By: Emily Papleux
Earlier in the year, Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio Cortez struck back to statements made by representative Theodore Scott Yoho after he had spoken to her on the steps of the Capitol. He had used demeaning and aggressive language, calling her a “fucking bitch”. She would have decided to let it pass if only Yoho had not made it worse with his apology on the house floor.
He had said, “Having been married for 45 years with two daughters, I’m very cognizant of my language. The offensive name-calling, words attributed to me by the press were never spoken to my colleagues. And if they were construed that way, I apologize for my misunderstanding.”
After this statement was made, AOC had immediately fought back with a message of her own. She started off by saying how his excuses for his behavior were unacceptable. “I could not allow my nieces, I could not allow the little girls I go home to, I could not allow victims of verbal abuse and worse, to see that. To see that excuse, and our congress accept that, as legitimate, and to accept it as an apology, and to accept silence, as a form of acceptance. I could not allow that to stand which is why I’m rising today.”
She stated that she did not need him apologize. But something she did take a stand on, is how he used women, wives, and daughters as shields and excuses for bad behavior. “And I am here because I have to show my parents that I am their daughter. And that they did not raise me to accept abuse from men.”
AOC then explained how his words not only influence her, but an affront to women everywhere. “In using the language in front of the press, he gave permission to use that language against his wife, his daughters, women in his community, and I am here to say that is not acceptable”. She then went on to explain that his language is something she has heard waiting tables, walking the streets, and riding the subway, of New York city.
She had also been spoken to this way by other members of the republican party, and even the president of the united states, who had told her to “go home”. “this is not new. And that is the problem. Mr. Yoho was not alone. He was walking shoulder to shoulder with representative Roger Williams. And that is when we start to see, that this issue, is not about one incident. It is cultural” She explains. This culture of treating women in a dehumanizing way has been addressed by AOC.
AOC is a perfect example of a strong woman who is willing to stand up towards these injustices. This disrespect can be found anywhere, and it is time to take a stand. By calling these offences out, we are helping make an example of a just and respectable society. And though he had not hurt her emotionally, in treating and disrespecting her that way, he had treated and disrespected women everywhere.
