"For The First Time In My Life, I Was Shamed For My Attire:"--Attorney's Clapback Is Priceless!

Here we go again! A smart, beautiful, accomplished Black woman goes on television to discuss an important topic, and all folks can see is her cleavage. What the what??!!

When respected civil rights attorney Areva Martin appeared on a CNN morning show a couple of weeks ago to give her views on the recent sxual harassment scandals, she wore a blouse that one viewer thought was too low-cut. This dude had no problem firing off an email scolding Martin and telling her exactly what he thought: Your clothing "serves to further objectify women."

So Martin went on the MichaeLA show, hosted by Michaela Pereira, to continue the discussion. “I’m a writer, so I had a few choice words for this anonymous emailer,” Martin replied, when asked how she handled this situation. 

In the end, she decided to not respond directly, and instead use it as a “teachable moment.” That’s why she’s sharing the email and opening the discussion.

“I don’t think you ever get used to it,” said Michaela, who pointed out that viewers will write in with cruel critiques on everything from hairstyles to footwear.

“You see it coming, let’s put it that way,” Martin said. “You don’t get used to strangers attacking you.” She added that since she’s been vocal about the sexual harassment and assault cases in the news lately, she’s gotten some comments. But she’s never been slut shamed…until now.

“Ever since the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke in October, I’ve been speaking out against sexual harassment and assault, offering legal opinions and support for victims at a massive rally in Los Angeles, during appearances on news and talk shows and in my columns for TIME. But two weeks ago,” Martin wrote in a recent op-ed for TIME’s motto section, “this story touched me in a personal way when, for the first time in my life, I was slut-shamed for my attire.”

Martin says the email was “both offensive and ironic, given the topic we were discussing.”

Here’s what the letter said:

Dear Ms. Martin, I would respectfully suggest that your attire for these interviews, especially on this topic, should be more modest… This morning on CNN you had on a top or dress that revealed substantial cleavage, which some, who would wrongly discount your message, [would say] serves to further objectify women.

Martin was taken aback, and she still is. “What still disturbs me about this message is that it reflects an amazingly antiquated and amazingly sexist attitude that has remained ingrained in our culture—even while we’re living in a watershed moment when it comes to respecting women—one that says if women wear certain clothing we’re begging for trouble, and it’s our own fault if we get dismissed, harassed or assaulted.”

Martin told Michaela that just because she, or any woman, is dressed in a feminine way, it’s not an invitation to harass or even comment. “Am I fashion forward? Yes. Am I stylish? Yes. Am I asking someone to violate me? Absolutely not!”

She points out that men are not typically objectified for what they wear. Martin hopes that conversations like these will help to change the double standard. 

“Mutual respect is what we’re looking for,” Michaela confirmed.

What do you think? Weigh in here!