This election has been described as one of the most "unique" in recent history. It's the first election to feature a female nominee from a major party, the first election where social media will be a candidate's most effective tool at reaching out to voters, and the first election where both people running are almost universally disliked. And especially because of the polarizing nature of one of the candidates, the American people have become cleanly divided by increasingly radical party lines. I am of the opinion that when times get tough, that's when a person's true colors shine through, and the same can be said of the United States for the past year. Here are three things this election cycle has taught me about America:
1. We really do have a cult of celebrity
Donald Trump may have clinched the nomination because his hardline views appealed to GOP voters more than any other candidate's did. But you have to agree that after the announcement of his campaign back in June of last year, most of the initial support he gained was due solely to the fact that he had name recognition from his many self-branded properties and his stint as the host of The Celebrity Apprentice.
Realizing the gains to be made in viewership were they to feature Donald Trump on their programs, almost every news media outlet gave Trump trillions in free advertising by talking about him nonstop at the expense of more serious candidates. It was these same news outlets that months later scratched their heads wondering how the businessman was able to seize the nomination from over a dozen more qualified people. Say what you will, but at least America's fascination with the Kardashians is relatively harmless compared to what our obsession with Donald Trump's celebrity has caused.
2. We still have a race and gender-based social hierarchy
The phrase "All men are created equal" is not a reflection of the reality of America, but rather is an ideal that we have been striving towards since 1776. To that end, we must continually work to ensure that all people in this country are treated equally, regardless of their race, creed, gender, orientation, etc. Donald Trump and his campaign have proved that we're nowhere close to there yet. While Trump's initial comments about Mexican immigrants in his campaign announcement speech shocked many at first, his constant stream of demeaning comments towards various minority groups has desensitized the American people to his statements entirely. That is until the comments he made regarding women in a 2005 conversation he had with Billy Bush recently surfaced. Suddenly, scores of GOP leaders went up in arms to renounce their support for their own candidate. While Trump's statements are truly reprehensible, for those of us who have already been insulted by him, they seemed very in character. The reaction to Trump's most recent blunder and lack thereof to his previous ones make it clear that GOP representatives don't care about people of color, Muslim Americans, immigrants, refugees, disable people, veterans, or members of the LGBTQ+ community the same way they care for white women.
3. There is still a double standard for women in power
Whether you like her or not, Hillary Clinton is one of the most qualified candidates from either party, having served as both Senator and Secretary of State. However, the American people are still perilously unsure whether she is more fit to the lead the country than a draft-dodging businessman who has never held public office. You really can't even make up these kinds of situations. For not only her entire campaign but also for her entire career, Clinton has had to deal with people telling her to be "strong but not naggy", "pleasant but not desperate", and "smart but not condescending". Meanwhile, her political opponent seems to gain supporters for every new gaffe he commits. Furthermore, to many, her political "scandals" make her completely untrustworthy. While her recklessness with a private email server and lack of transparency regarding the Clinton foundation are, admittedly, reasons to be wary, they pale in comparison to Donald Trump's. From not paying workers, to the scam that was Trump University, to taking money from the Trump foundation, to his multiple bankruptcies, to not paying federal income taxes, to his wife illegally working while on a tourist visa...well, you get the picture. Ultimately, the fact that at this point this is still even a race shows that women still have to work twice as hard for half as much.
