Ahhhhg, THAT Steve Bell cartoon

[ethelb]

I don't know if there has been a thread about this and the pure misogyny in it: www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2017/jan/26/steve-bell-uk-us-theresa-may-donald-trump-cartoon

Yes there was homophobic satire around Blair and Bush (and Trump and Putin) but all of those implied a degree of consent to the situation.

Theresa May is not the first and won't be the last PM to have her dealings with US foreign policy criticised. And with good reason.

But for some reason, this particular Prime Minister gets anal rape jokes 6 months into her premiership? And my Facebook is full of the menz who think it is all totes hilare, and are mortally wounded if anyone suggests it is misogynistic.

A week after the women's march people. A fucking week!

[OurBlanche]

It also refers to other cartoons and political satirists, Bell and others.

Lots of multi layered references in one small picture - which is its very genius!

If you consider it as Bell NOT being sexist and see it Bell saying that TM is likely to be shafted by Trump in exactly the same way as her male counterparts you might see why some don't see it as specifically misogynist...?

[HelenDenver]

Good point, power.

[powershowerforanhour]

Interesting that the original Gillray cartoon has the woman's feet facing as if she's on her back, but the Bell cartoon has her on her front. If he was simply paying homage to the grandfather, why did he depict this change?

[OurBlanche]

He does it to men too!

He places a hand on their back, walks a few paces, or says a few words, then pats them twice and walks off!

He has been a very rich man for a very long time, any other human being is there for his own use and abuse... why would he employ anything oher than compliant employees?

He has been rich enough to dominate any business setting for decades too!

Dominant is what he is!

Which is what Bell was lampooning! Not TM or any other person who happens to be 'Trumped'!

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

Yes it was a deliberate act of domination. There was speculation in various reports about the slope excuse but are clearly nonsense. It's bizarre that a poster on here, where I am always reading about how women are socialised to be nice, should be casigating Theresa May for Trump's actions.

[ChipsForSupper]

The hand holding was nothing to do with slopes or stairs - it was a deliberate action of dominance which forced TM to accept his boundaries - which is, of course, what he will force most of the Western world, but Britain in particular, to do. He is not a 'natural' hand-holder - how often do you see him holding his wife's hand?

[Xenophile]

Trump will have been vetted, very thoroughly, before he even accepted the GOP nomination. The security agencies in every country will have a very clear idea of every single repulsive thing he's ever done.

There is a difference between being vetted and being a suitable person.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

I don't understand what her 'holding his hand' has to do with anything. She didn't actually, he grabbed it (because he is a misogynistic wanker with no boundaries around women's bodies

It has nothing to do with it other than poster Itwasthenandstillis wants to blame TM for not , in front of the world's media, throwing his hand off and telling him not to.

[ethelb]

I don't understand what her 'holding his hand' has to do with anything. She didn't actually, he grabbed it (because he is a misogynistic wanker with no boundaries around women's bodies.

But even if she did hold his hand, why on earth does that mean that she deserves to be depicted being raped by him?!

[Apachepony]

Yes, I don't like Teresa may at all and detest her policies but I did feel v uncomfortable when I saw this posted approvingly on facebook (yes, by a man).
I don't read it as a depiction of rape (what is there in the picture to suggest that) but I don't know - I think it the very sexual reference to a woman in power i.e. Being fucked up the ass which I just feel is misogynistic. I don't think the same cartoon would be done if the PM is a man.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

I doubt she held out her arm to him

It is clear from the news reports she did not hold out her hand - he took hold of her arm. It has been speculated he has a fear of steps / slopes going down and that is why he did it. Whether

Whether he would have done it to a man, I don't know but from point of view of basic politeness coupled with the world press watching her it was an impossible situation for her.

[HelenDenver]

Agree, Basil. I've been the recipient of the "paternal hand on the back" post a meeting and similarly needed to grin and bear it.

I doubt she held out her arm to him.

[AskBasil]

itwasthen, I don't think she had any choice about the hand-holding.

I think he just grabbed her hand and there would have been an indecorous wrestling match if she'd tried to grab it back.

So she gritted her teeth and smiled like a rabbit in the headlights.

I don't think there's any way she could have won in that situation.

[OlennasWimple]

I think on reflection I prefer this to the more usual cartoon depiction of TM as a witch, with a very long nose (yes, I know that cartoons exaggerate physical features, but I've always thought that woman = witch is a tired old misogynistic trope)

[msanonymouse]

Trump's tiny feet do indeed make him seem pathetic and infantile rather than dominant.

[Itwasthenandstillis]

Ethelb - I think you are right that there is a lot of normalisation gping on here which has been the strongest influence on how I initially perceived the cartoon -I appreciate that being pointed out. I consider myself to be a feminist but have had too little opportunity to discuss the issues. Whatever, I still think that unfortunately TM made a huge mistake by holding his repulsive hand - he has stated that he has used it to 'grab them by the pussy'. It is just not something a respected head of state should do with another and DT would only hold the hand of a woman never a man head of state . I feel that by doing this regardless of who he is anyway she has let us down reinforcing the idea that women in positions of power should be treated noto equal.

[OurBlanche]

Nothing at all cowgirl they aren't mutually exclusive, after all.

It is a matter of perception, as is much else in life!

[Miffer]

After reading the thread I've decided I'm fine with it. I don't think it implies rape at all. Trumps tiny feet made me smirk.

[OurBlanche]

That too could be part of his choice of cartoon, yes, ethelb Why not?

Bell is parodying an old satirical cartoon... his choice of picture reflects Trump's attitudes and our responses to it!

That is what satire does, it uses humour to "ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issue

Bells use of Gillray was, as others have said, a great homage to a previous generations satirical genius.

If you don't like the truths satire reflects... don't look!

[cowgirlsareforever]

Why can't it be the case that this cartoon both pays homage to a previous cartoonist and manages to be misogynistic?

[JellyWitch]

I wasn't offended - I am massive fan of Gillray's work and thought Steve Bell hit the nail on the head with this whilst paying homage to the grandfather of his profession.

[ethelb]

Ourblanche are you claiming that Steve Bell is actually satirising the perception that female sexuality is shameful, a la Frankie Boyle or Jimmy Carr.

[cowgirlsareforever]

Totally agree with Basil's comments too.

[AskBasil]

"but would it be different if a male PM had been depicted in a sexual scenario with another female leader?"

I think the problem with it, is that when it comes to domination, men always think of using sex to denote it.

I'm trying to think of a way of showing domination over someone else, in a cartoon, without using sexual imagery.

It's very difficult to. The sexual abuse element of dominance, is such a strong narrative in our culture, that it's very difficult to escape from.

[OurBlanche]

The thing is I had that covered.... the 'jokes' reflect the person... save your ire for the person, not the mirror.