I am a person of color with a cadre of college educated Caucasian female acquaintances and friends. The majority of them are staunch progressives who are willing to stand up for the rights of people who are Muslim, black, Latino, women, LGBT, etc. Caucasian women represent a significant percentage of the members who make up the Diversity and Inclusion Council at my place of work, and they were instrumental in my ascension to the position of chairman of this group. These women, and the millions of others that are like them, are vital contributors to causes that promote tolerance and acceptance of traditionally marginalized groups.
The election of Donald Trump as president shows that the majority of white females are either antagonistic or ambivalent to the plight of these marginalized groups. During his campaign for president Trump bragged about his predatory behavior towards woman; he constantly disparaged the lives of millions of black Americans; he referred to Mexican people as rapists, and he called for a Muslim ban. He proved himself to be a nasty and uncaring man, but fifty-three percent of white women voters pulled the lever for Donald Trump anyway.
I’ve heard that some of the white women at my place of work who voted for Trump did so out of concern for their own families. That is certainly a viable reason to vote for a candidate, and they were probably speaking the truth. But I believe that many of their concerns spring from a well of racial and religious anxiety. Their vote for Trump, who has projected animus and vitriol towards marginalized groups for the entirety of his life, was a byproduct of that anxiety.
We are nearly three months into the Trump presidency, and he has proven himself to be a uniquely corrupt and incompetent president. He has also signed executive orders and advocated for legislation that is cruel and malicious, executive orders and legislation that endanger the lives of mothers and their children; he is embroiled in scandal that threatens his presidency; and he has been proven to be unconcerned for the same people who propelled him into office.
Do these women regret their vote? I hope so. Are they looking for ways to distract their attention away from the debacle that their votes have helped to bring to fruition? Actress/comedian Tina Fey is urging them not to. Per the Huffington Post:
“A lot of this election was turned by white, college-educated women who now would maybe like to forget about this election and go back to watching HGTV,” Fey said. “I would want to urge them to like, ‘You can’t look away’ because it doesn’t affect you this minute, but it’s going to affect you eventually.”
“Again, open two windows. Do watch HGTV,” she added. “[Don’t] turn our attention away from what is happening.”
That’s right. They should not look away. Trump’s white college educated female voters need to pay attention to what is going on because Trump will come around to enacting policies that will hurt them too.
www.huffingtonpost.com/...