I’m trying to type in the midst of a “historic moment for women,” but CNN is distracting me, replaying clips of Hillary Clinton speaking about glass ceilings and reaching milestones. As she says, addressing millions of viewers after the last primary elections, “…for the first time in our nation’s history…a woman will be a major party’s nominee.” (Cue cheers.) A few hours ago CNN headlined this as a “historic moment for women.” (Cue cheers.)
CNN, my dear preferred broadcast network, if this moment is indeed “historic,” it’s a historic moment for all American voters, not just women.
Neither the Republican nor Democratic Party has had a female presidential nominee before. Perhaps other women have run for President, but none of attained this much media attention. Never before have Americans — nor the world — been this close to having a woman in the White House, which would certainly be more historic than just the nomination. This is a first for every American, regardless of the gender identity of the citizen.
(Cue cheers.)
Now I wonder if she’ll actually win.
One day during a particularly slow 20th Century World History lecture, my history teacher — a nearing retirement, jolly yet cynical woman — claimed that a woman would not be president in her lifetime. She claimed that people don’t trust women with power. Well, I don’t remember her saying that verbatim. I think her exact words were that “Americans are sexist and don’t think women are good leaders.”
Despite the fact that most teachers are…women.
Despite the fact that most work managers are…women.
Despite the fact that most mothers are…women.
But given that a “tough woman in politics” is ridiculed for being cold, and a “nice woman” in politics is ridiculed for being too…nice, and a smart woman in politics would be ridiculed for what she’s wearing or how she styled her hair, maybe she was right. Would we pick a business man and TV personality for president over a former Secretary of State? Would we judge the two candidates based on leadership abilities and experience instead of gender? I guess this is America’s test in sexism, right?
Wrong.
Think about Obama. Just because “we” managed to elect and reelect a black man doesn’t mean our country is “post-racist.” Don’t watch the police brutality clips, contemplate the criminal justice system, or see one person of color represented on TV and believe that “post-racist” malarkey. And if “we” manage to elect Hillary Clinton as the next President of the United States, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a shiny, thick glass wall between a woman and income inequality, free-access to birth control, safety, and unfair assumptions about feminists and non-feminists alike. Women will still get sexually harassed at work. Donald Trump will still call women derogatory names; lots of people will. This isn’t just a “society versus women,” or “men versus women” problem. There will always be women who love to drag other women, even if we could unite and relish in this “historic moment.”
Change takes time. It's not about one moment that initiates all the positive change, it's a mountain of moments. And maybe a female feminist president would spark some sort of process for change.
What kind of change do I, as a woman, want?
Affordable education for everyone, more efficient immigration services, and more service to transitioning countries who need resources that the United States can provide. And universal healthcare in America.
Wait, “as a woman.”
Less of an urge to constantly apologize. More self-assurance when walking down the street (day or night). Less intimidation when walking into a car dealership or Best Buy. Larger pockets in pants. Less pressure to look beautiful and skinny. Ending victim blaming after rapes sexual assaults. Dresses with pockets. And world peace.
But what can a president, female or male, even do to accomplish one task on the latter list?
Which candidate is going to inspire those changes?
There’s still five wild (and ugly) campaign-trail months ahead until election time. This is a historic election season for everyone—not just women, not just Democrats--and it's only the beginning. As Clinton said in her “historic” quasi-victory speech, “The end of the primaries is only the beginning of the work we need to do.” I guess many will knock on doors, call strangers, repost news articles and promote this blond-lady candidate with which we’ve presented ourselves. We can celebrate in this “historic moment” that America has picked a different type of candidate, even if she’s not really any different than anyone we’ve seen before…But what matters, I suppose, is voting, and women have had that right for 97 years*.
(Cue cheers.)
*97 years for white women, less for women of color and Native American women.
