Texas Rep Says Women Are Responsible For Preventing Sexual Abuse

When allegations of sexual assault and rape against powerful film producer Harvey Weinstein became a leading news item, supporters of President Donald Trump pounced on it. They claimed that, because Weinstein was a longtime Democratic fundraiser, it somehow meant that top Democrats were complicit in these assaults (which would, somehow, take heat off of admitted “pussy grabber” Donald Trump).

Sexual assault is, of course, an extremely important issue, and leading Democratic lawmakers denounced Weinstein over what he has been accused of doing. One congresswoman from Texas, however, had a head-scratching response to the assaults.

Democratic Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, who represents Texas’ 30th district, expressed anger at Weinstein for what he did. However, in retrograde fashion, she also claimed that female victims of sexual abuse bear responsibility for it, as well. Stated Johnson to local news station NBC 5, “I grew up in a time when it was as much the woman’s responsibility as it was a man’s ― how you were dressed, what your behavior was. I’m from the old school that you can have behaviors that appear to be inviting. It can be interpreted as such. That’s the responsibility, I think, of the female. I think that males have a responsibility to be professional themselves.”

Eddie also asserted that sexual harassment and other sexual indiscretions occur because females allow it to happen. She said, “I think we also need to start talking about the power that women have to control the situation. There’s law enforcement, you can refuse to cooperate with that kind of behavior. I think that many times, men get away with this because they are allowed to get away with it by the women.” When her comments began to generate controversy, she followed them up by telling the Huffington Post, in contradictory fashion, ” Ultimately, we need to unequivocally support the victims of sexual assault and harassment as best we can while working to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions. And supporting all women in this fight will continue to be my life’s work.” Do you think Rep. Johnson needs to reasses her values when it comes to preventing sexual assault against women?