It distills down to: *THE BATTLE Of THE SEXES*

[Equinox Moon]

It has become increasingly clear to me as we go through this painful process, it is men against women. The hate is so deep, dishonoring and psychological.

I saw a poll on CBS today that shows the cutting divide of women walking with Hillary and men walking with trump.

I have seen such hateful bumper stickers in my city, it actually jarred me with shock.

Even when Hillary wins, we have a generation, or more, of healing work to do. Trump has caused so much damage.

[DetlefK]

1. Obama's presidency brought the hidden racism to the surface. Clinton will do the same for misogyny.

There was no problem with african-american politicians... until one made it into the White House.

Likewise there is no problem with female politicians... until one makes it into the White House.

[Equinox Moon]

5. I agree

Our political leaders are flushing up what was already there. Yet, in trumps case, he fuels the hatred and gives permission for people to act on it.

It it disturbing to see how many people could possibly agree with trump, and repubs for that matter. Our society is in dire need of:
**reverence for all life
**respect for all life
**honor for all life

[LAS14]

6. Unfortunately, this seems to be true.

[lapfog_1]

2. Trump is the end of the equation

He didn't cause this, he is the result of "this".

What this is is a generation or two or three of men being taught to objectify and degrade women.

I don't know where that comes from, right wing radio or society or reaction to the 60s and 70s and the equal rights fight and women in society not adhering to traditional roles. I don't know. But Trump is a symptom, the Bernie Bros are a symptom, the alt-right racism and misogyny is a symptom. There is something very sick in our society.

I know I wasn't raised this way... I would have had a long and uncomfortable chat with my mother had I ever talked or acted toward any woman the way that I see younger men act now. I am younger than The Donald, so I don't know where his attitude comes from.

[LiberalLoner]

3. +1

[C_U_L8R]

4. Trump happens

When you manifest Republican ideology from theory
into something real, you get Trump every time.

[LAS14]

7. I've come to the same unhappy conclusion.

As I've said before in this forum, I was in college when Betty Friedan published The Feminine Mystique. I've seen so much change that I was dumbfounded when what I thought was ancient, primitive prejudice bubbled to the service in a presidential campaign. Not just on the part of the Trump campaign, but on the part of the media, and of supposedly intelligent people like David Brooks criticizing Hillary for being "unpleasant and ungracious" at a town hall on national security, for crying out loud. It's clear we still have a very long way to go.

Part of Clinton's success in the debate is that she finally gave in and stopped behaving like another human being on a stage of human beings and began using weapons long used in the battle of the sexes. Smiles. (They asked for smiles, OK, they got 'em!) Kindly condescension, like a teacher with an obstreperous toddler, etc. etc. Fortunately she's so smart that she learns and does what's necessary. It makes me cringe that it's necessary.

[Equinox Moon]

13. It begins by recognizing it

That is what I think. We need to help each other see it and correct our own preconceptions.

[bettyellen]

14. Yes! And she knew there was no "win" to be had by demanding the mods do their job....

So she accepted it gracefully and let the man judo flip himself. Smart, but sad. What happens when the next debater can make good use of their time? She will have to use another strategy.

[Il_Coniglietto]

8. I agree. Which isn't to say all men support Trump

as that clearly isn't the case.

But the majority of American men do support Trump, and it's quite obvious that their hatred of Hillary Clinton is just as much (if not more) of a reason as their approval of Trump's views/behavior.

It was always going to take a supremely impressive woman who could rise above it all to convince America to elect a female president. As many firsts do, she was going to take the brunt of the derision, anger and vitriol for being a woman stepping out of her "place."

The same is true of Barack Obama. We are nowhere near the "post-racial" society some would pretend exists simply because one extraordinary man was voted the first black president (especially when he was replacing one extraordinarily mediocre man, to say the very least).

When (and I strongly believe it is when) Hillary Clinton wins in November, the misogyny will get even worse (and I hope the men on our side will attack sexism when they see it--and even when they don't).

But nothing has amazed me more about Hillary than her ability to keep fighting when all others would have collapsed from exhaustion. THAT is what it means to be presidential.

[Equinox Moon]

17. "When Hillary wins in November..."

I hope the men on our side will attack sexism when they see it...

Which unfortunately is all the time.

[Mamajami]

9. Trump and Johnson are living proof of how the system is really, really rigged in favor of "privilege

and rigged against blacks, other minorities, and women..

For decades the talking point against Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity was

It's not about race or sex but about being the best QUALIFIED WITH THE MOST EXPERIENCE.

Well this election proves that isn't true and we know it never was true if you were in the workplace for the last 40 years.

Qualified blacks, other minorities and women were routinely passed over in favor of white men, less qualified, less experienced, and less educated.

It is a battle of the sexes more than anything this time around. All you have to do is consider the opposition.

[bettyellen]

15. And it is telling that all her opponents assumed they could show up unprepared....

HA nope.

[Ratty]

10. As a man

I'll admit to resisting the notion that opposition to Clinton is rooted in sexism. I've seen the usual suspects tweeting about Hillary's appearance or her smile or her voice and figured well that's just more of the same from them. But the more I thought about it the more sexism I started seeing. Case in point: probably the most popular caricature of Clinton (think every SNL Clinton sketch ever) is a maniacal drive to someday be president at all cost, that she deserves it, it's rightfully hers. As one not easily offended by humor when it's not given in a hateful vein, I always found some of that funny. Then I started really thinking about it and realized that bit wouldn't go over if it were a man. Her drive, ambition, willingness and stamina to do what it takes to win is seen as distasteful in a woman but something admirable in a man. Yeah, I guess I'm a little slow.

Once I had that AHA moment I'm seeing it everywhere and man do I admire her more than ever. What an impossible uphill battle she's facing every single day.

[Equinox Moon]

12. Good for you

I appreciate your post and honesty, with us and yourself.

Sexism can be subtle or blatant, just as race racism. It does require awareness and actually noticing it.

[bettyellen]

16. Which is sadly why it has to get worse before it gets better. So many refuse to see the disconnect -

Or downplay it a great deal. I'm glad you have seen the light- try and be vocal about it when you se it and support your female coworkers. They get this shit all the time at most workplaces too.

[bluestateguy]

11. I'll take Bobby Riggs to Trump ANY day

nt