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!

[cowgirlsareforever]

Representing the jobs of BAE workers in Lancashire is part of Theresa May's job msanonymouse .
Having said that I hate that fighter jets are necessary in this day and age.

[msanonymouse]

Donald Trump has been accused by multiple women of raping them, including one who was 13 at the time.

I'd almost forgotten about all that. What has come of those allegations? It's bizarre. If anyone was applying for a job as a teacher or a solicitor then sexual assault allegations would probably disqualify them from the job. But it seems they're no barrier to becoming leader of the free world. And that's not to mention the dodgy Russian connections and all the financial misconduct.

Crazy.

[msanonymouse]

Yeah but Turkey cowgirlsforever?

[msanonymouse]

In short, surely running for president should require something like an advanced CRB check.

[OurBlanche]

You'd think so, wouldn't you?

But he is now president. And all media coverage will reflect the man and his character. So more satire like the one in the OP will be forthcoming.

The 'disgusting' element is not of the satirist but the subject. You don't blame a mirror for its reflection... do you?

[cowgirlsareforever]

As I've said, I don't agree with fighter jets, but being Northern myself I know how much the local economy depends on BAE. Theresa May has a job to do to protect those workers and their families. That is the choice she made when becoming PM. It's not a position I would want to be in but she cannot simply tell the Turkish she won't do business with them because there would be families who would literally lose their houses within a few months when the redundancies come in.

[ethelb]

Ms and Ourblanche the thing is these sexually violent 'jokes' just aren't made about male politicians.

The cartoons of Osborne in the gimp mask portray Osborne as a consensual partner in a sub/dom situation. That may not be fair, but nor is he ever get portrayed in an actual sexual position as far as I am aware/can remember. Or at least not frequently.

This has happened to this Prime Minister 6 months in.

[HelenDenver]

"What Steve Bell has done here, is tap into the rapey idea that when a man fucks a woman, he is degrading her. "

So
Much
This.

Thanks, Basil.

[OurBlanche]

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

[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.

[cowgirlsareforever]

Totally agree with Basil's comments too.

[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.

[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.

[cowgirlsareforever]

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

[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!

[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]

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

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

[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.

[msanonymouse]

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

[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)

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?!