Women Protest Donald Trump’s Words By Putting Them On Display

35 women painted some of Donald Trump’s most hateful, sexist comments on and near their bodies to show their impact, and that they’re not “just words.”

However he denies it (as he denies all sources of criticism), Donald Trump’s misogyny is no secret. He claims that he respects women and that we return that respect in kind. But his actions don’t speak to respect, nor does he give women a reason to treat him as our equal. Rather, Trump quite obviously speaks of and treats women like meat for his own personal consumption. There is no respect in putting your hands on a woman without her consent. There is no respect in talking about women as though we aren’t people.

To Donald Trump, we’re things–nothing more. This dehumanization of women feeds rape culture. Trump manages to victim-blame us and admit to sexual assault all in one fell swoop. And yet people are still debating his merits? Look, the man has no qualifications to be president. And at this point, he barely has the qualifications to be a human being. So it would seem that he’s on the same level upon which he dumps all women.

Trump’s rhetoric isn’t “locker room talk.” These aren’t “just words.” They are words which normalize the crimes committed against women. They encourage our silence and our fear. These words mark us as targets and make it seem acceptable to do so.

Image via Bustle

Women have had enough. These words are dangerous, and we’re here to prove it. Bustle collected images of 35 women, all of whom display Trump’s comments in some capacity. Whether on their bodies or on poster board, these women make these words stick in our mind’s eye.

Image via Bustle

Trump’s words cover this woman’s mouth and exposed skin. Because our exposed skin is for any man to touch, and we’re not allowed to say a word against him.

Are we supposed to cover up everything for our own protection? And even then, what difference does it make? When I was fourteen, I was at a state fair where a man more than twice my age followed me around. “How ya doin’?” he muttered whenever he got close enough. And he got too close, too often. I was wearing a hoodie and capris.

Image via Bustle

Every woman has a story–multiple stories–about men’s mistreatment. We’ve all been groped, abused, manipulated, and taken advantage of. When the world is filled with men like Donald Trump, there’s just no getting out of it. Our bodies don’t belong to us. This is our norm.

We have to second-guess what we wear, and half the time that’s not enough to save us. We have to be cautious of every man who comes our way. But at the same time, we have to be friendly and courteous and all smiles. Because that’s how we’ve been taught to deal with strange men–deny their advances with cool politeness at worst. Meanwhile, men often take that politeness as an invitation to continue.

I, for one, am sick of being polite. Donald Trump can run amok, spewing hateful sexism and calling it “respect,” and I can’t shut the likes of him down? He can determine how we’re treated, and I’m supposed to laugh it off? I can’t take charge of my body? I can’t keep groping hands away from me by any means necessary?

Nah. I’m over that. Our bodies belong to us, and us alone. Please do not touch the artwork.

Image via Bustle

Trump said the above regarding women in media. Our work and our opinions don’t matter. Our ass matters. Go figure Trump would say this. It’s not exactly out of his range. After all, he can’t comprehend the fact that women have something to say. We’re only receptacles for his sexual pleasure. Meanwhile, “ass” is something he can understand. He’s got enough of it in his personality to be intimately acquainted with the term by now.

Too harsh? Well, I’m sure Mr. Trump can take it. They’re just words, aren’t they? Just a little beauty shop talk.

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Check out Bustle for the full run-down of the photos. They’re a striking demonstration of the lasting impact words have. Especially when those words contribute to an already long-standing system of oppression. Nothing is “just words” when their influence is harmful.