Camille Cosby’s Dismissal of Victims Shows True Feminism

Camille Cosby’s Dismissal of Victims Shows True Feminism July 6, 2015

Bill Cosby has finally admitted that he got drugs to give women before he had sex with them. For those of you keeping score at home, nearly forty women claimed to be victims of the once beloved comedian.  The saga is heartwrenching, but it’s also an interesting study of the limits of feminism’s market on compassion when it comes to sexual assault victims.

Cosby’s wife, Camille, has always been a strong, powerful, and beautiful woman.

In fact, Bill based the character of Clair Huxtable on his elegant, real-life wife. Oprah breathlessly described her by writing, “You don’t just meet Camille Cosby—you experience her. She exudes the kind of splendor attendant with royalty. Even hearing her name—Dr. Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby—makes you think, I want to be like that.”

Camille is also a self-described feminist who once called for major religions to quit referring to God as male or else women will never have their rightful place in society.

The question has to be asked.  Did Camille know about Bill’s abuse? Now, even reporters have admitted they were aware of the claims against him; an NBC staffer who worked where the Cosby Show was filmed made monthly payments to several women on behalf of the star; and Cosby’s biographer admitted he didn’t pursue the rape allegations that he heard while writing the book. It seems he has been assaulting women since at least 1969, so it seems that Camille must have heard something.

Wives of disgraced politicians are frequently humiliated by standing silently behind their husbands as they apologize for whatever indiscretion they committed. But Cosby wasn’t “hiking the Appalachian Trail.”  His offenses are violent, horrific crimes.

RELATED: HOW TO LIVE IN A WORLD IN WHICH BILL COSBY IS A SERIAL RAPIST

Yet Cosby used his marriage to Camille as a talisman against the accusations. After the allegations were made public, he went to The Atlantis Bahamas and said, “Camille and I have been married for 50 years.” He held up his hand so the sold-out crowd could check out his wedding band.

They clapped in approval.

In December, Camille’s voice was finally heard.  She wrote that she continues to love her husband, whom she described as “a kind man, a generous man, a funny man and a wonderful husband, father and friend.”  She ended her letter with:

“None of us will ever want to be in the position of attacking a victim. But the question should be asked — who is the victim?”

Wait just a minute…. Feminism 101 says that questioning a victim of sexual abuse is utterly taboo because it discourages women from coming forward.  Questioning the victims is a tool of the patriarchy to keep women down.  See this tweet from Lisa Madigan, Attorney General of Illinois:

“If someone calls you, texts you or comes to your room and tells u they are a victim, I want u 2 believe them” #ItsOnILLINOIS

Yet… Camille stood behind her husband while he dismissed these rape claims with a wave of his wedding-ring clad hand, defending a man who might be America’s most famous serial rapist.  Bill was so pleased his wife defending him that he told the New York Post he attributed her support to  “love and the strength of womanhood.”

RELATED: CAMILLE COSBY — “I DON’T BELIEVE IN UNCONDITIONAL LOVE”

Feminists should shudder at the thought that one of their own high profile members, Camille Cosby’s support of a possible serial rapist was described as “the strength of womanhood.”

This just goes to show that Camille Cosby’s feminism has never really been about the best interests of women after all.

None of it ever is.

Read more on the Patheos Faith and Family Channel, follow Nancy on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram!


Browse Our Archives

Follow Us!