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Women are pretty accustomed to getting crapped on by society, but sometimes the weight of sexism can be overwhelming. It's even more angering when the people who make sexist comments are those who are supposed to be representing the people in government. These seven horrifying things politicians have said about women's bodies are, unfortunately, very real.
This trend would be slightly less infuriating if there was any kind of equal representation for men and women in government. According to the Center for American Women and Politics, women barely reach 25 percent representation at any level of government. Not that these comments would be any more acceptable is women had more representation, but at least it wouldn't be adding insult to injury.
Still, however, it's simply never appropriate for a man to comment on what's acceptable for a woman to do with her body. Women are autonomous human beings who have the right to do whatever they want with their flesh sacks. Women don't deserve 99.99 percent of the things they have to put up with, especially from the very people who are supposed to fight for our rights. These seven comments are outrageous, but use them to fuel your productive liberal rage instead of letting them overwhelm you.
This Todd Akin Classic
The former congressman's infamous comment on his local Fox station blew up into a huge national story, as it should have. "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."
What Former Senator Harry Reid Said About His Colleague
"We in the Senate refer to Sen. [Kirsten] Gillibrand as the hottest member," Reid said at a 2010 fundraiser. Reid was Gillibrand's boss at the time, so this comment is totally workplace sexual harassment.
Another Former Congressman Was Disrespectful To Michelle Obama
Wisconsin Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner apparently felt the right and the need to comment on the First Lady's body, because that's totally acceptable! "She lectures us on eating right while she has a large posterior herself," Sensenbrenner said in 2011.
Former President Barack Obama Wasn't Perfect Either
Though he typically championed feminist policy and rhetoric, Obama got caught in a sticky situation when he compared then vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to a pig.
"You know you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig," Obama said, just a few days after Palin was nominated for the vice presidency. Though Obama may not have been intentionally referring to Palin, this was still an unfortunate incident that he should have avoided.
Former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell Apparently Thinks Women Only Care About Their Looks
Former Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a surrogate for Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign, thought the worst thing about all of Donald Trump's sexist comments on the campaign trail was that it would turn off female voters. "Trump's comments like, 'You can't be a 10 if you're flat-chested,' that'll come back to haunt him. There are probably more ugly women in America than attractive women. People take that stuff personally," Rendell said. Yup, makes sense — women are only politically active if they're offended about their looks.
Ted Cruz Asked Voters To Figuratively Spank Hillary Clinton
Cruz really compared Clinton to his five-year-old daughter and told voters that she deserved a spanking. Because infantilizing a veteran politician is ok if she's a woman!
This State Senator's Response To The Women's March
Let me say it one more time for the people in the back — MEN DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO COMMENT ON WOMEN'S BODIES, PERIOD, END OF DISCUSSION.
If you still don't get it, I'm not sure what to tell ya. Just remember: if you wouldn't say it to a man, you probably shouldn't say it to a woman.
