A video of Trump spewing vulgar verbiage was released last week, which Trump is defending simply as “locker room talk.”
This video was unacceptable for even a few of his supporters, and for others as well. Boastful language with regards to sexually assaulting women is causing people concern for the outcome of the election.
“I am not proud of it,” Trump stated during the last debate. “I apologized to my family and the American people. I am not proud of it. This is locker room talk.”
Since the second debate, people have been arguing the definition of “locker room talk.”
“I was in an NFL locker room for eight years,” explained Chris Kluwe. But we never had anyone say anything as foul and demeaning as you did on that tape.”
Many athletes like Chris Kluwe have claimed that “locker room talk” does not involve demeaning women or speaking sexually about them. Yet, some athletes, such as Tom Brady, refuse to speak about the subject to the press.
Michelle Obama also chimed in on Trump’s “locker room banter.”
“Describing this as ‘locker room talk’ is an insult to men everywhere,” Obama stated. “This was a powerful individual speaking freely and openly about sexually predatory behavior.”
At Woodside, students who enter the locker rooms agree with Trump critics and have quite a different perspective than the Republican presidential nominee.
“I find Trump’s comments very disrespectful to women everywhere,” said freshman Kevin DeAntoni, “We are so lucky that here at Woodside no one has made remarks like that, at least that I have heard of.”
Most of the people interviewed described the locker room as private space where they can trust their peers.
“When you’re in the locker room with your teammates you can feel comfortable with them enough to speak your mind thinking there will be no repercussions,” said Alex Roque, captain of the varsity football team.
Despite Trump’s dismissal of the statements as “locker room talk,” however, Alex said was an accurate excuse, yet he should not have said it.
Roque said, “[Locker room talk is] when someone speaks their mind freely and thinks what they say is confidential and private.”
Yet, Trump’s comments were clearly not in a locker room, nor did they remain private.