I find claims that Trump won thanks to sexism or misogyny very frustrating, for some of the reasons I outline here. How is it that one of the wealthiest, most successful and powerful women in the world is suddenly a victim? She lost on her merits. Women who believe there couldn’t be any reason other than a glass ceiling may consider some of these arguments.
Ultimately, there is sexism in declaring misogyny the reason for Clinton’s loss. If Hillary Clinton lost because she is a woman, could it not be said that her many prior wins were likewise because she is a woman? Where biological sex is the cause of failure, must it not also extend to being the cause of success? I’d say no to both.








I do not believe that Hillary Clinton lost on her merits. The double standard when comparing her qualifications, temperament, experience in government, and sound policies to her opponents sends a disturbing message to myself and all other women: you can be smart, but not too smart (you’re a policy wonk, un-relatable) , you can be powerful, but not too powerful (you’re unlikable), you can come to debates prepared and intellectually superior, you can list your accomplishments and still the media will focus on your pant suits. It is not much of an imaginative stretch to think about what would have happened to Clinton if even one of the scandals associated with Trump had been hers. As it was, there was ceaseless coverage of Benghazi and an email server, while all of Trumps failings and shady dealings with Russia and others were brushed over. The coup de grace: people voted for a man who bragged about sexual assault, normalizing this criminal behavior and sending the message to men everywhere that grabbing a woman by the genitals and trying to kiss them is just something guys do. If that isn’t sexist and misogynist, I don’t know what is. I am a Christian, I believe in the right to life, but after this election, I don’t think I will ever vote for a Republican again. I think it is wrong to focus on one issue to the exclusion and ignorance of everything else.