Last night, Ivanka Trump tried to appeal to women at the Republican National Convention as she introduced her father and Republican nominee Donald Trump, stressing how he will “make America great again.”
The 34-year-old Jewish mom of three and wife to businessman Jared Kushner spoke eloquently about gender inequalities and the wage gap, explaining all the ways Trump will fix these problems–except, the problem is, where is the actual evidence for this?
She started off the speech rather strangely, stating that she is not “categorically Republican or Democrat,” which is interesting to point out considering her father is the Republican candidate.
So, what did Ivanka actually say, and how does it size up to Trump’s own views? Here’s a list of some of the most notable passages in her speech:
1. Ivanka spoke about wage disparities and how women, especially working moms, are often suffering the most–and that of course, Trump loves women:
“Gender is no longer the factor creating the greatest wage discrepancy in this country, motherhood is. As president, my father will change the labor laws … he will focus on making quality childcare affordable and accessible for all.
At my father’s company, there are more female than male executives. Women are paid equally for the work that we do, and when a woman becomes a mother, she is supported, not shut out.
As president, my father will change the labor laws that were put in place at a time when women were not a significant portion of the workforce, and he will focus on making quality child care affordable and accessible for all. Politicians talk about wage equality, but my father has made it a practice at his company throughout his entire career.”
2. Ivanka noted that she helps her father run a business where “women are paid equally for the work that we do and when a woman becomes a mother she is supported and not shut out.” She cited that “women represent 46% of the total U.S. labor force and 40% of U.S. households have women as primary breadwinners.”
3. Ivanka really wants you to know how kind, empathetic, and generous he is toward others…He wants to end suffering:
“Throughout my entire life I have witnessed his empathy and generosity toward others, especially those who are suffering. It is his way of being in your corner when you are down.”
But, what does Donald Trump actually have to say about all of this?
As Rebecca Traister has pointed out in New York Magazine, Trump’s campaign has been sued for gender discrimination and apparently pays its female employees one-third less than its male employees. Traister also reminded us of the time Trump stated that he thinks “putting a wife to work is a very dangerous thing,” and wrote about how he felt his first marriage to Ivana Trump (Ivanka’s mother) failed because he let her work. Ummm, OK.
Does Ivanka really believe the person she’s talking about is her dad? If anything, it sounds more like she’s voting for Hillary Clinton–if Hillary Clinton had an orange tan and a come over. Or maybe this is some weird way she can make her dad do what she wants him to (which falls in line with her #WomenWhoWork campaign forthcoming book of the same title). Either way, the facts just don’t add up.
