Source: thecut.com |
Since Donald Trump launched his Presidential Campaign back in
2016, Melania Trump has been kept in her husband’s shadow for majority of the
time. Except for when she is so viciously shamed. Yes, her choice in husband is
not the best to say the least. Yes, she has often dismissed her husband’s
sexism as merely “boy talk”. But does hurling shameful comments and threats
towards her make you any better?
Now she is seen as the woman perched on Donald Trump’s
shoulder, but before all of this, Melania was a model. This came at a price,
however. In attempts to dig at President Trump, Melania’s nude modelling
photos, taken in her 20s, have frequently been plastered across newspapers
worldwide. In effect saying, “How could any First Lady of ours have behaved
like that?” People have used these photos to dismiss her as some type of trophy
wife at her husband’s disposal. She has become a “thing”, an “accessory” to
Donald, rather than her own person.
Another significant event, in which people have
attacked/ridiculed Melania, was Gigi Hadid’s impression of the First Lady
during the 2016 American Music Awards.
“I love my husband, President Barack Obama and our children
Sasha and Malia,” Hadid said through an exaggerated pout and Eastern European
accent. She added that had been working hard all week to “get her face right.”
Source: metro.co.uk |
Her impression was met with laughter and applause in the
crowd but viewers at home responded with shock, many saying that this was
completely inappropriate, especially as both of Hadid’s parents are also
immigrants.
Perhaps it’s time to stop using Melania Trump as a way of
attacking President Trump, despite how much we may despise and disagree with
everything that comes out of his mouth, and start treating her as her own person,
accountable for her own actions. Look at their Twitter accounts for example. Melania
Trump has tweeted four times this week to encourage her followers to continue
to donate to victims of recent hurricanes and has addressed her appreciation of
Humanitarian Aid worldwide. President Trump, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to
know when or what to tweet, rather using it like a bored teenager and posting multiple
times a day. Just 15 hours ago, he criticised Hilary Clinton on the money she
spent as part of her Presidential Campaign but has failed to encourage hurricane
donations like his wife.
Melania seems to know how and when to use her platform
positively, so let’s talk about that. Let’s talk about how often she has talked
about tackling online bullying, despite her husband being one of the biggest bullies
online. Let’s talk about the fact that she can speak six languages despite being
an ‘immigrant’. Why are we so adamant on ignoring the actions she takes
independently? Why is it that her appearance, accent and former career are
being used as a way to attack her husband? Surely Trump's politics, blatant
sexism and obvious racism should be enough for one to criticise him.
Sure, you may argue that she shouldn’t have married Trump and
that she knew what she was getting into, and yes, who we choose to associate
ourselves with can speak volumes about our own character but equally, it is
wrong to judge Melania Trump by her accent, her money, her body and her
questionable taste in life partner. She deserves to be judged on her own
accord, by her own actions and not as an extension of her husband.
The majority of us hate the way Trump degrades women to
objects, but slut shaming his wife is, in effect, doing the same thing. Defending
Melania Trump from being wrongfully ridiculed does not mean you are defending
Donald Trump and you can certainly be anti-Trump without shaming the First
Lady.
Thank you for reading!
Aman
Thank you for reading!
Aman
"Thank you for reading!" No Problem
ReplyDeleteThis was the best piece of writing I have ever read, it completely changed my point of view about women.
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