The controversial conversation released Friday raised further red flags about the morality of Donald Trump, but his seemingly acceptable rebuttal of “just locker room banter” exposes a deeper issue regarding respect for women in our culture. He was recorded making claims as if he is entitled to a woman’s body, as if she were a property for him to purchase, solely because of his financial stature. Whatever the reason is, as it varies per person, there is a dominance and entitlement issue that goes beyond just Trump, and goes beyond just this recorded instance. Reading the article provoked thought about all of the frustration women endure because of men with like mindsets. The narrative as a woman is extremely different than the narrative as a man. Understood that we differ in gender. Not understood how that correlates with a different level of respect. Woman are socially expected to smile to vulgar “flattery”, or face even violence in some cases after rejecting. I just felt personally offended on behalf of myself, friends in situations that Trump has placed those women in, and all women who have been placed in situations because of similar men. The “just locker room banter” creates the expectation that this is how men communicate not only about women, but also to eachother. This sets the precedent that women are not to be taken seriously, have ultimate control of their bodies, or have much else to offer besides physicality. The fact that he, and many others, found this reasoning to not be flawed shows just how far we have to go while raising the next generations to eradicate the biased thinking.
I’m also thinking of this current one. I think about how people like Brock Turner are allotted more respect and empathy than the victim. They get to leave the court room with more dignity than the victim. It makes me wonder how women can be afforded less validation regarding a concept so basic. Even the toddler twins I nanny have a clear grasp of what no means, and that acting anyways will result in punishment. “Just locker room banter” implies joking with team mates, or discussing the work out. It’s incredible that he would categorize an innocent conversation as having the same implications as sexually assaulting women and discussing it like it has humor to it. He also implies that women can be bought, which is still implying an inner vanity and dependence upon men. Women (and men) have been fighting for equality. But there is a deeper rooted issue within our culture regarding the narrative behind women, our intelligence, worth, and self-validation due to greater achievements than beauty. There is a deeper rooted issue within our culture regarding women’s narrative through the eyes of entitled men.