Ahhh, politics. Not everyone’s favorite topic, but as they quite literally govern our world, they’re important. With the 2020 election on the horizon, a pending impeachment of the sitting President, and international climate change strikes being spearheaded by children, there’s a lot to talk about. And no one loves to talk more than American conservative political commentator, Tomi Lahren.
If you’re unfamiliar with the name or her work, here’s a summary. Lahren hosted on TheBlaze where she gained national notice for video snippets titled “final thoughts,” oftentimes criticizing liberal politics. After working for Great American Alliance, an advocacy organization that supports Donald Trump, she joined Fox News and now hosts a talk show on Fox Nation. For reference, here’s Tomi’s “final thoughts” on the 2018 Women’s March, held on January 20, 2018 on the one year anniversary of the 2017 Women’s March.
By most people’s standards, Lahren is successful. She had her first talk show at only 22 years old and now at 25, she’s made it to one of the most coveted news networks. Further, she’s done so both within politics, which is a male dominated field, and within the Republican Party, a party notorious for historically having the fewest female politicians and political leaders. Perhaps then, Lahren’s success, of which she’s received positive feedback from her party, is partly due to her open criticism of feminism and women’s rights activism.
Lahren, who has openly called feminists “clueless,” “political puppets,” “vile” and “utterly disgusting” on a variety of occasions, states that the feminist narrative is solely about “gimme this,” in reference to money predominately given from the federal government, and “man bashing.” Though, yes, there are multiple interpretations to feminism, the legal definition of feminism is “a movement that campaigns for women’s rights and interests.” Which is why it’s quite ironic that Lahren, a woman, is criticizing and insulting generations of women who have fought for her right to vote, to own property, and work in a predominately male dominate field.
Further, a feminist hot topic, especially in conjunction with the “Me Too” movement, is the sexual objectification of women. Though a self-proclaimed anti-feminist, she herself is being sexually objectified, stripping her of the accomplishments and education she does have by reducing her to something simply to ogle at. When googling “Tomi Lahren” two of the six top options are, “40 Hottest Tomi Lahren Photos | Sexy Near-Nude Pictures,” and “Top 30 Hottest Tomi Lahren Bikini Pictures,” both of which are entirely centered around the objectification of her body.
Now I don’t want to be hypocritical myself, as a feminist, and be demeaning towards her as a woman. Though I strongly disagree with almost all of her views and opinions, I genuinely applaud her for her professional accomplishments and respect her first amendment right that allows her to speak her mind. I just also believe it’s high time she recognizes the women’s movement that allows her to do so. I suggest, Tomi, you go to your Fox dressing room in between making clips of your insulting rhetoric, and in your own words, “hold up mirrors and stare at the woman staring back” and ask yourself, “what clueless, vile, and utterly disgusting feminists got me here?”
ShoutOut! James Madison University 