America’s first woman presidential candidate for a major party has just conceded to a man who has publicly shamed women’s bodies, pledged to punish women for having abortions, flirted with a 10-year-old girl, speculated about the breast size of his infant daughter and admitted to using his privilege to get away with sexual assault.
He has been accused of sexual assault by a dozen women.
To the women of Yangon who have been following the 2016 election, Donald Trump’s election to the presidency is a grim reminder that American voters do not prioritize gender equality or consent in their political decisions.
Coconuts Yangon spent spoke several women as they watched the election results come in at the 50th Street Bar and heard their thoughts on what the election of a sexual predator means to them.
Allison, 27, who lives in Yangon and has campaigned to protect victims of sexual assault in the US, said: “If we were looking for a more sexist president, we actually wouldn’t be able to find one. If you think about the criteria for sexism, Donald Trump fits every single one.”
“Has he sexually assaulted women? Yes. Has he sexually assaulted young women and older women? Yes. Has he harassed women? Yes. Has he institutionalized sexism in TV shows that he has control over? Yes. Has he, in terms of policy, denigrated women? Yes.”
Some focused on how Trump’s election represents a missed opportunity for American women.
“I think it’s shocking that the first time we have a female presidential candidate, it’s the same year we have the most sexist candidate since maybe the 40s. I think it’s crazy that we could have had a female president or we could have had a sexual predator, and we chose the sexual predator,” said Miranda, an American filmmaker in Yangon.
Other women pointed out the double-standard that allowed Hillary’s sins to outweigh Trump’s.
“If people are willing to elect Trump despite his sexual assault investigation but unwilling to elect Clinton because of her email investigation, it shows that people consider sexual assault a more acceptable crime than email breach. This outcome reflects existing beliefs about sexual assault,” said Evelyn, 23, a founder of the Myanmar Women’s Self Defense Centre.
“Women are in danger,” she said.
Non-Americans were also upset by the upset.
Gabby, 23, a Yangon resident from New Zealand who has worked for the Sexual Abuse Prevention Network, said she was frustrated by Trump’s election because of the historic influence the US has on her own country’s policies.
“I think it is one of the saddest things that has happened for women in a very long time. It’s basically telling a generation of men that women’s consent is irrelevant, and if they like a woman’s looks, they are at liberty to behave the way they wish and that they are also at liberty to tell a woman that they don’t like the way she looks, and that she is the person who needs to deal with those consequences,” Gabby said.
“Some American voters have told the world that women don’t deserve a voice, don’t deserve legal protection. That a powerful man has more rights than they do over their own bodies. It’s disgusting.”
“[Trump voters] are all unethical bystanders [to sexual assault] because they have elected a man with several sexual assault allegations against him,” she said.
Emily, 24, works for the Women’s League of Burma. She said: “This exposes all the progress we thought we’d made by lifting the rug from all the issues we swept under it. Not only with women’s rights, but also with civil rights and anything to do with marginalized minorities. We haven’t changed Americans’ sentiment toward these issues. We still have them, and we need to talk about them.”
But to Miranda, the filmmaker, Americans who voted for Trump did so despite his reputation as a sexual predator because they believe a Trump presidency will serve their interests. However, this is a false hope, she said.
“People – even women – voted for Trump, despite his sexual assault, despite him being a predator, despite the fact that he’s actually not a good businessman. I think people just don’t have any hope, and this is the only way they see change.”
Hillary failed to give enough Americans confidence that their lives would improve under her presidency.
Michelle Obama. Elizabeth Warren. Please get in formation.
