For a second time I've heard Trump complimented as 'broad shouldered'.

[applegrove]

I think that is sexist. Is it just me? This time it was Pence.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I guess, sort of, since it implies a sort of "manly" strength.

But IMHO the real problem is that Trump hasn't actually got any sort of strength, manly or otherwise.

[MADem]

2. The only thing "broad shouldered" is those expensive suits that conceal his considerable girth.

In actual fact, he's rather round-shouldered in a "small ham" kind of way.

Put another way--I think the expanse of his derriere is greater than the expanse of his shoulders. But hey, shoulder pads can conceal a multitude of sins!



I don't think it is particularly sexist...I do think it's a lie as the above picture does illustrate!

[pnwmom]

4. He might not be the best example but in general men are more broad-shouldered than women.

Trump is pushing a sexist meme when he uses that phrase, and so is Pence.

[MADem]

6. It only works, though, if the person in question has the qualities that are exhorted!

Trump is built like a triangle--or maybe a Weeble, which wobbles but it don't fall down....

[pansypoo53219]

9. GWasshat's suits were contracted to give him more shoulder than he had. the RUMP likes leisure suit

[LeftRant]

8. Those suits aren't hiding anything. The 3" shoulder pads are glaringly obvious, and his side profile

reveals his true shape. Also, I cannot un-see the vollyball video HuffPo had a few weeks ago. I'm not linking it. I like you too much

But he IS broad-mouthed. I'll give him that much.

[pnwmom]

3. Trump himself has used the term to describe how America should act, and yes, it is sexist. n/t

[Hekate]

5. It's not sexist, it's just a manly man's compliment. Lean on me, I've got broad shoulders....

I've heard that said about women too, because it's metaphorical for strength and compassion. But it's mostly men who get to be physically broad shouldered.

In DT's case, he has no strength and compassion to share with others, so anyone who uses the phrase to describe him other than physically is missing the mark by a mile.

He has a gut, too. Big man all over -- except for those tiny hands.

[NurseJackie]

7. I can just see his team... sitting around a table... brainstorming new ides...

... and THIS is the best they can come up with for the message of the day.



Amateurs! Losers!

[DavidDvorkin]

10. It's not sexist. It's absurd.

[JHB]

11. It's he word you use when scraping through the bottom of the barrel...

...to say something positive about a man.

Sexist? Yeah, but unless there's actually an admirable physique involved it's aver ball forced smile.

[eShirl]

12. "big boned" "husky"

[grossproffit]

13. A broad shouldered apple?

[Tanuki]

14. Carl Sandberg, in a poem, referred to Chicago as "city of the broad shoulders."

When I just googled to make sure I had the quote right, I found this interesting discussion, which gives a context and a sense of the term which the Trump/Pence handlers apparently had in mind when they put the words in their mouths:

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Chicago-called-the-City-of-Broad-Shoulders
"The nickname comes from the fifth line of Carl Sandburg's poem, "Chicago" and actually reads, "City of the Broad Shoulders." The short answer is that is suggests that Chicago is a hard-working city. The long answer requires a look at the history of the city through the poem.

Chicago of 1900 was "stormy, husky, [and] brawling", a transportation hub for the nation which meant it was also an agricultural, manufacturing and financial center, a city growing so fast that its population was doubling every 20 years. Sandberg's poem celebrates the hard-working nature of the city, even the less glorious aspects. By referring to Chicago as "City of the Broad Shoulders," Sandburg uses synecdoche, that is, using a part to describe the whole. The important part was he wanted to create a picture in the reader's mind of Chicago as a giant, hard-working man who could seemingly take on any difficult or demanding task. Unlike New York which was and is the financial and publishing center of the country, Chicago was the city of labor-- downtown's State and Madison in 1897 was called "the busiest corner in the world"-- and drew thousands to it looking for jobs and the chance to build their own American dream."

[bigwillq]

15. I don't see it being sexist (nt)