Feminists seem to think women should never criticise other women. They're wrong, writes Grace Dent.
London - Nicki Minaj finding herself under fire for ‘dragging’ Melania Trump during the TIDAL X 1015 show is a fabulous example of how modern feminism adores to self-police itself into a soggy impotent corner.
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“Dragging”, incidentally, for those whose last ditch at modern parlance was beaming “totally bodcacious, dude”, means “criticising”.
“You better pray to God you don't get stuck with a motherf*cking Melania,” Minaj shouted.
But women dragging other women is wrong, OK? Women should never criticise other women.
Minaj should not, it is believed, pass judgement on the eery cyborg Basic Pleasure Model Melania Trump. No criticism should be made of fragrant Melania, lurking behind her obnoxious handsy husband, wagering support in return for a shot at First Lady.
Melania, whom Donald claimed in a 2005 interview, hid all evidence of moving her bowels. He found that impressive.
Melania, who, when asked to give the most important speech of her life, was thought so very little of by her husband that she was merely slung someone else’s old speech with a hasty cut n’replace on important nouns.
Melania, Trump’s only remaining handle on looking semi-human. See, he doesn’t sleep alone?
Or as Minaj pointed out about this type of trophy wife: “You want brainless bitches to stroke your motherf*cking ego?”
Melania, according to Minaj, is a vastly different type of woman to Hillary or Michelle. Minaj wasn’t being polite, but she wasn’t wrong. Nevertheless, Minaj soon recanted her words on Twitter following a backlash from women who assume feminism is like one long assessment for a Brownies Making Friends badge. And those who mistake feminism for Buddhism and think we should all sit around in a cloud of joss-stick smoke practising deep compassion for other tit-owners.
“There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women,” is the Madeleine Albright quote echo-chambered around my social media feed whenever a Minaj-on-Melania style incident happens. It always makes me howl with its Witchfinder General tones. Not content with men threatening us with God’s judgement and the horrific fiery afterlife for 500 years over the crimes of being gobby, bolshy, ambitious or just plainly correct – we now threaten each other.
That said, more amusing was Minaj’s attempt on Twitter to smooth things over: “Wasn't ‘dragging’. She seems nice.” said Minaj, sounding exactly like someone furiously backtracking after being caught bitching in a public toilet. Minaj continued: “But a smart man knows he needs a certain ‘kind’ of woman when running for President/attempting greatness.”
Wasn't "dragging". She seems nice. But a smart man knows he needs a certain "kind" of woman when running for President/attempting greatness https://t.co/S2PTIcOXuo
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) October 16, 2016
Women so dearly want to believe in this day and age that powerful men aren’t content, or in fact happier, with a silent, opinion-free, clothes horses who looks incredible in photographs and assists them in exuding macho virility. We have been spoiled with first ladies such as Hillary and Michelle offering a picture of powerful marriages as a partnership of trust, cerebral jousting and, by and large, mutual respect.
But Donald Trump’s popularity is in no small part down to his traditional views on femininity and to Melania. Trump’s third wife: younger and prettier than the last two rejected models. The one who doesn’t fart. The one who doesn’t tell him that hounding his opponent with her husband’s ex-shags is one of the lowest points in American political history. The one who knows her place and appreciates the basic age-old trade-off of old disgusting men and perfect-10 women.
The terrifying thing is many of us thought we’d seen the back of the likes of Melania. But her type is back, draped over American politics like a bikini model at a car show advertising BMWs.
Minaj is right. We better pray we don't get stuck with a motherf*cking Melania.
Minaj can drag as much as she sees fit.
The Independent