Editorial: The trait Trump and Pence share: chauvinism

The Republican National Committee knows it has a “women problem.” In fact, it used those exact words in its autopsy of the 2012 presidential campaign, concluding the party must “improve its efforts to include women voters.” So how has it fared?

A Washington Post-ABC News poll released in June found 77 percent of women had an unfavorable impression of Donald Trump. Though hardly a surprise, it raises the obvious question: Who are the 23 percent who find Trump “favorable”? All women should be horrified that a candidate who routinely demeans and mocks the appearance of females can get this close to the White House in the 21st century.

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Women certainly know sexism comes in many forms. From a lack of equal pay to workplace discrimination to condescending comments in daily life, equality is simply not a reality. And women are familiar with the “good-old-boy-I’d-date-my-daughter-and-I’m-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-women” attitude that Trump exudes.

But for those who have yet to get their fill of chauvinism, now the former co-owner of the Miss USA pageant has selected a vice presidential candidate to make your cup runneth over: Mike Pence. The Indiana governor has taken humiliating and punishing women to new levels in his home state.

Pence garnered national attention in March for signing a bill that bans abortion if a woman requests it due to a fetus having Down syndrome or “any other disability.” She could terminate a pregnancy if the fetus is afflicted with a lethal illness, but would have to inform the state.

The law ultimately encourages women to forgo fetal testing, lie to doctors, seek abortions outside the state or delay the procedure. It discourages doctors from performing abortions and prevents scientists from obtaining otherwise discarded fetal tissue for research. That’s because Pence has other plans for this tissue: A funeral. The bill he signed requires it to be buried or cremated.

The Indiana law, which a federal judge recently blocked, was too much for even some conservative Indiana lawmakers. Several, including Republicans who had authored anti-abortion legislation in the past, argued vehemently against it because it lacks compassion and demeans women.

“A Trump-Pence ticket should send a shiver down the spine of women in this country,” said Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “Donald Trump just sent a message to women of America: Your health and your lives are not important.”

And neither are your rights. Or you.

Trump could have chosen any number of individuals for a vice presidential candidate. Considering all the criticism he has received for making sexist comments, one might have even thought he’d choose a woman. Instead he chose another male who exhibits yet another type of disdain for females.

Perhaps Trump doesn’t realize women make up the majority of the electorate and voted at higher rates than men in the 2014 election. He may well prompt them to turn out in record numbers in November.

“Everything is flowing nicely”

Women from all over the country contacted Indiana Gov. Mike Pence to protest a law he signed in March severely restricting abortion rights and requiring a burial or cremation for fetal remains. And they protested in an unconventional way — thanks to prompting by a “Periods for Pence” Facebook page.

“Any period could potentially be a miscarriage without knowledge,” wrote the creators of the page. “I would hate for any of my fellow Hoosier women to be at risk of penalty if they do not ‘properly dispose’ of this or report it.” To ensure women “cover our bases, perhaps we should make sure to contact Governor Pence’s office to report our periods.”

Women were happy to oblige. 

One Indianapolis mother said she emailed Pence this question: “How would I know if my teenage daughter expels fetal tissue? Should I be checking my teenage daughter’s period or will the state be sending someone around monthly?"

Recognizing Pence “is so invested in my reproductive health and clearly understands my anatomy better than I do,” another asked his advice on whether to use tampons or menstrual cups.

Perhaps most memorable was the following conversation one woman reported having with a staffer in Pence's office: 

Them: "Good Morning, Governor Pence's office"

Me: "Good Morning. I just wanted to inform the Governor that things seem to be drying up today. No babies seem to be up in there. OK?"

Them: (Sounding strangely horrified and chipper at the same time) "Ma'am, can we have your name?"

Me: "Sure. It's Sue."

Them: "And your last name?"


Me: "Magina. That's M-A-G-I-N-A. It rhymes with--"


Them: "I've got it." 
*Click*

On Monday, the Facebook page had about 68,000 likes.