On International Women’s Day, with women facing challenges on equal pay, reproductive rights, sexual harassment and violent sexual assault, the topic of sudden, forced and unwanted kisses initially seems trivial, unworthy of consideration. However, Alva Johnson’s recent civil complaint against Donald Trump for kissing her on the side of her mouth, raises the question of whether such conduct should be criminal in the United States.

#MeToo reports have revealed instances of similar conduct across numerous sectors, industries and contexts. Several women have reported comparable incidents with Trump, who has stated he “just starts kissing women … Just kiss … I don’t even wait.” At least eight women have reported being subjected to sudden kisses by former CBS head Les Moonves. At least three women have reported being pinned to a wall by Nobel Laureate Óscar Arias Sánchez while he tried to kiss them.

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