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Sexism

Public disputes concerning sexism, gender stereotypes, and alleged unequal treatment based on sex or gender.

Related cases

Case

Laura Loomer’s remarks about Angie Nixon and other Black women in politics

Laura Loomer described Florida Democratic Senate nominee Angie Nixon and four other prominent Black women using the word “ghetto” and a gendered slur, said the stereotype exists, and later defended the wording as an accurate description of Nixon’s conduct, race, and ideology. Nixon and political figures and commentators across party lines called the remarks racist, sexist, degrading, offensive, or vile. The dispute concerns whether Loomer’s stated political criticism can be separated from the racial and gender stereotypes used in the original and follow-up statements.

Case

Jon Ossoff’s travel with Natalie remark about Donald Trump and Natalie Harp

At an Atlanta reelection rally, Senator Jon Ossoff said President Donald Trump did not want to do the work of the presidency and instead wanted to build a ballroom and “travel with Natalie” on a Qatari aircraft. Trump allies accused Ossoff of misogyny and of implying an affair with White House aide Natalie Harp. Ossoff did not apologize and said senior White House aides are powerful taxpayer-paid public officials whose influence is fair to scrutinize.

Statements

May Mailman

Role at the time: Former Trump policy official and commentator

Mixed or conditional

Responding to

Loomer’s remarks about Nixon and the other women were racist and misogynistic stereotyping rather than legitimate political criticism.

"Yes. Go condemn Laura Loomer."
Why we used this label

Contains an explicit condemnation but pairs it with minimizing and consistency arguments.

Moira Donegan

Role at the time: Columnist

Mixed or conditional

Responding to

Ossoff’s remark was sexist and misogynistic because it reduced a female White House aide’s professional role to a sexual implication.

"more encouraged by Ossoff’s pugnaciousness"
Why we used this label

Approval with reservations.

David Axelrod

Role at the time: Democratic political strategist

Mixed or conditional

Responding to

Ossoff’s remark was sexist and misogynistic because it reduced a female White House aide’s professional role to a sexual implication.

"I thought that the attack was tough, fair, pointed. I thought the ‘with Natalie’ part was gratuitous and unnecessary and distracted and detracted from the attack."
Why we used this label

Expressly splits approval of the political argument from disapproval of the personal phrasing.

People with useful coverage

Mario Díaz-Balart

Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Florida.

1 case and 1 statement

Laura Loomer

Far-right political activist, commentator, and ally of President Donald Trump.

1 case and 2 statements

LaMonica McIver

United States representative from New Jersey.

1 case and 1 statement

Audie Cornish

American journalist, broadcaster, and CNN anchor.

1 case and 1 statement

Abby Phillip

American journalist and anchor of CNN NewsNight.

1 case and 1 statement

May Mailman

Attorney, commentator, and former Trump administration policy official.

1 case and 1 statement

Isaiah Martin

Democratic political activist and commentator.

1 case and 1 statement

Shermichael Singleton

Republican political strategist and CNN political commentator.

1 case and 1 statement

Ben Crump

American civil-rights attorney known for representing families in prominent police-misconduct and discrimination cases.

1 case and 1 statement

Wes Moore

American politician serving as governor of Maryland.

1 case and 1 statement

Rashida Tlaib

United States representative from Michigan.

1 case and 1 statement

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