The United States paved the way for democracy across the globe starting over 200 years ago. But it wasn’t until last November that we finally elected a female vice president and our first VP of color! Regardless of how you feel about Vice President Kamala Harris’s politics, I hope we can recognize how monumental this moment is.
Representation Matters
In my 8th grade, Home Economics class we had to vote on which jobs were “male” and which were “female”. Everyone agreed that being President of the United States was only a job for men. While we still haven’t had a female president we are closer than ever. Growing up in a predominantly white suburb of Cleveland with white parents I didn’t have many people around me who looked like me. There were even fewer role models who looked like me. I’ll never forget wondering why I never resembled any of the Disney princesses.
To now see a woman who looks like me as the second most powerful person in our great country really hits home. It is even more impactful that my daughter will only know a world in which someone who looks like her has held a position of this immense level of power and esteem. My hope is that as she grows up seeing women in leadership roles she will become inspired by those who’ve gone before her. I wish for her to realize and believe that she’s capable of greatness too.
This is important for girls and boys
While I’m thrilled to show my daughter a woman in power who looks like her I’m equally excited to show it to my son. I want him to grow up in a world where it’s common sense and anticipated that women are in power. I want him to be grown and ask, “Mom, how on earth was Kamala Harris the first female POC (person of color), vice president?! It took you until 2020 to get there!” *Insert sarcastic teenage eye roll*
I envision him saying this in the same tone that I would use when questioning my own parents about going to segregated schools and teaching during the desegregation process in the 70s. It’s important that our sons become accustomed to seeing women being “boss babes” so that they will learn that women can do the same jobs as men and that women should be paid for it, too.
Cheers to raising strong children
I’m glad to be raising a daughter and son during a time in our nation’s history when there’s a big emphasis on advocating for gender equality. Thank you to Vice President Kamala Harris for breaking this glass ceiling in hopes that more of our daughters will continue on this path of power and strength. While we can all say that our children should be equal, being able to look to the national political stage and see an embodiment of gender equality sends a message more powerful than any words.
