Opinion
Trump leak sparks conversation about rape culture
By Emily Steates ’19
October 20, 2016
Tags opinion
“Just kiss. I don’t even wait… And when you’re a star, they let you do it… you can do anything. Grab them by the p***y… you can do anything,” Donald Trump stated in a 2005 video obtained by The Washington Post. In this video, Donald Trump not only explicitly described how he sexually assaulted women in the past, but, as presidential debate moderator Anderson Cooper identified, he bragged about it, too.
The most surprising part of this dialogue does not emerge from what was said or done by Donald Trump. He is no stranger to controversy. We have come to expect disrespectful and upsetting behavior from this presidential candidate; these tapes only solidify our preconceived notions of Trump. In the past, he referred to women as “pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals.” He ranked female contestants on his show “The Apprentice” on a 1-10 scale of attractiveness. He blamed debate moderator Megyn Kelly’s tough questioning on her menstrual cycle. Trump contested his scorn for women during the last debate, saying, “nobody has more respect for women than I do.” This is laughable. Trump’s contempt for women has been clear throughout the entirety of his campaign.
The continuation of Trump’s misogynistic rhetoric was not surprising. However, its positive consequences were unexpected. These tapes provide one substantial benefit to American women: a platform for discussion.
These videos highlight misogyny and a belittlement of sexual assault in American culture, and have subsequently fostered a discussion regarding its effects on all women. Major media outlets have not only denounced Trump, but rape culture and the degradation of women in general. The popularity of this 2005 video has stimulated conversation among Americans on a topic that has gone unnoticed for far too long.
The dialogue stimulated by this video caused Trump’s support to falter. According to a recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, Clinton now has 46 percent support among likely voters, a striking 11-point lead over Trump. In the same poll, 41 percent of likely voters indicated that Trump’s action in the video was “completely unacceptable because it crosses a boundary into describing kissing and touching women in a sexual way without their consent.” 38 percent of likely voters even indicated that the comments made in this video should disqualify Trump from the presidential race.
Recently, our campus has mirrored the open discussion regarding sexual assault in the American political scene. Less than 24 hours after Hamilton’s Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Board (HSMB) released their annual 2015-2016 report, students swiftly communicated discontent. Many were outraged at the college’s handling of two students found responsible for “sexual harassment and non-consensual sexual contact”—each of whom were only given two points.
Members of the community expressed their grievances in numerous ways. The next morning, it was impossible for students to walk to class without being affected by the striking posters scattered across Martin’s Way. On Oct. 10, a Student Assembly meeting allowed students the opportunity to speak out against Hamilton’s policies. At this meeting, Lisa Magnarelli, Hamilton’s Title IX Coordinator, was present to field questions.
Rape culture is far from abolished. However, it is clear that both the Hamilton community and American voters at large are beginning to approach the belittlement of sexual assault with severity. Recognizing and discussing these issues are the first steps to eliminating them.
With only a few weeks left until the 2016 presidential election, the dialogue regarding these issues is critically important. Donald Trump could potentially retard, or even reverse the progress that we have made in terminating misogyny. For Trump, the degradation of women is simply “locker room talk.” However sexual assault is no joke, and the political arena is no locker room. Trump is fighting for the most powerful political position in the nation. America deserves a leader who will treat the issue of misogyny with severity, both in their political and personal life.
While Trump may never change his contempt for women, we as students and American citizens can continue to fight against sexual assault. Our ongoing conversation regarding its effects on women both on campus and in a larger societal context is of the utmost importance as we approach the presidential election. Donald Trump believes that “when you’re a star… you can do anything.” This November, however, we will show him that regardless of how much fame he has acquired, his contempt for women will still hinder his ability to do one thing: become president.