The Donald. And Women

Reports of Mr Trump's political demise have been much exaggerated. Particularly at the beginning of his campaign, comments directed at various women were pretty unsavoury. But nothing seemed to really have much of an impact.

He took a leaf from Karl Rove's book and disrespected a genuine US war hero. John McCain.

He picked a fight with the pope.

He insulted a Fox News Anchor (Megyn Kelly), and boycotted their debate.

If a candidate can insult war heroes. Disrespect religious leaders and walk all over Fox News, how can they also convincingly lead the race for the Republican nomination?

Whatever the reasons for Trump's success, I would suggest that anyone who who is familiar with traditional blue collar/working class communities anywhere in the Western World is somewhat less surprised than the political/journalistic elite.

Not surprised at all, in fact.

This is a demographic whose interests the traditional parties of the left have triangulated to extinction. Protest and identity are what remain.

Strange how triangulation disenfranchises people at the bottom more than those at the top.

Yet Mr Trump now seems to have pushed a little too far. After having a deeply ambiguous stance on abortion, from being very pro-choice to staunchly against, he managed to touch something of a raw nerve. Mr Trump advocated criminal sanction against women who had an abortion.

At last Mr Trump has shown that while his bombast and populism can demonstrate real appeal, he doesn't really understand the people he purports to represent. He is just another member of the elite. He thought that the touchstone right wing issue of abortion was a stick with which to beat women. A mistake he holds in common with many feminists.

While women, particularly poor women, might be amongst those who most suffer when access to abortion is restricted, that is not the objective of the policy.

There are also many women, often married women, who are coerced into abortion. Mr Trumps voter's are only too happy to blame the doctors who perform abortions. They are also a little too ready to deny the women that seek abortion agency. They are viewed as victims, not perpetrators.

People who are liable to vote for Mr Trump don't like abortion because they don't like the people who do like it. Because they associate it with the breakdown of family and community that has afflicted them. And because they have a cultural affinity, they share an identity with, those who oppose abortion on moral/religious grounds.

Mr Trump revealed something of himself, he really is a misogynist. His polling numbers amongst women who identify as Republicans are extremely poor.

His traditional male, working class/blue collar voters may not like feminism, but they absolutely hate wife beaters. Or men who abuse women in any way at all.

Chivalry is a form of sexism. I would contend misogyny is a very different beast. Many people who describe themselves as feminists may disagree. Mr Trump also cannot see the difference.