I went to the link to read the entire article but I can't see it without creating an account. Then I saw Jazzz's post.
@AllThatJazzZ, come on, don't leave over a single thread. TBR is nothing like TOS. Stay.
I just reread my post and it does sound like I'm leaving because of this thread. I apologize for the wording. I was upset and sad and didn't express myself clearly.
Just within the past 24-48 hours there have been some things posted that were stunning to me. I didn't reply to them, but I was taken aback. Then when this thread turned into the kind of feeding frenzy that TOS engages in, I decided this wasn't the right place for me.
Finally was able to read the entire article.
I agree with a good deal of what was written. This election has, quite frankly, left me disoriented. As a woman who disdains feminists, I've been forced into seeing that, apparently, what they say about some conservative men is true. Some men on the right lack proper respect for women. I've been told that there are more important things than sexual assault. (To illustrate my point, elsewhere online, men on the right are responding to Cupp's article by calling her a " despicable scrag", a "slut", a "creature", and "just another sniveling female."
Cupp is right when she says that Republicans are going to have to work very hard to win back women. Who knows whether they'll manage to do it? Newt Gingrich's job was to go on Megyn Kelly's show and sell Trump to women, but he couldn't manage it.
@Machiavelli
I also have disdain for feminism. In fact, I'm probably one of the most old-fashioned, conventional chicks on this board. But I'm a big fan of respect and boundaries, and that doesn't have a thing to do with anything but common decency. Although it was Republican men on display tonight, it's not just Republican men who behave this way.
How disconcerting it's been to watch men (and women) eager to defend Trump and his sorry shenanigans. It was pukeworthy when it was Dems defending Bubba, and our side was quick to point that out. It should be equally as pukeworthy when "one of ours" (using the term verrrrrrrrry loosely) does it.
Women who have been put upon by men are often at a loss of how to handle it. There is no class in school or college that gives you the tools to establish boundaries that, without any warning, you find have been breached. No man announces that he's going to cop a feel or stick his nasty tongue down your throat. All at once you're ashamed, embarrassed, angry, frightened, guilty (!), confused and wondering how to get out of the situation safely. Most women I know never say anything about these incidents because they are so shame invoking. There are some incidents that happened in the 70s that I never told anyone about -- not even my friends. Just too embarrassing. If, due to circumstances, I was forced to come forward and reveal what happened, what would be the first thing said about me? "Why is she just now coming forward? She's lying!" So, I'll go to my grave without revealing what happened.
This is not to say that I'm taking a position on whether those 11 women are telling the truth or not. I honestly don't know (although I do know Trump thought he had the
privilege to grab or kiss them because of his station in life). I'm just explaining why keeping these things secret is something women do.
You don't have to be a feminist to understand that there is such a thing as sexism. When men treat a women as a sexual object to be ogled and lusted over, they're being sexist. Obviously, I made people mad when I complained about the disrespect shown to S.E. I was startled by that. I have spent far too much time (TOS class of '98) observing the piling on when someone goes against the flow. I've really had my fill of it.
It's revealing to read that you believed you needed to make sure the readers knew you weren't a feminist. Are we so terrified that we might rub up against a "liberal" tenet that we have to offer up an explanation before we defend decency? What's up with that?
I never thought I would be in the position of defending "women's issues"...it's a strange place for me to be. But if men are going to refuse to defend us, then my only option is to stand up. And I damn well will, because no one is going to tell me that sexual assault is permissible and I'm supposed to be okay with it.
@Machiavelli
I applaud you for this! For the most part (like you), I'm not into "women's issues," preferring to see issues as "human" ones instead of gender specific. But, for the most part, being grabbed, groped and forcibly kissed mostly happens to women.
Finally, don't get me wrong. I am just as quick to turn my head or pause the TV to get a better glimpse of a good-looking guy as the next woman. I'm not disapproving of finding someone beautiful or handsome or foxy or hot. It's when they're objectified, not taken seriously that gets my dander up. And that POV gets ridiculed here. Bummer.
