Thread by @monaeltahawy

“Women for Trump” aka Footsoldiers of the Patriarchy

https://twitter.com/brynnaquillin/status/1047970227483541504

These “Women for Trump”:
- Who indoctrinated them?
- Who taught them to submit to men?
- Why are they so brainwashed?
- Should I save them?

For decades, I’ve been asked by white people:
- What is wrong with Muslim women?
- Why do they put up with all that patriarchy and misogyny?
And here I am asking the same about these “Women for Trump” who are the 53% of white American women voters who voted for him.

Imagine if these “Women for Trump” were Muslim women. Imagine the headlines that would be written. Imagine the tsk-tsking about Muslim women who submit to oppression, vote against their own interests, etc etc

I’ve written lots about patriarchy & misogyny in my cultural & faith background & I’ve never asked anyone to “save us.” No one saves you. You save yourself.When - always a white - woman at my events asks me “what can I do to help women in the Middle East”I say”Nothing.Fight here”

It’s always easier for - always white - women to wonder how to help women “over there”than to ask how to fight for women “over here.”White patriarchs love to play “You should be grateful to live in America. It’s shit over there for women.” Yeah, it’s shit “over here” too, Mr. Man

It was esp rich when a white woman in Texas asked me “How can I help women in Egypt?” Ha! I reminded her how awful it is for women in Texas. Woman sitting next to her reminded her how awful Texas was re militarism & Christian fundamentalism.

God, guns, white men: that’s what’s indoctrinated these white women & because they’re white it’s not seen as indoctrination it’s considered “normal,” the default, “how things are.” While their equivalents in Muslim/other backgrounds are “abnormal” “brainwashed” and pathologized

A white woman in Midwest once asked my sister-in-law (an OBGYN physician who wears a headscarf) “Does your husband make you wear that?” pointing to her headscarf. Total fucking stranger in the supermarket. This Midwest state is full of white women Trump voters. Ah irony!

And so my sister-in-law has her answer ready now: “Does your husband make you vote for Trump?” My sister-in-law takes shit from no one, especially these white women Trump supporters.

And I promise you TwitterLand, much like the instant experts on Islam & Mideast who after a week in the region write books explaining us to ourselves, I shall write my book explaining white women to themselves. After 18 years in the USA, I’ve earned it.
#MakePatriarchyFearYou

And everything I say above is connected to this #WhiteSupremacy #Patriarchy

https://twitter.com/monaeltahawy/status/1047972032804216834?s=21

To clarify: I am not pitting women vs women. We are all oppressed by patriarchy but some women accept crumbs from that patriarchy in return for becoming its footsoldiers. Nothing protects you from patriarchy. Stay out of my way. Patriarchy is my target.
#MakePatriarchyFearYou

Those “Women for Trump” have accepted the benefits of white supremacy in return for being footsoldiers of patriarchy. They hurts us all. #MakePatriarchyFearYou

My sister just alerted me to the Bette Mildler fuckery. White women: JUST STOP. The above is part of my daily lectures to get you to STOP this fuckery.

Exhibit A: footsoldier of the patriarchy

https://twitter.com/debrawilson1581/status/1048047948486123522?s=21