 women will be sexually assaulted and 90% of victims will know their attacker. Most women cannot stop their attacker, not because they are a celebrity, but because they physically were incapable of stopping them. 1 in 3 men have admitted that they would sexually assault women if they knew they could get away with it. Over 80% of rape and sexual assault prevention tips are aimed at women, which leads to not only victim-blaming but self-blame, as well. And for Mr. Trump who asked why one of his many accusers didn't report her case earlier, only 63% of women will report their cases in fear of being blamed, being judged and being targeted again.
The second issue with how Trump handled his actions is how he tried to minimize how much of a national problem this is. While this country certainly has a countless amount of issues, the assault and treatment of women in this nation is a huge issue and should not be dismissed. Yes, Mr. Trump, ISIS is a huge problem that should be stopped, but so is the borderline inhumane treatment of women and that deserves to be discussed. As a potential future president, you should be setting an example for the American citizens. Not just because you have a mother, sisters, a wife and a daughter who are all women, but because all human beings deserve to be treated as people and not objects for your forceful sexual pleasure.
Lastly this latest incident has caused such a disgusting response from the American people. It has turned into memes and as more women come forward, Trump supporters have suggested we revoke the 19th Amendment so women cannot vote against him. Let me put this in terms even Mr. Trump can understand: America is a "team," our citizens indulging in this "locker room talk," Donald Trump the coach and Billy Bush the ever loyal fan who supports the coach no matter how dirty he encourages his team to play. Coach Trump is telling his players that it is okay to violate the female players, men should be held to this sickeningly low standard of not having the self-control to help themselves but to violate the women and it is all okay because there are other issues are team needs to handle—like winning against our rival "team," ISIS.
As a woman in this country, I know first hand the behavior that "locker room talk" inspires. I have been catcalled while walking down the street, touched by strangers at parties and witnessed much worse. "Locker room talk" is the reason why I fear walking back to my dorm alone at night, have been taught from a young age to hold my keys in between fingers so I can use it as a weapon and why women are constantly in fear for most of their lives. For those who support Trump, you should be demanding more ownership and accountability from your candidate. And as the American people, we need to start calling out "locker room talk" for what it really is: the perpetuation of a rape culture that will constantly almost always take women as its victims.
