#WomensMarch was disappointing
The premise of the march is something that everyone should agree with.
Women and men are equal. Women’s reproductive rights will be under attack under President Trump, and there is a rational fear about what this new administration will do. But the point ends there.
This entire march was used more as a platform to spew ridiculous claims about how women are oppressed, Trump is sexist, white people suck and racism is still a huge problem in this country.
Women aren’t oppressed, Trump isn’t sexist and racism isn’t a big problem in this country anymore. This march proved how third wave feminism poisons any kind of rational criticism you may have towards an individual.
Women don’t make as much as a man. They don’t have equal representation in government or STEM fields because of the choices they make in choosing their career. It’s as simple as that.
I am the only male in my opinion section on The Orion. I could easily make the claim that men are being discriminated against at The Orion, but I won’t because that would be a ridiculous thing to claim.
Trump made some inappropriate comments about how women let him do anything to them because he’s famous. This was followed by the famous “grab ’em by the p—y” line that everyone jokes about. It was very cringeworthy locker room talk, but not at all sexist.
There will always be racist individuals. Those aren’t the people who should be respected. There are programs like affirmative action that encourage students of color to go to universities. There are scholarships you get for just being African-American or a Latino. Just because there isn’t equal representation doesn’t mean that it’s a racist problem.
The point that bothers me the most is the glorification of the hijab. People are quick to talk about Islam as a peaceful and beautiful religion. They then forget that living as a woman in an Islamic country is one of the worst experiences in modern society.
The hijab is an instrument of sexual oppression that is forced on millions of women. If a Muslim woman does not wear a hijab, most people in Islamic countries will label her as a whore. The religion goes entirely against the beliefs of feminists but is constantly protected because of the fear of being labeled as “racist.”
Abortion should always be legal, and it pains me to see that a march, which could potentially do some good in persuading Donald Trump, is diminished by uninformed rhetoric.
Roberto Fonseca can be reached at [email protected] or @rjfonseca13 on Twitter.
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Richard Hertz // May 12, 2017 at 10:14 pm
A bunch of brain dead young p/u kids making comments here. You don’t know jack, but you think you do. Roberto is correct about 95% of the time on his take. That is because he does not come from a fake academic world of political correctness. Roberto comes from the other side of the tracks in Los Angeles. That is the real world, has had real life experiences, and is not like the naive’ snowflakes commenting above who have no clue, other than what their commie professors drill in to their little narrow brains. Roberto is the best thing that has happened to the Orion.
Dylan // Feb 20, 2017 at 7:57 pm
You said “Women don’t make as much as a man. They don’t have equal representation in government or STEM fields because of the choices they make in choosing their career. It’s as simple as that.”
So because of the carries we choose we don’t get to receive equal representation and pay? Or maybe its not even that we don’t get to choose, it’s that our professions are so unworthy they deserve to be less represented then a male oriented job, is that what your saying because it seems like that’s what your trying to convey.
The article you hyperlinked said this:
Perry and Biggs go on to argue that women are paid less because they choose to pursue degrees that result in lower earnings and work in fields that pay less than those dominated by men.(is this why were less represented)
It also said this:
There are two problems with that. First, as Bryce Covert pointed out in The Nation, men performing what have traditionally been seen as “women’s jobs” make more than women do, just as women make less than men for doing traditional “men’s work.”
Why do men get to be paid and represented differently in a woman orientated job, then the women do in that same job? Are they not putting themselves in the same position and should they not be then represented the same.
Don’t go around saying men deserve to be paid more because of there carrier choices when they choose the same ones as us. It only shows that we deserve equal representation more and how little it is being given.
Maggie // Feb 9, 2017 at 7:06 pm
TERRIBLE OPINION PIECE!!! Your thoughts were so scattered I could hardly keep track of the (uninformed) point that you were trying to make. This may have been in the opinion section but it belongs in the trash.
The Orion should be teaching their writers how to WRITE. Even though I disagree with every point you tried to make, I would have at least respected your opinion if you had been able to express yourself with any sort of eloquence. Stuff like this is going to cause The Orion to lose all credibility.
Charlotte // Feb 9, 2017 at 10:38 am
It really concerns me when men say that Trump’s comments were simple “locker room talk.” I find it insulting to the kind of men I know would never say those sorts of things. Is it really normal for men to talk about sexually grabbing women without consent? Because in my experience, that would only be normal for a man who assaults women. Not the men who respect women.
Alyssa // Jan 28, 2017 at 2:06 am
This is an opinion piece and i realize that, therefore, it can be full of any ridiculous, uninformed claims the writer wants to express.
So honestly, I guess what I have to be most upset about is that this person is a Chico state student. Great job, CSUC. Glad you cut the ‘privilege’ unit out of psych classes. (I’m not even joking. It’s a crime. ) Clearly, students are fully grasping the situation that women and other marginalized groups face today.
Kendra Hessel // Jan 26, 2017 at 5:07 pm
The fact that a man is sitting here telling us that the women’s march was disappointing and the problems we face are not valid just goes to show how sexist America really is. Privledge is when you don’t think something’s a problem, because it’s not a problem to you personally. If you don’t think male privledge exists— congratulations, you’re enjoying the benefits of it.
Kate // Jan 31, 2017 at 12:38 pm
thank you!!! I bet you he didn’t even attend the women’s march or talk to any protesters. Additionally, The part where he says, “The hijab is an instrument of sexual oppression that is forced on millions of women. If a Muslim woman does not wear a hijab, most people in Islamic countries will label her as a whore.” IS COMPLETELY FALSE. THAT IS A CHOICE WOMEN MAKE AND IT CAN BE a A VERY LIBERATING DECISION, which he would know if he did an ounce of research.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK NEXT TIME! THIS ARTICLE WAS A HUGE FLOP.
Kate McCarthy // Jan 26, 2017 at 4:51 pm
Hi Roberto,
I appreciate the distinction you make between news and opinion. But consider this from the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School: “While columns and op-ed pieces allow writers to include their own voice and express an opinion, to be successful the columns must be grounded in solid research. Research involves acquiring facts, quotations, citations or data from sources and personal observation.” The link you provide on the claim that women are not oppressed (such a sweeping claim–how would we verify or disprove it?) is to another opinion piece, whose author’s listed credential is “author.” The link on the gender pay gap, from a more credible source, actually seems to show the opposite of what you are claiming.
Regarding your claim that Trump’s pussy talk is not sexist, two things: It’s not true that “everyone jokes about” it. For many of us it’s an example of powerful men sometimes assuming that sexual access to women is an earned privilege. Many of us have experienced this. It’s real, and not funny. Second, it is sexist. It is unfair treatment that happens to women because they are women.
Finally, your (also sweeping) claims on Muslim women and the hijab are problematic, given that the majority of Muslim women live in countries where there is no compulsory veiling, and that many choose to veil as a feminist gesture of bodily autonomy. It’s complicated.
If you’re interested in these issues, there are wonderful courses here in both the women’s studies and religious studies programs that you might enjoy.
Best regards.
Roberto Gonzalez // Jan 26, 2017 at 4:14 pm
Opinions are the inherent right of every human being. Opinions do not construct realities or facts yet the message inherent in the opinion stirs people’s hearts and minds as a result of the individual interpretation based on the values, belief and the culture where the individual comes from. Words without action are just that, words. I do not believe the writer of this article, negates the feelings and emotions of other individuals, but again, the reader of the article will have the last word on how the article is received. Opinions on an issue, hence are just that, opinions. Do not a times give our opinion and get drastic reaction? This is the same, everyone is reactinh to an opinion which is under control only by the recipient of the message. If we were to give credit to every opinion heading our way, we would not have made the progress of the last 200 years. But this progress was based on action, seeking the need of the many without neglecting the need of the few.
Serine Goodmond // Jan 26, 2017 at 2:26 pm
My opinion is that this article is disappointing. Thankfully it is in the opinion section.
I truly believe (my opinion) it would be better writing if you write it in such a way to not confuse facts with opinions. One way to do this (also my opinion), might be to write it like this:
I think women aren’t oppressed, I think Trump isn’t sexist and I also think racism isn’t a big problem in this country anymore. I believe this march proved how third wave feminism poisons any kind of rational criticism you may have towards an individual.
In your response to Zachary Phillips you said “Nothing I said in this article was untrue.” Well opinions aren’t true or false and the way you wrote your article is as if you were presenting facts like, there were 1,000 people, the sky was blue.
You are welcome to state your opinion you are not welcome to write them as facts.
Serine Goodmond // Jan 26, 2017 at 2:39 pm
Roberto, all these comments probably feel like attacks on you and that’s not constructive to anything. In fact my comment is a little hostile, so I’d like to offer another comment about my actual feelings when reading your article:
Your article is hurtful to me and many others.
Your article makes me feel like I or any of my problems are not real.
Your article scares me because it makes me feel like I am in a community of people who believe that my problems aren’t real simply because you don’t have them.
Your article upsets me because no where in your article do I get a feeling that you really want to understand why anyone was marching.
Your article makes me think you don’t understand that every person at the march had a different reason for being there and while there are some similarities, all of our experiences are unique.
Your article disappointing me because it makes me feel like you are not an ally and were not at the march on genuine and authentic terms.
Your article gives me the feeling that we have a long way to go in equality.
Your article really hurt me!
Mariah // Jan 26, 2017 at 2:22 pm
Are you fucking kidding me? Educate your privileged ass and then please write some actual fact based “opinion” columns. You didn’t even back up any of your claims! Please tell me how being grabbed by my genitals (which is legally considered sexual assault) isn’t sexist and oppressive?
Disappointed Alumna // Jan 26, 2017 at 12:05 pm
First off, this article is all over the place. Who looked at this and said, “yes, this is a solid opinion piece”. If this guy’s got a disagreement with the women’s march and wants to express it, great. But 11 short, scattered paragraphs, this article can’t keep it’s point straight. Are we talking about why there’ s a lack of women in STEM careers or why you don’t like the hijab?
More importantly, I’m disappointed that an article written by a university student published in our university’s newspaper is published without holding the writer accountable to supporting his arguments, anywhere. For example “It was very cringeworthy locker room talk, but not at all sexist.” Go on…. make an argument about why! Do that for any of the claims you make. If your aim as a journalist is to inform and convince people then DO IT.
Lastly, “This entire march was used more as a platform to spew ridiculous claims about how women are oppressed, Trump is sexist, white people suck and racism is still a huge problem in this country”. Why do you think that? Were you there? How many women at the march did you interview before writing this piece?
Seriously, Orion, get it together. I’m not even as disappointed in this young man’s views (as much as I disagree with them) as I am with the fact that someone read this and approved it for publishing. What kind of program are you running here?
Zachary Phillips // Jan 26, 2017 at 11:49 am
As a former Orion opinion section editor, I am so disappointed to see this article published. Before we all suffer through a cookie-cutter response regarding freedom of speech—we know. We know that Roberto Fonseca has every right to voice his opinions on women’s rights, racism, and the Women’s March. And that’s all fine. Snaps for Roberto.
What is not fine is the complete dissolution of discretion, judgement, and journalistic standards on the part of Roberto’s editor. If your writer is dead set on making such ludicrous claims as the nonexistence of a gender wage gap, you, as his editor, better be ready to challenge him. You better be ready to demand he back that up with a reputable source. You have the power to hyperlink—use it. Here’s a source for you, the American Association for University Women publishes a fantastic breakdown of the gender wage gap and ways it differs among professions, age groups, and racial identities (http://bit.ly/1baHZaW). The fact that you, as an editor, did not float such a widely accessible study by your writer and demand her account for his non-facts (read: lies) means you are not earning your semesterly staff stipend, regardless of how meager it is.
Regardless of political affiliation and personal opinion, and holding fast to the inalienable right to free speech, Chico State’s students, staff, faculty, and alumni/ae deserve and demand a newspaper that is written and edited with intention and ethics in mind, and with a high standard of veracity and journalistic values. We deserve and demand better from The Orion’s opinion section. Let it be so.
Christopher Robin // Jan 26, 2017 at 1:16 pm
I understand you not agreeing with the piece; it is an opinion piece. However, I do not understand you harping on the editor about veracity when I doubt you even read the link Roberto provided addressing the wage gap. Besides, the link you provided only talks about the discrepancies but not the reasons for those discrepancies. For example, women dominate subjects like nursing and biology whereas men dominate subjects like physics. That tendency influences the pay difference, but many people see a difference and think it has to be sexism without a doubt. For someone harping on veracity you should look further into why there are gaps in the first place.
Roberto Fonseca // Jan 26, 2017 at 1:19 pm
I made this point on a previous comment. This is an opinion piece. If I were writing a news article on the Women’s March I wouldn’t have let my opinions get in the way. I have written breaking news articles in the past. Go look at them.
Now, you sent me an article about how women and women of color make less money than everyone else. I acknowledge that. Did you not read the article? I understand that. Just because there are inequalities doesn’t mean discrimination. Nothing I said in this article was untrue. The wage gap myth has been debunked numerous times.
Natalie Windt // Feb 2, 2017 at 9:36 pm
As a woman I refused to participate in this march. Not because Trump is a sexist. Not because women aren’t oppressed. Actually because I am a woman who has repeatedly been abused, oppressed, and even involved as eye witness to a sexual harassment suit that began with me, only I was to naive and used by people in positions of power to understand what was happening to me was not in the slightest bit normal.
Women are oppressed, if anything into silence to their experience. Only in the land of equality, we aren’t equally oppressed and it feels like it is becoming a competition. How I wish for the life of an able bodied woman, white woman, must be heaven not to be fetishized by white men. Only sexualized. (And even saying that sounds wrong a pho). But it always turns much darker than that when the weaker the cock of the walk see’s you in the pecking order.
I would have and probably could have been one of the main bitches up there with a sign saying what’s up jerks? However the problem is not nor has it ever been regulated to some dip doo’ed figure head. I am glad to see a difference of opinion up in here. I’m also glad to report this simple but true fact. A change in every administration never once addressed these facts. Um, Bill Clinton was a rapist, shall we continue to bury that?
Out there in the bunch of marching women were some of the biggest mysoginist’s and abusive folk I know, just glad to be part of yet another crowd. How do I unite with that? How do I get past that? The women’s march was a disappointment for me, because it was muddled with people who only want shoulder pats for having been there while mostly being populated by real people who give a damn. But how, how does one reconcile that everything this podunk POTUS of ours is, has been done to me by people I trusted and respected?
Repression is as real as oppression, I have no where else to put my anger at not a sex, but a state of mind. I’m gonna go punch some pillows. But yeah, believe we aren’t in trouble all you want, because we’ve been in trouble all along.
Alex Dooley // Jan 26, 2017 at 9:47 am
Well, it is official. The Orion has moved from hiring crappy writers to completely delusional ones.
Another gem from our friend Robert’s previous article,
“No, I don’t think we’re all going to get deported. I don’t think Trump is racist, and I don’t think Trump is sexist, Islamophobic, homophobic or a white supremacist. Throw whatever buzzword you want to put in there. I just simply don’t think he’s that smart.”
Two words to familiarize yourself with dude, internalized oppression.
Roberto Fonseca // Jan 26, 2017 at 12:40 pm
LOL, internalized oppression. No, I don’t see myself as a victim because guess what, I am one.
Roberto Fonseca // Jan 26, 2017 at 12:41 pm
am not one.*
Orion Supporter // Jan 26, 2017 at 9:21 am
This is a really rambling column, and disappointing. If you want to write a strong opinion column, don’t just blurt ideas out without any segues and think that’s good enough. You need to back up your points with stats, facts, or even a quote for a real live person that was there, at the March. You complain about uninformed rhetoric. That’s all this column is. If you are informed, you need to prove it, again, with facts, stats, reporting. This isn’t your Facebook page. This is journalism.
I know you’re a student, and you’re learning, so take this as a learning moment. I’m sure you’re taking a lot of heat right now, and you should be. You just told millions of women they are wrong because… you actually don’t say why.
Let’s break this column down:
You major complaint of why the March was disappointing is that it “was used more as a platform to spew ridiculous claims about how women are oppressed, Trump is sexist, white people suck and racism is still a huge problem in this country.”
So how do you (try to) prove your point? You say, “Women aren’t oppressed, Trump isn’t sexist and racism isn’t a big problem in this country anymore.”
Wow. You really proved them wrong. “Trump is sexist? Well I’m here to tell you… Trump ISN’T sexist.” Not great argument building.
Moreover, why not make this story local? How does it apply to you, in Chico, to things you know about? Because you, my young little friend, while dining on French Toast sticks at Whitney Hall, have probably never been to the deep South or the Rust Belt or to the coal mines of West Virginia, where racism is absolutely still a problem. We’re very lucky out here, in the West Coast, where it certainly is not as much of a problem.
But a Chico student columnist who has never been anywhere, saying “racism is not a problem in America anymore” does not make it so. You need to tell us why. You don’t even try. Then, you contradict yourself when you say “there will always be racist people.” Wait, I thought racism isn’t a problem anymore?
You need to focus your arguments, hone your points, and back them up.
This is a big issue. Why then do you waste an entire paragraph on being the only male opinion writer? That is an asinine waste of space, and completely irrelevant to the topic at hand. It only makes all your arguments look even worse.
I don’t agree with your argument. I was in DC. It was a beautiful, emotional, powerful day. But I was willing to entertain your argument, simply because I enjoy reading good opinion columns. You’re entitled to your opinion. But in The Orion, you are not entitled to bad writing. You need to learn.
Roberto Fonseca // Jan 26, 2017 at 1:11 pm
First of all, this isn’t journalism. This is an opinion piece. If I were reporting on a story on the Women’s March I would not have my opinions interfere with the article. I have written breaking news stories before, look at those pieces and then come back to me with your whole “journalism” claim. Would you respond like this to the pro-march articles that were also written on this page? Nothing I wrote in this article was untrue. I have a right to free speech and I greatly respect The Orion for letting me do so.
You’re right, I don’t elaborate on my whole Trump isn’t sexist claim, I’m on a word count and I concede to that point. The guy uses vulgar language. That’s sexist I assume? Ridiculous.
Lol, I’m what you would call a “person of color.” I’m supposed to be a victim, right? I live in a majority white town and have never dealt with racism. Other people of color will tell you exactly the same. Even those living in the bible belt. I made the point that there will always be racist individuals. Is that not a good enough explanation for you?
My point on being the only male writer was me pointing out the fact that just because there are inequalities doesn’t mean there is discrimination. Reading comprehension.
Reading comprehension. I am in no way contradicting myself. What a ridiculous thing to say. Racist individuals exist. 90% of people in the U.S don’t accept racism. The other 10% have no major influence on societal norms today. That’s not a contradiction, that’s me pointing out that there is no real problem of racism today.
dh // Jan 25, 2017 at 9:56 pm
“Women aren’t oppressed, Trump isn’t sexist and racism isn’t a big problem in this country anymore.”
Yikes, how Alternative Facts did you have to inhale before coming to that conclusion?