Sexual Harassment, Scary Clowns, and Pit Bull Bans

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show:

• A growing list of women have accused Donald Trump of sexual harassment. Natalia commented on the story from the People Magazine reporter who has accused Trump of physically attacking her in 2005. Niki pointed to how Amber Tamblyn’s recent Instagram post about sexual assault showed that women struggle with the shame in coming out about their abuse. Neil noted Eric Trump’s recent comments that his sister, Ivanka, “wouldn’t allow herself” to be sexually harassed in the workplace. Natalia recommended the Susan Faludi classic, Stiffed, for its examination of the backlash to feminism by young men. Natalia also commented on the work of Jennifer Baumgardner, including her book Manifesta and her documentary “It Was Rape.” Niki closed by commenting on Michelle Obama’s speech about the allegations against Trump.
• There’s a clown panic taking over the nation! But why are we so scared of clowns? Natalia sketched the history of clowning from ancient times, and Niki noted how Charles Dickens’ writings about the clown Grimaldi popularized the idea of the clown as a sad and troubled person.
• Montreal has passed a bylaw that bans pit bulls from the city. Neil discussed the changing reputation of pit bulls in the twentieth century, and Natalia commented on the frequent racist undertones of anti-pit bull sentiment.

In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:

• Natalia discussed the U.N.’s naming of Wonder Woman as its ambassador for gender equality.
• Neil commented on the new reality TV show “Finding Prince Charming.”
• Niki talked about Bill Clinton’s 2015 remarks on the history of the presidency.

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