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I'm a feminist. I study rape culture. And I don't want Al Franken to resign. (Kate Harding)
Im a feminist. I study rape culture. And I dont want Al Franken to resign.
By Kate Harding November 17 Follow @kateharding
Kate Harding is co-editor of "Nasty Women: Feminism, Resistance, and Revolution in Trump's America" and co-host of the podcast Feminasty.
As a feminist and the author of a book on rape culture, I could reasonably be expected to lead the calls for Al Franken to step down, following allegations that he forced his tongue down a womans throat, accompanied by a photo of him grinning as he moves in to grope her breasts while she sleeps. Its disgusting. He treated a sleeping woman as a comedy prop, no more human than the contents of Carrot Tops trunk, and I firmly believe he should suffer social and professional consequences for it. But I dont believe resigning from his position is the only possible consequence, or the one thats best for American women.
Cynics on both the right and left will presume I am passing by this particular steam tray on 2017s smorgasbord of feminist outrage because Franken is a Democrat, and so am I. (I was even his proud constituent for two years.) In the most superficial sense, this is true. But its meaningless to say its because I am a Democrat without asking why I am a Democrat. If you understand what it means to be a Democrat today that is, why it makes sense to vote blue over red in this highly polarized political environment you can understand why it might not make the most sense to demand Frankens resignation, effective immediately.
I am a Democrat because I am a feminist who lives under a two-party system, where one party consistently votes against the interests of women while the other sometimes does not. I am not a true believer in the party itself nor in any politician. I am a realist who recognizes that we get two viable choices, and Democrats are members of the only party positioned to pump the brakes on Republicans gleeful race toward Atwoodian dystopia. Meanwhile, I recognize that mens harassment of and violence against women is a systemic issue, not a Democrat or Republican problem, a Hollywood problem, a sports problem, or a media problem. Its roots lie in a patriarchal culture that trains men to believe they are entitled to control womens bodies for sex, for sport, for childbearing, for comedy.
When you combine these things an awareness that the Democratic Party is no more or less than best of two, and an understanding that men in power frequently exploit women it becomes difficult to believe that Franken is the only sitting Democrat with a history of harassment, abuse or assault. The recent #metoo campaign demonstrated how normalized unwanted kissing and groping are in our culture. Donald Trump was caught on tape crudely admitting to both of those transgressions, and we made him our president. According to the CDCs National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 1 in 3 women experiences some sort of contact sexual violence in her life. Sexual harassment and assault are simply too widespread for Democrats to respond to Frankens offense with only Franken in mind: We need to respond in a way that helps us develop a protocol for meaningful change.
It would feel good, momentarily, to see Franken resign and the Democratic governor of Minnesota, Mark Dayton, appoint a senator who has not (as far as we know) harmed women. If I believed for one second that Franken is the only Democrat in the Senate who has done something like this, with or without photographic evidence, I would see that as the best and most appropriate option. But in the world we actually live in, Im betting that there will be more. And more after that. And they wont all come from states with Democratic governors and a deep bench of progressive replacements. Some will, if ousted, have their successors chosen by Republicans.
. . . .
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/11/17/im-a-feminist-i-study-rape-culture-and-i-dont-want-al-franken-to-resign/?utm_term=.7278adf81f96
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I'm a feminist. I study rape culture. And I don't want Al Franken to resign. (Kate Harding) (Original Post)
niyad
Nov 2017
OP
Al Franken has been strong in his efforts to stop victimization of women. I was worried about ...
marble falls
Nov 2017
#2
wryter2000
(46,037 posts)1. I regret
That I only have but one rec to give this OP.
marble falls
(57,079 posts)2. Al Franken has been strong in his efforts to stop victimization of women. I was worried about ...
the charges this last week but I honestly believe that they were out of proportion. Its really not my call as I am male, but I believe most women agree with you.
Paka
(2,760 posts)3. Old woman here who has faced her share of harassment,
and I totally agree with you. There is no comparison to this with some of the other harassment stuff now coming out. He has apologized and been accepted and that should be the end of it.
marble falls
(57,079 posts)4. I appologize for your mistreatment by people who look like me.
BlueMTexpat
(15,367 posts)5. Thanks for posting, Niyad!
I am also a feminist and I heartily concur with this OP.
There is no comparison and no equivalence insofar as Al Franken's actions are concerned with those of either Roy Moore or DJT.
Anyone who argues otherwise is simply wrong.
Period.
niyad
(113,275 posts)6. you are most welcome
rsexaminer
(321 posts)7. Not sure
I'm really conflicted about this. I think more information has to come out and be verified first.