Last week, former Fox News host Megyn Kelly accused Vice President Kamala Harris of "'sleeping her way" into politics. Meanwhile conservative commentator Ben Shapiro recently shared a nearly identical sentiment. And a Fox Business guest, in early July, referred to her as the "original Hawk Tuah girl," spurring backlash. Perhaps what's most surprising about these sex-focused comments is that they are not really that surprising at all.

Circumstances change, but it always “comes down to the virgin-whore trope,” says Juliet A. Williams, a professor of gender studies at UCLA and contributing co-editor of “Public Affairs: Politics in the Age of Sex Scandals.”

It wasn't a matter of if the attacks on Harris would turn sexist, but a question of when. “The higher the political stakes, unfortunately, the lower people will sink in order to invalidate a candidate who is a woman," says Williams, who holds a doctorate in government.

Yet sexist comments about any woman in politics are deeply harmful, not only to the individuals targeted but to society as a whole. Women's and gender studies experts say these comments perpetuate negative stereotypes, discourage young women from pursuing leadership roles and have a measurable impact on young men, too.

'Sexism is alive, well and kicking'

The “post-feminism attitude” can be harmful for perpetuating sexism, Williams warns.

“It says ‘sexism is over, so why are women getting all these advantages with DEI? Why are women complaining about things being so hard for them?’” she explains. “That mentality … leaves us confused in moments like these when we are reminded that whatever achievements have been made, hard-won as they have been, sexism is alive, well and kicking.” 

When it is suggested that a woman exchanged sex for political favors, people start to “rehash obsolete belief systems,” such as using vocabulary that leans into purity culture, according to Williams. 

Plus, there is generally a notable backlash against strong women in power, driven by the centuries-old tale that women are usurping power from men. 

“There is this idea that men are being left behind, and that men should rightfully have that power,” explains Nadia E. Brown, director of the Women’s and Gender Studies program at Georgetown University, professor of government and co-editor of “Distinct Identities: Minority Women in U.S. Politics."

As such, we run the risk of young men becoming increasingly misogynistic and in extreme cases exhibiting abusive behaviors, says Brown, who holds a doctorate in political science.

Hillary Clinton was personally attacked, too

Looking back at the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2016, Williams points out that “in retrospect, much of the vitriol was directed at Hillary Clinton (as a person).”

“People attributed it to something about her, like she was a uniquely unlikeable person who happens to be a woman,” she says. 

Now, attacks against Harris have unveiled a pattern of sexism against powerful women.

Tuesday night, former President Donald Trump told Fox News world leaders will “walk all over” Harris, a comment that sparked outrage on social media for implying that being a woman makes her seem weak. 

“She’ll be like a play toy,” he said. “They look at her and they say, ‘We can’t believe we got so lucky.’”

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What message does this send to young people?

People in positions of power can serve as role models for young individuals, especially when marginalized identities overlap. 

When these young people see how someone from a marginalized group is treated by the public, that “becomes the model for what they internalize will happen to them, whether that's true or untrue,” Brown says.

These attacks on Harris’ character send a message to any woman or person of color that “if you want to be in the public sphere, you have to be willing to be subjected to degradation,” Williams says. It also aims to reduce women’s merit, and discredits achievements earned through hard work and dedication. 

Young women in particular are reluctant to go into politics because of the rise of political violence and harassment, as well as feeling unsafe in public places, according to Brown’s research. 

For young men, too, the maltreatment of women can be internalized as the norm. 

Laura Palumbo, the Communications Director at the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, warns that normalizing sexist attitudes can perpetuate violence against women. “These types of comments are meant to degrade and objectify women. And not just the specific women who is the direct target at any specific moment, but a way to devalue all women,” she says. 

Harris’ response to these sexist attacks is critical, Brown says: “This is a really great chance to stand up and show future generations that you don’t have to take this. You can push back and change the narrative."

Williams adds: “Until we overcome that requirement that a woman who puts herself into the public sphere has to be willing to be degraded, the work of feminism is not done. Anyone who tells you it is done is really pulling the wool over your eyes.”

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