This year’s election delivered an outcome that saddened many. An openly racist, misogynistic, and xenophobic male has been elected president by our electoral college. Sadly, here was another opportunity to elect a woman to the most powerful position in the United States Federal Government and we threw away on baseless charges of corruption and lack of skill.
I don’t know what Trump will do these next four years, but based on his comments towards women, I imagine an America where institutionalized misogyny is even more normalized than it already is. He will begin an all-out assault on our rights as women—making abortions harder to get in certain states and who knows what else.
Hillary’s defeat is a sad one indeed and it demonstrates that we live in a country that would rather have someone who is openly misogynistic in office, than a woman who is smart and more than qualified for the job. Her defeat demonstrates that America is afraid of powerful women, and despite trumpeting its progressive status about women’s rights, we still did everything we could to bar a woman from the most powerful office in the United States. We imposed ridiculous double standards of absolute purity, and yet turned the other cheek when Trump did similar things.
However, Hillary’s concession speech should make us realize that this was only a set-back in breaking the biggest glass ceiling of all—the presidency. This is a huge set-back, but we should not treat it as the end. The fact that a woman got to the national election and won the popular vote is no small feat, and should say to those who champion women’s rights that our voices can and do have value, despite what the electoral college says.
Trump’s victory should only inspire us to fight harder for 2020, Clinton has made a critical step in the dream of a woman president. As women, we should stop hating each other because one of us is pursuing a dream or has had more education. We should still rally around Clintion and the women who wish to follow in her footsteps because a well-qualified woman who will readily champion our rights as women is one that is worth keeping.
Patriarchy is definitely rearing its ugly head, but this election we scared the crap out of it. Keep being the powerful woman—called witch, bitch, cold, and unmotherly by the patriarchy because this election should prove that patriarchy is real and that feminism is needed more than ever.
Thank you Hillary, you fought a good fight, and hope your fight can be continued through these next four years and the elections to come. I am still with you, I have been since 2008.
