By Michael Colglazier, Staff Writer

Well, another presidential inauguration has come and gone, and earlier this week Donald Trump became the second president to serve two non-consecutive terms in office. Whether or not this was the outcome you desired, it is undeniable that a few people are upset. Okay, maybe a little more than a few.

Of all the people genuinely outraged at who was sworn into office, women make up a strong demographic. Despite the number of women who find Donald Trump’s upcoming presidency genuinely frightening, some still fail to understand just what it is about these results that makes them sick to their stomachs when thinking about not just Trump, but men in general. I have overheard conversations where men are confused as to why their girlfriends are upset when they make jokes about Trump, with some believing that they are simply overreacting to the situation. This article is intended for all the men out there who do not understand why women might not find it as funny when they do the Trump dance as their boys do. As a film major, I am going to explore this through one of my favorite lenses: Hollywood.

It is undeniable that one of the biggest up and coming stars of the decade is Paul Mescal. Every time he stars in a new movie, he reclaims the title of “White boy of the month,” with the latest example being his leading role in Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.” 

It is likely that many of you have seen the viral clip of Paul Mescal on “The Graham Norton Show,” where he laughs at the idea of defending yourself against an attacker with the butt of a cell phone, along with Eddie Redmayne and Denzel Washington. Mescal claimed that if someone were being attacked, their first thought would not be to reach for their phone. As the four men laugh, Mescal’s “Foe” co-star Saoirse Ronan chimes in, saying, “that’s what girls have to think about all the time.” The men are forced to collect themselves and acknowledge that they have made light of a situation which women experience every day. So, what is it about this situation that sticks out to me the most? Bear with me, but I could not help noticing that Mescal was wearing a blouse.

Paul Mescal appeared on the show wearing a white shirt under a very light, see through blouse. Mescal is by no means the first male celebrity to push boundaries by wearing more traditionally feminine clothes. Celebrities from Harry Styles to Kid Cudi constantly make headlines for wearing dresses. Now, sorry to disappoint anyone’s conservative uncle who may be reading this article, but I am entirely in favor of people wearing whatever they want, regardless of their gender identity. But this instance indicates something much more disappointing than a man being in touch with his femininity. This top was worn by a man who attempted to convey his sensitivity while being completely insensitive to the people around him. To me, this blouse signifies that no matter how you dress the situation, men are never going to understand what women experience every day, and that lack of experience will inevitably lead to men making light of women’s struggles. Not intentionally, but because it is in our nature as men.

This clip has been on my mind a lot leading up to Inauguration Day, and it is a helpful reminder of what a Trump presidency represents. Does Trump being our 47^th president mean that every man voted for him? No, of course not. What it does mean is that almost 77 million people believed that Trump was the best choice for our president, and that even men who voted for another candidate will never be able to understand what it means for a woman to have Trump as her president.

Don’t just take my word for it. Talk to the women in your life and ask them what feelings this inauguration has brought them. Their experiences mean much more than anything that I write in this article ever could. After all, I am just a man.