Page 11 - GIRLS' LOCKER ROOM
P. 11
“Locker Room Talk”
In this most recent presidential election, Donald Trump came under fire when a tape of him was released making sexually vile and derogatory comments about the women he encountered. This tape was littered with words that public media is not allowed to speak uncensored, including the infamous statement: “Grab them by the pussy”. What was the excuse this male candidate used in order to diminish the scandal?
“This was locker room talk.”
Locker room talk. An excuse I, and many other women, have heard countless times in defense of men. A phrase used to excuse lewd male behavior, and one that magically justifies mistreatment towards women.
The question arises: if boys have a version of locker room talk, do girls as well?
The answer: Yes.
At my public state university, on the back of every bathroom stall is a flyer listing information regarding steps to take if one has been sexually assaulted. At a campus with a very prevalent Greek life and nearly 50,000 students, the need for flyers such as this is not surprising. On these white sheets, taped to every door, lists numbers for local police, Sexual Assault Crisis Lines, and on-campus counseling services.
But girls at my university decided this was not enough.
By: Abby Thompson
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