In the aftermath of Trump’s inauguration, a devastating blow for women worldwide, a strange trend has occurred. Commentary and predictions on what a Trump presidency means for minorities has been accompanied by analysis of Melania Trump’s outfit. She wore a dark coat, black gloves and a wide brimmed hat, covering her eyes. Much has been made of her fashion choices by the media, especially after an awkward interaction with her husband where he appeared unable to kiss her due to the width of the hat brim. Speculations abounded that her choice of outfit sent a message of opposition to Trump’s inauguration and policies, with viral videos describing Melania as ‘one of us’.
Though many of these claims are light-hearted fun in a worrying time, they highlight a larger problem with liberal feminism. Melania Trump is no ally for women, much less for LGBTQ people facing erasure or immigrants facing deportation under Trump’s rule. In fact she is the opposite. Melania benefits from her husband’s accumulated wealth and power, both of which have come at the expense of minority groups. She continues to stand by a man found liable for sexual abuse, and a man who has said in no vague terms exactly how he feels about women. Why, then, are some so fixated on depicting her as one of many ‘girlbosses’—women who benefit from their proximity to power under the patriarchy—and why is this considered desirable?
Melania Trump is not the first, nor the most offensive example. Commenting on the possible election of far-right Italian politician Giorgia Meloni, Hillary Clinton stated in 2022 that “every time a woman is elected to head of state or government, that is a step forward.” Meloni is known for her refusal to distance herself from Italy’s fascist past, along with her party’s anti-abortion attitudes and 2022 manifesto which rejects the right to adoption or surrogacy for same-sex couples. No step forward for reproductive rights or queer women, then. Clinton herself has also been depicted as a darling of liberal feminism, despite her perpetuation of ‘imperial feminism’ in an attempt to justify regime changes in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has never been more clear that women occupying positions of power, whether politically or socially, does nothing by itself for the feminist movement.
Being a woman does not make you a feminist. Being a woman in power does not either. Modern feminism must stop looking for allies in those who benefit from existing power structures, who pander to patriarchy and perpetuate white saviour narratives. In fact, modern feminism must stop looking for icons at all. Idol worship does nothing for women continuing to struggle with the double burden of paid and expected unpaid labour, for women who suffer from the combined evils of racism, homophobia, transphobia and misogyny. Real, impactful feminism lies in grassroots organisation and mutual aid. True feminism is intersectional, collaborative and active. Passive admiration, especially when misplaced, can do nothing for women in the uphill struggle for meaningful change we currently face.
Image: People Protesting In Street by Chloe Simpson, 2019 // Unsplash Content License
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