On Sunday, President Trump’s interview with British journalist Piers Morgan aired. It was a fairly typical Q and A save for a portion that’s now gone viral. Morgan asked if Trump was a feminist. He responded. “No, I wouldn’t say I’m a feminist, that would be, maybe, going too far.
“I’m for women. I’m for men. I’m for everyone. I think people have to go out … and they have to win. And women are doing great, and I’m happy about that.”
By the reaction of the Left, one would have thought Trump said he thought women were the scourge of the earth who should remain shackled in chains for a lifetime of misery. From musicians and comedians to journalists, the progressive Left — arbiters of tolerance and purveyors of articulate speech — responded with name-calling and accusations.
trump IS NOT A FEMINIST⁉️— Cher (@cher) January 29, 2018
TRUMP: i’m not a feminist
US: pic.twitter.com/1SuPZwylKF— Jill Gutowitz (@jillboard) January 28, 2018
President Trump has declared he is NOT a feminist. He tells Piers Morgan (another giant meatball) No, I wouldn’t say I’m a feminist. I mean, I think that would be, maybe, going too far. I’m for women, I’m for men, I’m for everyone.’ Well, I guess that’s all settled.
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) January 28, 2018
Why is it so damn easy for Trump to say “I am not a feminist,” but so hard for him to say, “I am not a Nazi?”
— Myke Cole (@MykeCole) January 28, 2018
Of course Trump is not a feminist.
But the fact that he’s willing to say so… well, that’s a whole different thing entirely. And it might be worse.https://t.co/LqUakug83O
— Emma Vigeland (@EmmaVigeland) January 27, 2018
What’s odd about this reaction from the Left, particularly people calling themselves feminists, is that feminism was originally about equality. First, women fought for the right just to have a voice — to vote in America. Then they fought for the right to go into the workforce and be treated equally there, in society and in the eyes of the law. Feminism has actually always been about equality. Now, our president says, he doesn’t favor one gender above another and gets excoriated for it.
This is further proof that third-wave feminism — with its calls for 50/50 gender parity in all industries and as CEO’s — is not about equal representation to further diversity, but about equality just for equality’s sake, or even entitlement. Progressives think there should be as many women as men in industries like tech, business, politics, and media not because they have earned a place there or because they are qualified, but just because of their gender.
That’s the opposite of the original purpose of feminism, and it is not only disingenuous but dangerous. A person placed in positions of authority, just to merit some kind of workplace parity, may fail to meet the standards of the industry, or do as good of a job as someone more qualified, but a different gender.
Not only is the president right, that equality for all genders is more important than being a “feminist,” but even feminists should see that too. True feminism advocates for equality for all, not just women.
Nicole Russell is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. She is a journalist in Washington, D.C., who previously worked in Republican politics in Minnesota. She was the 2010 recipient of the American Spectator’s Young Journalist Award.
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