How Feminism Has Actually HARMED Women

Kevin McCollough

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. - Oscar Wilde

Once upon a time, not all that long ago, women were treated differently than they are today. They were put on a pedestal, they were(mostly) treated like they were priceless objects, things to be protected/treasured. We were certainly not subjected to the treatment that Carrie Prejean is getting today at the hands of "men" like Keith Olbermann, Michael Musto and (of course) Perez Hilton. Ms. Prejean, you will recall, is woman who was asked by Mr. Hilton (in the Miss America pagent) her stand on same sex marriage. Ms. Prejean, gave an answer that Mr. Hilton did not approve of so and rather than show the tolerance that he demands out of people like Ms. Prejean, he went on a one "man" crucade to defame Ms. Prejean just for having an opinion. Not to be out done, Mr. Olberman and Mr. Musto turned the soundstage of MSNBC into a junior high school locker-room. Kevin McCollough has some of the "high"lights.....

Their criticism was beyond just differing on points of substance. Like pigs they wallowed in rhetorical feces, smeared it on their faces, as well as each others, and then belched it out across the airwaves.

On Friday night Musto, in particular, was extraordinarily girlish and cowardly:

"She's dumb and twisted, she's sort of like a human Klaus Barbie doll..."

"This is the kind of girl who sits on the TV and watches the sofa..."

"She thinks that innuendo is an Italian supository..."

"This girl is a ding-dong, I didn't even like her earrings..."

"Perez is the new me. Using the "C" word is something I would do..."

"Carrie Prejean really is getting something off her chest, but what she should get off is the price tag there..."

It was obvious that ettiquette was not a class taught at Cornell Ag- School (from which Mr. Olbermann graduated college). Then again, maybe that is why Mr. Olbermann got along as well as he did with the jocks when he attempted sports reporter.....that is how low the discussion turned.

To be fair to Messrs Hilton, Olbermann and Musto, they were not the only "men" who were doing their best to harm Ms. Prejean's reputation simply for truthfully answering a question. The fine folks at the Miss California pagent released Ms. Prejean's confidential medical records to the press (without her permission which is a HIPAA violation).

What, you may ask, does this have to do with feminism? It is simple...one of the core tenants of feminism is that women be treated the same as men in all things. Once upon a time, if a "man" had attacked a woman in this manner, the real men in her life (brothers, boyfriend, significant other and father) would have come to the defense of this young woman. They would have spoken out for her and challenged Hilton, Olbermann AND Musto to make those accusations about her in front of MEN who would defend her. Shoot they don't even have the intestinal fortitude to say these things to Ms. Prejean's FACE! Instead they hide behind the petticoats of punditry, flinging scurrilous accusatons against a woman that they do not want simply because she answered a "gotcha" question honestly. Today however, thanks to "equality" Hilton, Perez and Musto can claim that they would talk about anyone that way so there is nothing "special" about their mistreatment of Ms. Prejean. It's ok - she's our equal - she can defend herself.

Through out this whole sordid incident, Carrie Prejean has handled the slings and arrows that outrageous queens have thrown at her with a grace and aplomb that shines through the pettiness. Maybe, in the long run, that is the best defense that anyone could ever give her.