Sunday, September 25, 2016

Set Fire to Gender Roles


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When you go to the website for Donald Trump's merchandise for the 2016 presidential campaign, one of the first items you see is a bumper sticker that says, "HRC, Liar. Liar. Pantsuit on Fire." The sticker is very straight forward with its message, arguing that Trump is the right choice because Hilary is a liar who wears pantsuits. However, the composition and phrasing hide more subtle digs and bigger ideas. 

 Trump is negatively using ethos by placing Hilary's logo and the words "liar. liar"  on their own separate line on the sticker so that even if you didn't read the rest of the phrase, it wouldn't matter because you already made the association between her campaign and lying. Accusing Hillary of being a liar has been Trump's fallback ethos throughout the entire campaign, constantly bringing up her email scams when he runs out of negative things to say, so it is only natural that it would appear on his merchandise instead of any mention of real policies or ideas. 

The next part of the phrase reads "Pantsuit on Fire". This part of the the phrase is extremely loaded with sexism and general Donald Trump ickiness. Going straight for her appearance is something that Hillary has had to deal with a lot in this campaign process. Comments are constantly being made about her pantsuits, weather in a light joking way or a mean one, the conversation is happening because she is a woman. What kind of clothing a male candidate is wearing is something rarely talked about and something definitely not carried this far into the election or focused on as a main argument against a candidate. Though cracks are made often about Donald Trump's spray tan or weird hair or tiny hands, to see a jab about another candidates clothes on an official merchandise website is a little scary. 

The fact that the election has gotten to a point of casualness and personal insults that Trump's campaign can  use pathos and play to people's emotions with something completely unrelated to any policies says a lot about the state of Americans and this election. People should be more focused on the bigger picture and the future of America and stop trying to pick apart candidates based on their appearance or they will end up voting for all of the wrong reasons. 

7 comments:

  1. I agree with you statement about how this election has come down to insults about suits and appearance. Also, i think it is really childish that Donald Trump has to go to Hillary's appearance as a way to attack her. Hillary Clinton is going after Trump politically while Donald Trump is attacking Hillary in a sexist and childish manner.

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  2. I like how you brought up the point about the clothing presidential candidates wear. I had never thought about that as something that could cause an issue or be made fun of in an election. I guess it is true that Trump has kind of run out of ways to make fun of Hillary. Your argument was very strong, nice job!

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  3. I agree with you about how Hillary Clinton has to deal with so many insults on her appearance, rather than anything substantive, because she is a woman. Like you said, Trump 's appearance is made fun of, but never by another politician. Your article was really good, i like that you addressed both the underlying sexism in the quote, as well as how Trump is not making substantive attacks.

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  4. I agree that Hillary has had to deal with people attacking her appearance because she's a woman, and I think you stated that really well in your analysis. Great job!

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  5. I agree that Hillary has had to deal with people attacking her appearance because she's a woman, and I think you stated that really well in your analysis. Great job!

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  6. I would concur with your argument. It appears, quite evidently, that Mr. Trump finds a great sense of leverage in scrutinizing the appearance and fashion preference of Mrs. Clinton. Trump's ability to persistently exploit such a seemingly insignificant aspect of another candidate, or human being, to such tremendous gain is, what I believe, to be a regrettable display of one of many facets to Trump's bigotry-laden approach to the political realm. Furthermore, I'd be willing to argue that Trump's political advantage that is often granted as a product to each of his unsubstantiated jabs at Clinton's appearance are due to an even more significant manifestation of sexual prejudice within the American public.

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  7. Today, the gender rules are being re-written and power dressing has come to the forefront. We have started talking about girls in Pantsuits. It is a major throwback trend which dates back to 60’s with designers like Foale and Tuffin, Luba Marks, and Saint-Laurent as the earliest promoters.
    more..

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