COMMENT: Why politicians don’t get to decide what WE find sexist

Just weeks after we bore witness to a group of privileged white men in suits hindering a woman’s right to bodily autonomy in developing countries, women in 2017 are being told that we should spend our Sunday mornings tending to our partner’s needs.

No, seriously.

If it turned out that the inauguration of President Donald Trump came with its very own time travel machine, would any of us actually be surprised at this stage?

In a move which had Twitter furrowing its brow, shaking its head and reaching for a stiff gin in recent days, two Republican politicians suggested that it’s far from nursing hangovers and binge-watching boxsets us women should be doing of a weekend.

While discussing the merits involved in closing some businesses on a Sunday, North Dakota Representative, Vernon Laning, told the female population that the Lord’s day isn’t for shopping… despite what his wife might think.

"I don’t know about you but my wife has no problem spending everything I earn in six and a half days. I don’t think it hurts at all to have half a day off," he claimed on the chamber floor earlier this month.

Welcome to 21st century politics, y'all.

Adamant good ol' Vernie wouldn't be going it alone on his steam train back to the 50s, Republican Bernie Satrom, chimed in and insisted that Sunday was for spending with your partner “making him breakfast, bringing it to him in bed, and then after you’re done with that, go take your kids for a walk.”

Oh Vern, how well you know us gals. If their shirts don't need pressin', their shoes need shinin'. A woman's work is never done, right guys?

And while the Twitosphere went into meltdown mode and desperately attempted to make sense of this archaic assessment of womanhood, Bernie and Vernie insisted their comments had been made in jest.

Hmmm, where have we heard that before?

Oh, that's right; from the President of the United States of America when he was overheard admitting he grabs women by the genitals because… well… he can.

"Anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who I am," Trump recited in a televised apology last October after his sexist and misogynistic sentiments were made public.

But here's the thing lads; when you're a politician, your words DO reflect who you are.

And, unfortunately for you, you can't choose when and where this rule applies.