Opinions

Trump's tasteless remarks about women shouldn't deepen gender divide

I always considered myself to be "Trans Gender." No, it has nothing to do with bathrooms. My biological apparatus matches both my birth certificate and sense of reality. What I mean is that I've always looked at things from an essentially gender-neutral perspective. While I suppose there are some quirky differences between the ways men and women view the world, and while I admire the marketing savvy of the author of "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus," I never put much stock in the idea that our minds were fundamentally different. I'd laugh in the faces of men who'd suggest that girls didn't "get" math, even though one look at my grades would single me out as the pathetic exception that proves the rule. I also have a problem with the idea that women are more naturally inclined to be nurturers than men, and every woman who supports unlimited abortion rights are my Exhibits A through Z.

We are not simple functions, or victims, of our nether regions.

But get ready for the Gender Wars, my friends. We've already seen a few skirmishes between Donald Trump and female op-ed writers, Donald Trump and female television journalists (God forbid I'd call them "broad-casters"), Donald Trump and female GOP candidates, and Donald Trump and female Democratic candidates.

It appears that The Donald is going mano a mano with 51 percent of the U.S. population, and is winning.

That's right, he's winning. And you know why he's winning? Because among the 51 percent of women supposedly being assaulted, a large proportion are thinking creatures who do not feel singled out for his obnoxious attention. We've seen what he's done to Jeb, Marco, Chris (before he loved him,) John, Lindsey and, most especially, poor "Lyin' Ted." Women aren't special. We have eyes and ears. We really don't think Trump is on a crusade against the ladies.

We just think he's one of the many words that rhyme with "ick."

I say this as a woman who really despises the conduct and content of the man who is the presumptive nominee of my newly adopted (and soon to be abandoned) political party. It is rare that I say "never," but the only thing that could ever make me even think of voting for Trump is if Hillary Clinton threatens to appoint non-lawyer Cecile "We Don't Sell Body Parts" Richards to the U.S. Supreme Court. But it's a long shot.

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That said, I'm not turned off by Trump because of his alleged misogyny. While he isn't the most chivalrous of fellows, the fact he has absolutely no time for anyone who vaguely disagrees with him is proof positive the man is an equal-opportunity maligner. Gender really is irrelevant in his rants.

That's not to say that some of his comments, including his references to Megyn Kelly's menstrual cycle, aren't disgusting. They are tasteless.

But when Hillary starts making her sly, dog-whistle references to how Trump demeans the sisters, I head straight for the Dramamine. Part of it is that she didn't care too much about the sisters "dating" her husband.

Mostly, it's about the lazy thinking that goes into the "war on women" shtick, the fraudulent and awkward attempt to enlist people of vastly divergent philosophies, principles and experiences into one happy sorority of solidarity.

Frankly, the only thing that I have in common with Clinton and the type of woman who thinks like her is my plumbing (and even that should become irrelevant with the impending hot flashes.) She, and they, have nothing for me.

But I'm supposed to be offended that Donald Trump is making sexist remarks because I'm a girl. For a group that has long lobbied for equality between the sexes, this seems to me like a return to the days of pink-is-for-girls-and-blue-is-for-boys.

There is real misogyny in the world, and I've experienced it, usually from other women and the liberal men who want to date them. I'm used to being called ugly, stupid, incoherent, a bad writer and lots of equally unpleasant things, especially by the sort of people who otherwise are devoted to tolerance and diversity.

And I'm not stupid enough to believe that gender is irrelevant. Quite the contrary, I think it is extremely important, and that's why the whole idea of gender fluidity repels me. For example, I'm frightened at how willing we seem to just ignore the negative impact of this bathroom nonsense, but it's like the frog that sits in a pot of water. If you turn up the heat slowly, the frog gets acclimated to the boiling temperatures, and doesn't jump out in time to save itself.

That's where society is right now. Legalize sodomy? Turn up the temperature. Same-sex marriage? Make it a few degrees hotter. Caitlyn Jenner? Your tea is almost ready. Transgender bathrooms? Full boil; sayonara.

But recognizing and respecting gender is a lot different from using it as a badge of victimhood.

Trump is a creep. But he doesn't look below the waist when going in for the kill.

In a strange way, Donald Trump is an evolved human being who looks at people as either friends or enemies. Whether they stand up or sit down when doing their business is irrelevant.

So I say we all just demagnetize our woman cards and focus on what matters:

Will Bill Clinton's platform as "first lady" require parental consent?

Christine Flowers is a lawyer and a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Email, cflowers1961@gmail.com.

The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary@alaskadispatch.com. Send submissions shorter than 200 words to letters@alaskadispatch.com or click here to submit via any web browser.

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