Pussy Talk
By Ravyn Salas/Photos by Daniel Steele
@ravyntheweirdo
In an election hinged on gender dynamics, Trump's treatment of women has been brought to the forefront of the campaign and has been the talk of many social media platforms.
Trump is recorded saying, "I'm automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they let you do it,” he said. "Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything."
In the frenzied aftermath of the video's release, many republican officials were outraged and pulled their endorsement and vote for Trump. Women came forward with allegations that Trump had harassed them and inappropriately kissed them or groped them without their consent.
He defends himself in the second debate and denies doing what he brags about in the video. He argues that this sort of banter is commonly used among men.
“Yes, I'm very embarrassed by it. I hate it. But it’s locker room talk and it's one of those things," he said. “It’s just words, folks. It’s just words.”
Though they may be "just words", the real life consequences of sexist language have a tangible effect women. Though not necessarily a direct correlation, the language used in mainstream media represents a disturbing trend.
Julie Song, professor of Sociology here at Chaffey, understands the way sexist language adds to a culture that normalizes "locker room talk." She pushes her students to analyze the language of media, and how that differs between men and women.
After being inundated with so many sexually aggressive actions and lewd comments, women often internalize this and project these views onto themselves. This becomes normal.
“I think a lot of young women today equate sexuality and the way they look with power and I think that’s a huge misconception," Song says.
By the third debate, 11 women had come out saying that Donald had grabbed, groped, and even kissed them without their consent. When the moderator brought up these claims, Trump denied the allegations entirely with a low, elongated "Wrong", enunciated by his little o-shaped baby lips.
“I would say the only way - because those stories are all totally false I have to say that," he says. "And I didn't even apologize to my wife, who is sitting right here, because I didn't do anything. I didn't know any of these women, I didn't see these women.”
He denied having any involvement with these ladies but what has recently come to light shows the patterns of sexual aggression that Trump feels he's entitled to with women.
“I also think that the rape culture problem is huge, this idea that rape is not a big deal," Song says. "A lot of the mass media outlets, you know just frame it as boys will be boys. I think the Trump case is a really good example of that. He’s just saying that this is locker room talk.”
Melania Trump also describes her then 59-year-old husband's comments as just "boy talk." Whatever you call it, bragging about groping women, without consent is sexual assault. To dismiss these comments as just childish banter or locker room talk is not only irresponsible – it's dangerous.
Trump's comments in the last debate illustrate that he feels women are either liars or nasty women for speaking out. The amount of credibility a woman must have in order to be taken seriously, paired with what some people see as a gain or comeuppance for the victim, is enough to deter many victims from speaking out.
After Trump denies the allegations, he says "I believe Chris, that she got these people to step forward. If it wasn't, they get their ten minutes of fame."
If not seen as credible or with the backing of many victims, as in the Cosby scandal, going public with allegations can come with a heavy blow to someone's reputation.
“This is the problem with rape culture, its, you know, the onus of proving that you’ve been sexually assaulted is on the victim and I think that’s a huge problem,” Song explains.
Trump's claim that his offensive comments were "locker room talk" is easily accepted, while the burden of proof lies on the women coming forward with allegations. Trump discrediting the women is one more subtle way this culture is reinforced.