On misogyny and the women who say “no”

This essay explores misogyny in the words and behavior of Jacob Zuma and Donald Trump, who became presidents of South Africa and the United States of America, respectively, in the twenty first century. The argument moves from examining the misogyny of charismatic male leaders, to discussing Trump’s apparent narcissism, and the limits of comparing Trump with Zuma, to a focus on both Trump and Zuma as populist presidents. While the essay is comparative in so far as it discusses what Zuma and Trump might have in common, particularly regarding their attitudes and behavior toward women, it also argues for the limits of comparison and the importance of considering intersectionality, geopolitics, and history when comparing them. Most importantly, it aims to trace and foreground the voices of women who have resisted, challenged, or said “no” to definitions of women espoused by Zuma, Trump and their respective supporters.