Hate Her for Her, Not for Him
It was meant to be a reality check for much of the nation: don't judge Hillary Clinton for the actions of her husband. The presidential candidate was being politically hounded by the right-wing establishment and her campaign rival Donald Trump. Rudy Giuliani, a prominent Republican, according to thinkprogress.org, even once said, "Her husband, disgraced this country, with what he did in the Oval Office and she didn't just stand by him, she [sic] attacked Monica Lewinsky." Such a comment, after a string of continued perceived sexism by the left, brought on a firestorm.
A multitude of articles attacking the right for their treatment and portrayal of Hillary Clinton popped up in nearly every liberal publication, ranging from "Hillary Clinton Is Criticized Because It's Always the Woman's Fault," by The New York Times, to "Blaming Hillary: Hillary Clinton, blamed again for Bill Clinton's affairs," by Slate. But it's naturally for the liberal establishment to come out in rallying support of a woman when they're unfairly judged, right? No women, they say, should be improperly blamed for their husband's words and actions, especially when the women themselves may be personally harmed by such comments, such as Bill's infidelity.
Right?
Sophie Theallet, a luxury fashion designer who has been Michelle Obama's stylist for the eight years, has come out fiercely in protest of the fact Melania Trump will soon be First Lady. In a press release in which she calls for all designers to boycott, Theallet commits the same egregious blame-game that the left-wing reviled so clearly. "I will not participate in dressing or associating in any way with the next First Lady," she writes, "The rhetoric of racism, sexism, and xenophobia unleashed by her husband's presidential campaign are incompatible with the shared values we live by."
Open letter | Sophie Theallet | November 17th, 2016 pic.twitter.com/g1hIAyBmdF
— sophie theallet (@sophietheallet) 17 novembre 2016
Theallet claims that her reasoning comes from the divisiveness that Donald Trump's rhetoric causes, stating that her own life story is the reason for her decision and subsequent rallying call. "As an immigrant to this country, I have been blessed with the opportunity to pursue my dreams in the USA," she says in the press release. While Donald Trump certainly has been insensitive to the plight of immigrants, is Melania herself not just the same as Theallet? Their struggles were equally as difficult and it is not folly to think that Melania herself, as an immigrant, would also be hurt by her husband's words.
But Theallet doesn't seem to notice the obviously sexist undertone to her statement. By calling for all designers to boycott Melania Trump over the actions and words of her husband, she is calling for the continuance of sexism. Trump herself has come out many times to say that the campaign was causing friction in her relationship with her husband and openly stated that she disagreed with her husband's views. Just as Clinton shouldn't be judged for what her husband said and did while he was in office, Trump should not be blamed for what her husband said and did in his campaign.
Image Credit: John Fuller / Shutterstock
True feminism means true equality. The polarity of politics should never be an excuse to discriminate or treat women differently, especially when it is not even Melania Trump perpetuating rhetoric. She stands by her husband because that's exactly what she signed up for and it's exactly what Hillary Clinton did. It is absolutely not okay to judge either of them for what their husbands have done and this is a lesson that, hopefully, both liberals and conservatives alike will come to understand.
