Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Grace is Messy

Home
Meet Steve Austin
About Messy Grace
Books
Speaker
Contact
Categories
- Faith
- Family
  - Marriage
  - Parenting
- Mental Health
- Recovery
- Writing Help
Best of Messy Grace
Support
Supporters
Affirming Churches
ASK STEVE!
Press
The Podcast

Home
Progressive Christian
Why a Vote for Trump is a Vote Against Women

Why a Vote for Trump is a Vote Against Women

Last updated on: August 10, 2016 at 8:27 pm by Guest Contributor

Why a Vote for Trump is a Vote Against Women 2016-08-10T20:27:47-05:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

When I read Lisa’s original article on Yourtango, I knew I had to have her write a post for the Grace is Messy Tribe! Lisa’s words are timely and so important. Don’t miss this post.

-Steve

Why a Vote for Trump is a Vote Against Women

Recently I wrote a blog about Fox New’s anchor, Gretchen Carlson and the lawsuit she has against her former boss, Roger Ailes. Carlson’s story has been at the top of the trending news stories for the past few weeks. I think that is so because so many women can relate to Carlson’s situation in that many of us have suffered from sexual harassment in our work places. Almost every woman that I have spoken to completely supports Carlson and fully believes her story.

Yet one of our presidential candidates has weighed in on sexual harassment and you might find his comments rather terrifying. When asked about sexual harassment in the workplace as it might pertain to his daughter, Donald Trump said, “I would like to think she would find another career or find another company if that was the case.” So Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, a very wealthy and educated woman, could just quit and find herself another job but what about the rest of us? Most women can’t as easily quit and find gainful employment. What about single moms, or poor women, or elderly women who can’t go without a paycheck for any length of time?

Trump’s son, Eric, went on to suggest, “Ivanka is a strong, powerful woman. She wouldn’t allow herself to be, you know, subjected to it.” Apparently the Trump men think that women have control over whether or not they are sexually harassed and whether or not they can quickly and easily leave to find new employment. How terribly lacking in compassion can these men be? I was sexually harassed and I am a strong, powerful, educated woman. Sexual harassment doesn’t discriminate. Carlson is a strong and powerful woman at the top of her career and yet it still happened to her.

Sexual harassment has affected so many women in devastating ways. When our workplace doesn’t feel safe, our work and our families are terribly affected. When other men don’t criticize men like the Trumps for their comments, they are essentially validating those comments and thus undermining women. When men like Donald Trump criticize or sexualize women, they are dehumanizing us and harming us in more ways than just name-calling.

It’s time for women to stand up to men like Donald and Eric Trump. It’s time for us to have zero tolerance for their comments and behavior. We must call out every time we are sexually harassed or we see harassment happening to other women. It is time for us to choose leaders who respect us in all areas of our lives, especially at work. Any candidate, who isn’t actively supporting women and women’s rights, won’t do what’s necessary to help us during their presidency.

Think carefully before you head to the polls this November. Is your candidate going to stand up for your rights at work and at home? Does your candidate respect women and their need for respect and safety at work? How does your candidate speak about women and families? Donald Trump hasn’t shown that he is worthy of women’s votes; maybe it’s time to insist that he behave differently before we vote him into the most important job in the world.

Lisa Kaplin is a psychologist, life coach, and professional speaker at http://www.smartwomeninspiredlives.com/

You can reach her at [email protected]

presidential election

sexual harassment

women's rights

Previous Post

August 9, 2016

Why Being a 90's Kid in the Church was Scary as Hell

Next Post

August 11, 2016 How to Have Authentic Faith in the Midst of Anxiety

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Anxiety Best of Messy Grace Current Events Depression Faith Family Featured Fiction lgbtq Marriage Mental Health Messy Grace Millennials Parenting Recovery Recovery from a Suicide Attempt Recovery from Abuse Recovery from Porn Addiction Religious Recovery Self Care The Struggle With Church This is My Story (series) Uncategorized Writing Help

Select a Month January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 June 2015 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 June 2013 April 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 September 2011 August 2011 May 2011 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In Jude, what are believers told to build themselves up in?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The knowledge of God Christian community The fear of the Lord Their most holy faith