You’ll see why this is in my Diversity and Representation collection in a minute.
It’s puzzled me why, of all the many reprehensible things Trump has said, this latest one has finally led a lot of his “insider” supporters to distance themselves and even call for him to step down. The only thing I could figure out is that all of the other things are either things they could imagine saying themselves (if more subtly), or things they wish they could say, but know better than to say where anyone can hear.
This opinion piece takes a slightly different, but compatible angle: that this latest revelation is disrespect of members of a less-empowered group that a) were still, on the whole, planning to vote for Trump, and b) that are still considered bad form to attack even among Republicans: (straight) white women.
It’s kind of the reverse of the famous “first they came for the Communists” litany. Trump has systematically disrespected group after group, but has finally been revealed to have blatantly disrespected a group that his putative colleagues actually care about, both as people and as voters. And to have disrespected them as a group, not just individually (as he did with Megyn Kelly early in his primary campaign).
I was astonished to read elsewhere that he’s even apologised and said he was wrong, though he couldn’t restrain himself from adding riders that reduced the impact of the apology. Normally, he doesn’t ever admit he was wrong (sometimes denying that he said things he clearly said). However, if the linguistics article that was being shared around recently is right, this is just another example of saying whatever will achieve his goals, rather than an authentic apology and an actual realisation of wrongdoing. And a month is a very short period of time in which to prove that theory mistaken by his actions.
The linked article speculates that many of his supporters still won’t care. Indeed, my wife’s aunt, an inarticulately rabid Trump supporter, is still cheering him on, and I’m sure plenty of other white women (and evangelicals) still will – but a good many might also find this the final straw.
Originally shared by The Mary Sue
Why did #TrumpTapes go viral, as opposed to … anything else horrifying that’s happened with Donald J. Trump’s campaign so far? Let us explain.
“we care more about the experiences of white women than any other women–and we also only care about those experiences if we have “proof” from a male source, not those women themselves.”
Yup. Lots of people don’t feel this way but enough do that this rings true. Also we live in a society that constantly repeats and repeats and repeats the idea that what marginalized people say isn’t proof of anything. Its very hard work to get that idea out of your head when there are so many different sources around you trying to shove it back in as fast as you shove it out again.
“we care more about the experiences of white women than any other women–and we also only care about those experiences if we have “proof” from a male source, not those women themselves.”
Yup. Lots of people don’t feel this way but enough do that this rings true. Also we live in a society that constantly repeats and repeats and repeats the idea that what marginalized people say isn’t proof of anything. Its very hard work to get that idea out of your head when there are so many different sources around you trying to shove it back in as fast as you shove it out again.
My favorite comments so far: Some time next year, a reporter will ask him about all of this and Trump will say, “I never ran for President.”
My favorite comments so far: Some time next year, a reporter will ask him about all of this and Trump will say, “I never ran for President.”
“we care more about the experiences of white women than any other women–and we also only care about those experiences if we have “proof” from a male source, not those women themselves.”
Exactly. I usually use the term “White GOP Ladies”, because the GOP has a pretty clear definition of what they consider a “Lady”.
“we care more about the experiences of white women than any other women–and we also only care about those experiences if we have “proof” from a male source, not those women themselves.”
Exactly. I usually use the term “White GOP Ladies”, because the GOP has a pretty clear definition of what they consider a “Lady”.
I have read things in the past about how prosecutors have been hesitant to charge someone even with evidence that the person committed assault because they don’t think they can win in court without a “good victim” to put on the stand. Nancy O’Dell and Arianne Zucker are textbook examples of “good victims”; white, attractive, upper middle class, married, moms, in the public eye but not associated with any particular faults or even controversy. The only way they could be better victims would be if they were grandmas who were baking cookies at the time.
Which is to say yes the OP is right.
I have read things in the past about how prosecutors have been hesitant to charge someone even with evidence that the person committed assault because they don’t think they can win in court without a “good victim” to put on the stand. Nancy O’Dell and Arianne Zucker are textbook examples of “good victims”; white, attractive, upper middle class, married, moms, in the public eye but not associated with any particular faults or even controversy. The only way they could be better victims would be if they were grandmas who were baking cookies at the time.
Which is to say yes the OP is right.