Although Donald Trump is typically the one who makes the most noise in the room, his daughter Ivanka Trump stole the show with her speech last Thursday evening at the Republican National Convention (RNC) by discussing progressive policies and remaining neutral when it comes to choosing a party.
Staying humble and restrained, the opposite of her father, the she proved to be the definition of strong, independent woman. Her poise and excellence derived from her values caused an uproar even louder than the cheers for Donald's primetime, long-awaited speech. However, what was so shocking, was the amount of progressive rhetoric and ideas pushed by her, which are not usually a part of hitting a home run for traditional conservatives.
The 34-year old business woman delivered and focused more on targeting voters as a whole, rather than a specific party. In the past, Ivanka has stated that she does not affiliate with any particular political party.
Ivanka began with talking about how her father circled names in newspapers - searching for people who were in need of help, and being that help, whether it be finding a job or giving them an opportunity.
She continued on, talking about how her father is a champion for women, and vowed to combat wage inequality by gender. She discussed at their family's company, there are more female lead positions over men and that there is equal pay for equal work - including the work of women.
"Politicians talk about wage equality, but my father has made it a practice at his company throughout his entire career,” said Ivanka, mother of three.
As she put it, it’s a meritocracy, and people who are talented and work hard will get ahead.
“He will fight for equal pay for equal work, and I will fight for this right alongside of him," she said. “At my father’s company, there are more female than male executives. Women are paid equally for the work we do, and when a woman becomes a mother, she is supported, not shut out."
This is incredibly important, especially for the Republican party. In an era where people and things are so strongly divided, Ivanka used her speech as a platform for unity. She continues so by advocating for her father, saying that he is 'colorblind and gender-neutral.'
Ivanka has been a champion of her project #WomenWhoWork where she encourages women when it comes to balancing family life with work, along with sharing tips for women looking to succeed and better their lives in the business world. Her key points range from negotiating wages and salaries to promoting the balance of equality. #WomenWhoWork's main moral code is to obtain success through working hard through passion and drive, and enforces her point by highlighting similar woman inspiring others to work hard to achieve their goals, taking responsibility for work ethic, and balance.
Putting your feelings and opinions for Donald Trump aside, Ivanka is a strong, empowering role model for women. She embodies characteristics that all women should inspire to attain - class, ambition, confidence, kindness, humility, and a lack of self-entitlement - unlike powerful female figures like Hillary Clinton. She is not only defined by being the daughter of the Republican nominee for President of the United States - she is a mother, a champion in the business world. She is a woman, unordinary and driven.
