In the wake of the latest of many Donald Trump scandals there has been an unbelievable and somewhat hard to believe response, from men and women alike. The scandal I'm speaking of is the latest video outlining comments Donald Trump made about sexually assaulting women. In case you missed it, Trump's comments consisted of stating that because he is a celebrity he can do what he pleases to women without their consent, including, but certainly not limited too, "I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait." I don't even wait. This four word phrase, alone, is describing sexual assault. He doesn't wait for consent, he does not care if a woman wants his advances or if they are willing to accept them, if it is what he wants then he will go ahead and get it when he wants, regardless of if it is consensual or not. Trump referring to the vulgar comments (I stayed mild in the example provided) as "locker room talk" is a massive problem in it's own, and is only perpetuating rape culture. Though there is another very serious problem and thought process evolving from these comments and the defense of them.
Women, specifically celebrities, who embrace their bodies and their sexuality are not only being shamed for their confidence but compared to Donald Trump and his comments about sexual assault towards women. I've seen countless comments and posts in social media the past few days that call out women such as Miley Cyrus, Beyonce, and Kim Kardashian who display their bodies the way they please, for supposedly being unempowering, promiscuous and derogatory towards women, as if they are any where near what Trump's comments are saying. Theses women, and any woman for that matter, have every right to decide what they do with their bodies. These women are empowering themselves by being in control of their own physical and sexual beings, and in some cases inspiring others to do the same and instilling confidence into some. There is no shame in being proud of your gender, and proud of your body, nor is there anything wrong with displaying your confidence the way you please. These women consenting to their own sexual displays is their absolute right, if they decide themselves that this is what they want to do with their own bodies then more power to them. Women being comfortable in their own skin and being comfortable enough to show it, are in no way comparable to Donald Trump's views on sexual assault.
Trump's comments are not in any way, shape, or form empowering to women. I can't imagine a woman could have heard those words spoken from a potential future president and felt more confident in themselves. Trump's comments are discrediting the importance of consent. Trump, or any person, has no right to act sexually towards another person without their consent. It doesn't matter how famous you are or how much money you have, if a sexual act, even a kiss, is carried out without the consent of the other person involved it is sexual assault. Trump perpetuating the thought that men can say and do what they please to women, especially if they're in a position of power, is absolutely unacceptable. There is an immense difference between a woman showing her confidence and a man acting as he pleases sexually towards who he pleases. There is nothing confidence boosting about sexual assault, there is nothing empowering about sexual assault, there is nothing good about sexual assault, and the comparison of self confidence and the acceptance of sexual assault is despicable.
