Mañalich Exposes His Misogynistic Mindset: Orellana Condemns His Remarks on Vallejo and Cariola’s Pregnancies

In a scathing response, the Minister of Women and Gender Equity, Antonia Orellana, has strongly condemned the sexist comments made by former Health Minister Jaime Mañalich regarding the pregnancies of government spokeswoman Camila Vallejo and Chamber of Deputies President Karol Cariola.

Mañalich had speculated that the pregnancies of these two prominent women were part of a supposed strategy, a remark that Orellana described as misogynistic and a clear demonstration of Mañalich’s machismo.

Orellana Defends Reproductive Autonomy

In a tweet, Orellana expressed her outrage, stating that Mañalich’s comments and suspicions are the kind of discrimination that women often face in the workplace when they exercise their freedom to become mothers. She emphasized that Mañalich’s remarks only serve to expose him as the misogynist he is, and that reproductive autonomy must be respected.

Widespread Condemnation from Political Leaders

Orellana’s criticism was echoed by other prominent political figures, including President Gabriel Boric, who described Mañalich’s comments as the most miserable thing he had seen in politics in a long time. Boric expressed his certainty that Vallejo and Cariola would never engage in such a strategy, and condemned the violent lack of respect in speculating about a woman’s choices, timing, and motives.

The Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá, also condemned Mañalich’s remarks as simply unacceptable, stating that the violence of these words must be rejected across the board, without delay or nuance. The Mayor of Santiago, Irací Hassler, also voiced her support for the criticism, describing Mañalich’s comments as a miserable and misogynistic attack on the life decisions of Chilean women.

Conclusion

The strong and unified response from political leaders, including the Minister of Women and Gender Equity, Antonia Orellana, sends a clear message that sexist and misogynistic remarks will not be tolerated, especially when they target the reproductive choices and autonomy of women. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for gender equality and the need to challenge deeply ingrained patriarchal attitudes in the political sphere and beyond.