So I was horrified earlier & this might not mean much to others. Because sometimes it feels like you're yelling into the void on here. & I honestly hope this gains traction because this *IS* something that needs talking about. Let's start some discourse below 👇.
Hubs & I decided to catch up on the late night hosts today, primarily Jon Stewart & Jimmy Kimmel.
Both of them, commented on Trump's commentary to Kaitlan Collins - telling her to 'smile more'. But that is *NOT* what they should have been focusing on, despite yes, it was still gross. & why I'm picking on Jon & Jimmy & not all news media - because these two men typically go above generic headlines to the heart of the matter. & they failed this time & to me it was deafening. But still important for all, not just me.
When Trump made his comment to Kaitlan Collins, he made an *insidious insinuation*: Just because a reporter or journalist has the right to get to know you over a decade, whether they like you or not. Can now be implicated or their reputation ruined for whatever reason, simply because they know you.
& as a woman, like, Kaitlin Collins - it makes that insinuation as a woman far more worse.
It immediately made my stomach drop. It made me sick. Because surely, one of these men, Jon Stewart & Jimmy Kimmel would touch on it. Right? But neither did. & it's to the point, we cannot afford people especially men the benefit of even benign ignorance, anymore.
I do want to point out what Trump said to Kaitlan is not exclusive to women reporters or journalists. It's an extreme threshold Trump crossed for everyone. But in this climate & following it up with 'smile more', let's you know how he wanted to manipulate how people viewed her. He essentially discredited her profession & believability by saying: We know each other.
That's it. That's all it takes. Because now she's backed into a corner because it's true. Not for the reasons the public will now think. The public as a whole never thinks what they should. & it's stupid to refute anyway because she did nothing wrong. He's been president for almost a decade. How is she NOT supposed to know him doing her job?
& Jon Stewart & Jimmy Kimmel did Kaitlan Collins a disservice & other journalists & reporters, including themselves by simplifying it to: "OMG, ick, they told her to 'smile more'. Okay, grandpa, get with the times."
& if you're still reading this - I want to add.
It makes their feminism performative by only saying 'smile more' bothered them. Because by mentioning the other it tones down the laugh. & makes things serious. & it's now socially acceptable for men regardless of political affiliation to abhor 'women need to smile more'.
Essentially they went for the safer option for men in that scenario & not the elephant in the room that is far more worrisome.
