The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.

Numerous headlines and “news”paper articles have declared Huma Abedin to be the “humiliated” wife of the tweeting-Weiner:

The New York Post informed us yesterday that “[T]he disgraced Democratic lawmaker who humiliated her, meanwhile, stayed holed up in his Queens home in exclusive Forest Hills Gardens all day on Wednesday”. We learned from the Daily News that “Rep. Anthony Weiner’s humiliated wife was still wearing her wedding ring Thursday when she was spotted for the first time since her husband ‘fessed to a sext scandal,” earlier today. The Chicago Sun Times took the liberty of misquoting the Secretary of State who more accurately said that the press conference was “humiliating”, by headlining their article: “Hillary Clinton hates seeing Rep. Weiner’s wife ‘humiliated’.” (emphasis added)

I admit that in the week following the breaking of the story, I was convinced of his innocence in the publication of the photo and said as much to anyone who would listen. I was wrong. And Madame Secretary was right: the press conference was “humiliating”, TO HIM.

But aren’t we long past the days when a man’s acts illegal, immoral or salacious acts are attributed to his wife? This is not a fraudulent tax return signed by the naive spouse nor another pitiable instance of The Good Wife standing by her man, sharing in his mea culpa. Clearly, his pathology does not spread to her. Instead, all week, we have watched her fulfill her professional obligations in the same quiet and dignified manner that she always has.

Declining to use the early stages of pregnancy as an excuse, she embarked on a difficult overseas mission to assist in promoting American values and diplomacy in Africa.

Other than the best-dressed-list quality of her impeccable personal style, Ms Abedin has done nothing to demand attention, respond to media probes (read: harassment), or condone or refute any of the details of the story. We have no idea what she thinks or plans to do and despite the best attempts of the press to prod her friends into enlightening them, neither do they.

No woman should have “humiliation” imputed to her for any man’s bad acts. The shame of this episode rests solely with Anthony Weiner, who will have to atone publicly, privately and repeatedly, not only to his colleagues, his constituents and his Facebook fans, but to his wife. His tears, I am sure, were driven more by the thought of losing her than a conscious acknowledgement that he did something wrong.

But Huma has done nothing wrong, has nothing to be embarrassed about, and certainly, has not been humiliated. She has not chosen to seek momentary solace in public recriminations and accusations. She has not asked for our sympathy or support nor deviated from her much-vaunted professional dedication. It’s time we stopped demeaning women by calling them victims or looping them into their husbands’ sophomoric behavior. To paraphrase Eleanor Roosevelt: “No one can make you feel humiliated without your consent.” And this wife has not consented to humiliation in any form. Bravo.