With the presidential election being just nine months away, the question on everybody’s mind is who will be the next to lead the United States? We can also wonder how likely it is that this individual will be a woman. Clearly, the United States has a long history of being run by men and the absence of a women leader is not only impossible to ignore, but must be given attention in order for true equality to prevail in the future. For change to be made, it is crucial to understand why this is an occurrence and what can be done to open the floor to further women representation within the United States political arena.
Why are women not being pushed to the forefront of the political sector?
Compliance has everything to do with changes not being made. According to Pew Research Center, only 18% of Americans believe that it is “extremely important” for a woman to be elected as president within their lifetime. We must ask why such a small percentage of Americans care about whether or not a woman is being represented in the most esteemed role in the country.
Media coverage plays a huge role on how women are portrayed within this sector. Additionally, this research shows that 58% of Americans believe that when women show emotions, this hurts their chances at getting elected, versus 33% saying that this factor will hurt men during election season. This is evident as a recently elected president, Donald Trump was known for emotional social media rants and speeches, but this factor only garnered further support from his audience. Furthermore, Barack Obama was known for becoming emotional during times of devastation which allowed him to be praised for showing vulnerability. According to Forbes, in 2016, when Hillary Clinton was passionately debating with Donald Trump, he labeled the fellow candidate as “a totally unhinged person” for simply showing emotion. Additionally, after a vote on the House floor, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was accused of shedding “crocodile tears”. It is clear that women in politics are being represented as manipulative and weak upon sharing emotions with the public, but when men do the same thing, this is seen as brave and vulnerable.
What efforts can you make in order to see changes?
Acknowledging how the presence of women will positively affect politics is crucial. According to PBS, the organization, She Should Run, found that women are motivated by the idea of shaping policy around issues that were disproportionately affecting them; such as reproductive rights, climate change, and not just to close the gender gap. Promoting the presence of women in positions of power and leadership is crucial for addressing issues that require greater attention. Additionally, knowing that just because one woman, Nikki Haley is a candidate in 2024, does not mean that full equality has been fulfilled. As seen in the statistics mentioned earlier, biases against women’s capability of leading a country still infiltrate most American minds and these must be recognized in order to be unlearned. Groups such as She Should Run and EMILY’s List make active efforts to encourage and uplift women who are equally as qualified as their male counterparts. Supporting these groups and speaking to one another is a huge step towards changes being made in the future and seeing more women on election ballots.
Overall, it is clear that there is a long way to go with integrating women into high positions of political power. Educating yourself and others on the biases that women face not only within this sector, but in daily life is critical for this cause. Communication and widespread acceptance are pivotal for ensuring the visibility of women on our ballots within the next four years.
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