Then Donald Trump happened.

In what will be remembered as the election's defining moment, a 2005 tape was leaked in which the Republican nominee revealed to Access Hollywood anchor and fully-fledged creep Billy Bush that he had "grabbed" women by the pussy" without their permission. In other words, he was bragging about sexual assaulting women.

When multiple women came forward to confirm what he had already said he'd done, he denied the allegations, saying that the women were too ugly to assault or that they actually "welcomed" it.

Trump has consistently demonstrated that he values women purely as sex objects to objectify, dehumanise and assault at will. The full list of vile (and sometimes downright weird) things that Trump has said about women is too long to go into full here, but choice highlights include:

Believing that sexual assault is the inevitable consequence of women serving in the military
Calling Rosie O'Donnell a "pig", "dog", "fat slob" and "disgusting animal"
Perving on his daughter Ivanka
Claiming that women who get abortions should be punished
Saying Hillary Clinton was "disgusting, I don't even want to talk about it" for going to the loo (incidentally, he's not sure his wife Melania even farts or poos)
Telling a female contestant on The Apprentice that "it must be a pretty picture, you dropping to your knees."
Stating that women find him a "turn-on" because of his power (excuse me while I have a little mini-vom)

Pussy grabs back: Why feminism is the real winner in this extraordinary US election