Dear Mr. Trump,
I have been following this election quite closely, as it has been only a small amount of time in which I have been able to make my voice heard legally in this country by voting, and it is quite an exciting and powerful feeling. From the start of the election, I have tended not to prefer your opinions or side with your plans to make America great again. As the election has progressed, the worry and disgust resonating in my brain has increased with everything that has come out of your mouth-- whether it be regarding immigration or your thoughts on women. My dislike for you has been exponentially increasing day by day as I wake up and check the news headlines.
I woke up the other day and saw that in the past you decided that since you had money, power, and fame that it is perfectly benign to grope women, or as you like to elegantly describe it, "grab them by the pussy." You defended yourself, saying that all men do this. It's "locker room talk."
I am here to tell you, Mr. Trump, that respectable men do not speak of doing this, nor do they take part in actions such as so. They respect the boundaries of women's bodies. Women like myself across the country are fighting every single day to equalize their bodies, brains, and entire beings so that pigs like you realize that you have no right to touch us.
People like you, Mr. Trump, are the reason that my father encourages me to take self-defense classes. You are the reason that when I walk alone I have my pepper spray loaded in one hand and my keys between my knuckles in the other. You are the reason that my pace increases when I am walking and a man becomes uncomfortably close. You are the reason that I cannot have trust in other people.
By saying things like these on a public platform, you encourage other men to behave as so. You may not literally be engaging in these actions, but verbally expressing your consent to behave like this allows disgusting behavior from those who admire you.
By saying things like this, Mr. Trump, more women become uncomfortable in the presence of men, ready to defend themselves at any time. More women are afraid to walk alone. More women are afraid to go out and enjoy their time. More women are afraid.
By saying things like this, you reverse the immense progress women have made for themselves within the United States to promote equality of the sexes. You portray men as pigs and women as trophies. You demean the character of every gender.
So thank you, Mr. Trump, for telling me at an age where I am discovering everything about myself and the world that I cannot trust men; that although I am in school and spending hours upon hours learning my material, I am in no way equal to men-- I will always be seen as a piece of meat. Thank you for degrading, women, across the country. You sure have accomplished instilling fear in millions of Americans in a brand new way.
I am afraid and absolutely disgusted by people like you, Mr. Trump. Thank you for ruining my adolescence with feelings such as this.
Sincerely,
A 19-Year-Old Woman
