NOW to Media: Stop Reducing Women Candidates to Sex Objects

National Organization for Women website ^ | October 28, 2010 | National Organization for Women

[MichiganConservative]

NOW to Media: Stop Reducing Women Candidates to Sex Objects Statement of NOW President Terry O'Neill

October 28, 2010

Sexist, misogynist attacks against women have no place in the electoral process, regardless of a particular candidate's political ideology.

Today the tabloid website Gawker published an anonymous piece titled "I Had A One-Night Stand With Christine O'Donnell" that takes the routine sexual degradation of women candidates to a disgusting new low. NOW repudiates Gawker's decision to run this piece. It operates as public sexual harassment. And like all sexual harassment, it targets not only O'Donnell, but all women contemplating stepping into the public sphere.

NOW/PAC has proudly endorsed women's rights champion Chris Coons, O'Donnell's opponent in the Delaware Senate race, and finds O'Donnell's political positions dangerous for women. That does not mean it's acceptable to use slut-shaming against her, or any woman.

NOW has repeatedly called out misogyny against women candidates, and this election season is no different. Let me be honest: I look forward to seeing Christine O'Donnell defeated at the polls, but this kind of sexist attack is an affront to all women, and I won't stand for it.

### For Immediate Release Contact: Mai Shiozaki w. 202-628-8669, ext. 116, c. 202-595-4473

[PistolPaknMama]

NOW still exists? Who knew? /s

[Pikachu_Dad]

Nope... It is just their way of continuing to spread the story by pretending to oppose it.

They did repeat all of the nasty allegations after all.

[Persevero]

I am amazed. Prominent female candidates have been publically branded “whores” “bitches” and “witches” this election cycle. Talk about misognynism. Wake up, so called feminists.

[Moonman62]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t this the absolute FIRST TIME that NOW has said ANYTHING about the scurrilous attacks on any of Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, or Christine O’Donnell?

Or the lady who's running for governor of South Carolina.

[malkee]

You can add sexist to your tagline.

[malkee]

You can add sexist to your tagline.

[malkee]

I think Christine took a really low and hard hit. It was to humiliate her through her sexuality...may as well tossed a big old red A on her chest...humiliation.

I disagree with this. It was an ATTEMPT to humiliate her. But it doesn't work. After all, she's the one who refused to have sex with the guy. He's the one who was humiliated.

[Jimmy Valentine]

They are irrelevant.

Just a bunch of saggy titted, crepey throated, sour faced, old commie lesbians.

[sauropod]

I refer to that group as the “Society Of Women” or the “Club of Women.”

[iopscusa]

WOMEN LIBS ARE commies they have nothing to offer otherwise.

[bjorn14]

NOW is so two-faced, they still got two digs in hoping the SLUT-SHAMED Christine LOSES.

[Pollster1]

They never reduce Hillary, Pelosi, and Boxer to sex objects. I can’t imagine why that is.

[death2tyrants]

Good point!

[Grunthor]

“You can add sexist to your tagline.”

Proudly!

[Popman]

Humm, I missed NOW defense of Sarah Palin when she was accused by the rabid moonbat hateful left that Bristol was Trigs mother and she did not actually give birth to him.