Katia Hetter, CNN: Stop calling Huma Abedin (Weiner's wife) a victim

[Amerigo Vespucci]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/06/20/weiners.wife.not.a.victim/index.html?hpt=hp_c2



Stop calling Huma Abedin a victim
By Katia Hetter, Special to CNN
June 20, 2011 4:52 p.m. EDT

(CNN) -- Americans snicker over the sordid details of former Rep. Anthony Weiner's Internet escapades. But they pity his wife, Huma Abedin. They see an accomplished and beautiful woman betrayed by her husband's Twitter posts. And she's pregnant? The details just get worse and worse.

Abedin and other political wives before her have been forced to face the public flogging of their husbands, heightened in this case by the technological evidence that Weiner left behind and by the helpful testimony of his correspondents.

Americans love to debate the role of the wronged political wife. What will Hillary Clinton, Jenny Sanford, or Newt Gingrich's wives (pick one) do? What should they do? Actress Julianna Margulies was nominated for an Emmy for her portrayal of "The Good Wife" on CBS. Will she ever leave her fictional cheating husband?

To which author Laura Munson says, "Stop." Stop calling these women victims. Unless there are threats to her physical safety or financial security, only Abedin decides if she is a victim. (And she's not talking publicly.)

[madrchsod]

1. that`s why i pass no judgments on how the other person should react.

those who have gone through this know it`s no one`s business but the people involved.

the whole moral outrage about this matter is truly pathetic.

[qazplm]

3. when it's politicians

sorry but it is somewhat our business, particularly when it affects that politicians ability to represent and distracts everyone from the ability to get stuff done, and of course when that politician lies about it.

You are right, no one should judge HER reaction, but I'm not behind the idea that one cannot in any way show any moral outrage over his acts.

[qazplm]

2. so she decides shes a victim

unless there's a threat to her physical or financial security, then we get to decide it for her?

What if she doesn't think she's a victim even if her physical or financial security is threatened?

Unless she and Weiner had some sort of agreement that he could do all of this stuff, she IS a woman betrayed by her husband, and she IS a victim of that betrayal. Now the level of victim she chooses is on her. But at the very least, she's the victim of unearned negative publicity about her private family life due to Weiner's actions.

I don't see that as somehow being sexist, if a female politician did the same thing, her husband would be a victim in the same way.

[bemildred]

5. Well, I don't disagree that he has beshit himself, and embarrassed her,

however I think there is much to be said for allowing her to make her own decisions about how to construe the situation otherwise, both because she is an adult and because she is an injured party whom we ought not injure further by forcing our views and remedies upon her.

[hay rick]

4. Unrec.

No reason to keep this story alive.