MSNBC contributor Joan Walsh appeared on MSNBC Live on Sunday and attacked Ivanka Trump for not only briefly sitting in for her father at a G20 summit meeting, but for wearing a “girlie” dress while doing so.
The author of the book, “What’s the Matter with White People?”, believes that Ivanka’s “ornamental” dress was symbolic of “patriarchal, authoritarian societies” where daughters are “property”.
Walsh sai “I don’t mean to sound sexist” just prior to making comments that would likely have been condemned as sexist had they been directed at many women other than the President’s daughter.
“Right. With big bows on her sleeve. I mean, I don’t mean to sound sexist — it can be dangerous to comment on what women wear — but the fact that she sat in for her father in a dress that was so incredibly ornamental was such a contradiction in terms”, Walsh said. “And I think that what we see is that in patriarchal, authoritarian societies, daughters have great value — they are property. And the message that she is sending about her own value, about her place in the White House, and about the place of women in this administration, I think, are really frightening.”
Even host Thomas Roberts seemed concerned that Walsh might be opening herself up to backlash following the comments.
“Do you think you’re opening yourself up about the bows? Are you ready?”, asked Roberts.
Walsh continued to slam Ivanka’s choice in attire as being to “girlie” to take seriously, going as far as to say she can’t be fighting for equality for women while wearing a dress like that.
“That’s not a dress that’s made for work. That’s not a dress that’s made to go out in the world and make a difference. That is a dress that is designed to show off your girlieness, and, you know, God bless her, show it off, but don’t then tell us that you’re crusading for an equal place for women at the table because you’re not.”
“So you can’t be a feminist and be girlie at the same time?”, Roberts asked.
“You can be a feminist and be girlie, replied Walsh. “We all have our girlie days, but I think showing up, taking your fathers’s seat in a pink dress with big bows on the sleeves is really an interesting message. I also don’t know why H.R. McMaster and Rex Tillerson didn’t quit on the spot, that they wouldn’t sit in, that she would get to sit there. I mean, they’re playing — there’s some head games going on here, and I’m just gonna break it down. I know Twitter’s waiting for me, Thomas, but I’m giving you my unfiltered reaction.”
Watch above via MSNBC
[image via screengrab]
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