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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump's reference to Hillary Clinton as "a nasty woman" during the last presidential debate before the election has inspired reactions ranging from disgust to mockery. For many women, the moment Wednesday night recalled their own experiences being called names by men. What some of them (and some men) are saying:
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THE 'B' WORD
For Jennifer Welborn, a 32-year-old mother and historian in Gastonia, North Carolina, Trump's comment brought back the time a man called her a "bitch" when he didn't agree with her during a municipal meeting a few years back. Welborn was a historic preservation commissioner and was dismayed when the man tried to shut down her opinions by calling her a name.
"Who hasn't been called a nasty woman, or a 'bitch,' or something derogatory when you're in an argument with a man?" she said.
Although she's never considered voting for Trump, his comment during the debate did solidify Welborn's vote for Clinton; previously, she had intended to cast a ballot for Green Party candidate Jill Stein.
"Clinton did what most of us have done in professional situations while being attacked by men: She grinned and bore it with grace and dignity," Welborn said. "I can relate to that. Most women can relate to that."
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VIDEO BULLYING
When Jess Hunt-Ralston, a 27-year-old marketing professional in Atlanta, was 19 and in college, she reviewed cars for an auto dealership on YouTube. She says the comments often ranged from scary to sexist, with men talking about "stick shifts" and other unmentionable words. To hear the "blatant sexism on a presidential debate stage" from Trump triggered Hunt-Ralston to live-Tweet the debate with memes from the film, 'Mean Girls.'
"He's a classic high-school bully," Hunt-Ralston said.
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'NASTY WOMAN' MEMES
Twitter was Ground Zero for 'Nasty Woman' memes, photos and hashtags, including the pro-Clinton #ImWithNasty.
Twitter user @marcikwalton humorously brought up the most literal of links between Trump's remarks and pop culture: Janet Jackson's infectious 1986 song, "Nasty," about unwanted advances and remarks from men.
"Trump made a big mistake using the word nasty," she wrote. "Cuts across gender, race, sexual orientation, and Janet enthusiasts. #nastywomenvote."
Jackson may be the real winner of the debate: Streams of "Nasty" spiked 250% on Spotify, and by 9 a.m. Thursday, the song had been remixed with Trump's debate comments.
Julia Fortney, a 21-year-old marketing professional from Tampa, tweeted "#NastyWoman- A phrase used by a sexist when he realizes he's being defeated by a 'girl.' Intelligence and strength = so nasty!"
Fortney said she's been called awful names — and even threatened with rape — for other pro-Clinton, anti-Trump tweets.
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THE B WORD AGAIN
Actress and singer Sheryl Lee Ralph recalled when she was going back and forth with a director on a musical 30 years ago. The man told her, "Don't be such a bitch," the first time Ralph had been called that name.
While watching the debate Wednesday in a restaurant-bar in New York City, she heard a man say, "Look at that hag," referring to Clinton.
Ralph, who is cast to play Madame Morrible in the Broadway production of Wicked, took to Instagram and Twitter to express her anger.
"I think this is a real tipping point for women," she said. "Women have to stand up and assume who they really are. Are you going to accept what is being said about you by men? ... What are you going to teach your daughters?"
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NOT JUST WOMEN
Many men also took jabs at Trump for his remarks.
"Call me a #badhombre but I'm voting for a #nastywoman," tweeted George Nimeh, also using a hashtag referring to a comment Trump made about immigrants.
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Follow AP writer Tamara Lush on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tamaralush
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