By Ameara Ditsche
Staff Writer
In 1998, an affair between President Bill Clinton and his then intern, Monica Lewinsky, was brought to light. The affair lasted from 1995 to 1997.
The scandal shook the nation and led to Clinton’s near impeachment. However, despite advisement from different people, he decided to not resign ad finish out his second term of presidency. He did decline any sexual relations with Lewinsky but evidence proved otherwise.
Bill Clinton’s wife, Hillary Clinton who has since made a political career for herself has often been victim of sexist remarks due to her husband’s affair.
Recently, she made a statement saying that the affair between Clinton and Lewinsky was not an abuse of power and her husband was right in his decision to stay in office.
Lewinsky was 22 at the time of the affair’s beginning, Where she was an intern at the White House. As a young woman in politics at the time, she knew she would have a disadvantage no matter what.
Someone like Bill Clinton —with enough political finesse to win the presidency— would definitely be aware of this. His advances to her came with the knowledge she would reciprocate in fear of losing her position. Sexual assault is often ignored when the coercion is implicit.
Abuse is not always clear threats or physical force. The abuse of power is when the perpetrator is knowledgeable of the fact they are in a position of power and that those under them may be willing to cross certain lines out of fear. That is exactly what Clinton did.
Hillary Clinton has been incredibly supportive of her husband during this whole scandal. Since the unearthing of it all, she has stood by his side gracefully and dealt with any criticism that has come either of their way. So, while disappointing that she said what she did and undermined years of progress for women, it is not surprising.
Relationships like this brought up the debate over the definition of consent. Yes, at the time Monica Lewinsky was an adult. It was not statutory rape or even forced with violence, but since they were in such an imbalance of power situation, it is impossible to tell if Lewinsky would have granted consent in any other circumstances.
Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement has expressed disdain for Clinton’s comments of her husband’s behavior. She expressed that in today’s political climate it should be okay to admit the mistakes of the past are just that, mistakes.
She could even reflect that she doesn’t regret her husband not resigning, beings as they’ve moved on and Clinton had economic success as president. Instead, she used the incident has a scapegoat.
Current president Donald Trump has numerous sexual allegations against him, Clinton brought this up in her statement. Seeming to use it as a way to throw heat off of the Lewinsky scandal and finally sully move on.
She claimed that we should not continue to mull over this when a current president is avoiding investigation of actual sexualt assault charges.
The Lewinsky Scandal will go down in political history. It changed the way we see consent and relationships in the political or business world. It was an eye-opener to men for something women have always had to be keen to.
Clinton, as a woman was irresponsible to take it so lightly, as her attitude seems to undermine all women.
