By Tatiana Flowers
By Tatiana Flowers
Rabat – Donald Trump has angered scores of people on many occasions, often making derogatory statements about Muslims, Mexicans, people with disabilities, and women, and once again, he is under vicious scrutiny, following his latest controversial comments.
The problem arose after Trump commented on a sexual harassment case, which accuses one of his long time friends, Roger Ailes, the former Fox News founder and CEO, who recently resigned following the accusations against him.
A columnist with USA Today questioned Trump about a comment he had made in a previous interview with NBC. During that interview, Mr. Trump said he “felt sad” for Ailes, and that the women accusing him of sexual harassment were just “complaining.” He continued by questioning the truthfulness of the women’s allegations.
Kirsten Powers, The USA Today reporter continued by asking Trump if his response would remain the same had this happened to his daughter, Ivanka Trump. He said, “I would like to think she would find another career or find another company if that was the case.”
Media outlets, feminists, and human rights activists erupted on social media, bashing Trump, calling him a “victim blamer, misguided, and tone deaf.” Others added, that it’s unrealistic and sometimes impossible for women to simply find another job after being sexually harassed.
But it doesn’t stop there.
As people continued to criticize Trump all over social media, Eric Trump, his second son, decided to comment, defending his father according to The New York Times.
“I think what he’s saying is, Ivanka is a strong, powerful woman. She wouldn’t allow herself to be subjected [to such behavior], he said. “And by the way, you should take it up with human resources, and I think she would, as a strong person.”
Ivanka Trump is a mother, entrepreneur, businesswoman, writer, and former model. She has remained active in her father’s presidential campaign, even commenting at the RNC on his behalf. The public isn’t used to hearing her comment on topics like sexual harassment, but now, since her brother and father have pulled her into this debate, she very well may have to. However, the New York Times said an email requesting her comment has remained unanswered.
Gretchen Carlson, the former Fox News anchor who accused Roger Ailes of sexual harassment, responded to the uproar on Twitter today, “Sad in 2016, we’re still victim blaming women. Trust me I’m strong,” she wrote.
Kirsten Powers, the USA Today columnist, as aforementioned, wrote an op-ed reflecting on the interview, supporting the victims of sexual harassment. In it, she said, “Most women don’t have the financial resources of Ivanka. They can’t afford to quit their job without another in hand, something that is impossible to do when you are under contract and forbidden to speak to competitors. Most importantly, why should a woman be expected to upend her career just because she ended up in the crosshairs of some harasser,” she wrote.
“It’s not a “theory” that sexual harassers are found in any work place. It’s a fact. I’ve been harassed or on the receiving end of sexist and inappropriate behavior almost every place I’ve ever worked,” Powers wrote.
Fatima Goss Graves, the senior vice president at the National Women’s Law Center, added, “Employees who do experience harassment often don’t report it because they fear retaliation, they fear professional or social penalties, they worry that they will be blamed for the harassment. There are social and emotional costs. There are longstanding career costs, Graves said to the New York Times.
“Harassment isn’t about someone being weak or strong or asking to be harassed. If it was as simple as being a stronger person, it would probably be an easier problem to solve.”
