Prepared by: Blerta Sejdija
The Brett Kavanaugh vote was a test of machismo. Machismo is more than just sexism, chauvinism or even misogyny; it’s the belief that men are superior to women. It also refers to the culture that enforces that belief, one which protects male domination and social standing through subjugation, stereotypes and a gentlemen’s agreement to have one another’s backs. Machismo also fuels violence against women and sustains the culture of impunity we’re witnessing today.
The USA has become a country where an extremist minority has seized power through anti-democratic means and is imposing their will on the majority. Media‘s unwillingness to tell that truth is massive, unending failure. I am not American, but I am disgusted at the absolute disregard for women and their trauma there. Wow, just wow. They preach equality but treat women as second class, weak, needy humans when in fact – speaking from my observations – is the farthest thing from the truth. Brett Kavanaugh has not been elevated, the Supreme Court has been lowered to fit him, and it had to be lowered tremendously to do that. Simply, the integrity of the Supreme Court is shattered.
It’s never easy to reveal you’ve been assaulted. It’s never easy to explain why the news is so numbing. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary committee was nothing less than heroic. Listening to her recount her experience was moving, and for those who are survivors of sexual abuse, re-traumatizing. For many women, her appearance was galvanizing, and it resulted in a flurry of news coverage about the effect the hearings will have on the “women’s vote.” Padma Lakshmi shared her story of a 1968 sexual assault for the first time, she was inspired to do so in response to the political rhetoric surrounding the Brett Kavanaugh nomination, and bolstered by women sharing their own stories of #WhyIdidntReport. She perfectly described the situation by saying; Some say a man shouldn‘t pay a price for an act he comitted as a teenager. But the woman pays the price for the rest of her life, and so do the people who love her. As an activist for women‘s rights, speaking from my own experiences with women who were or are victims of sexual assault, they hardly ever find courage to speak up on this matter. And this case that caught media‘s eyes tells you exactly why they don‘t have the courage to do so. Women are never taken seriously, neither by such powerful body as Supreme Court. So, can you imagine how victims of such crime feel now? In 21st century? Who would ever think that women in 2018 will be still marginalized?
“The supreme court must never be viewed as a partisan institution,” wrote the man who claimed he was the victim of a vast leftwing conspiracy. “The justices do not sit on opposite sides of an aisle. They do not caucus in separate rooms. I would be part of a team of nine, committed to deciding cases according to the constitution and laws of the United States. I would always strive to be a team player.” Yes, we know Brett. You told Democrats “what goes around comes around”. You’re the best team player the conservative movement could wish for, and that’s exactly why they fought so hard to get you on the court for the rest of your living days.
Beat Sexism 