Post-Election Thoughts 2016: A Letter to Feminists

Dear Feminists:

Like many of you, I’m saddened by the 2016 U.S. election results, in which our country chose a male reality TV star and business mogul over a female first lady, senator, and secretary of state.  Even those of you who didn’t particularly like Clinton probably found the possibility of America having its first female president stirring.  Obama gave black Americans a precious historic moment.  It feels like we women were robbed of ours.

Hillary Clinton was a flawed candidate, carrying mistakes and baggage (as will most politicians with a 30-year record).  Bad boy Bill’s affairs put her in an impossible place in the nineties.  She ran a weak “politics as usual” message while America learned their healthcare premiums are going up again.  But as she stood on that stage debating Donald Trump, she was every single one of us who has been shouted down, objectified or demeaned by a male figure.  Now it feels like the election results validate his behavior and we all face futures as stewardesses on Trump’s jet.

There is no denying the misogynists are out there celebrating, white power is out there celebrating, and Russia drank a little more vodka this week in Trump’s honor.  But did Hillary’s femininity alone lose her the presidency?  No, there were many other factors at play.

So I’m not despairing.  The female candidate didn’t win this time, but there will be another soon.  Look at the facts: women make up the majority of college students (Boston Globe).  Women move into the House, Senate and Governor’s mansions with each election cycle (Forbes).  More women are running for President than ever before (Wiki list).  In 2016 we saw the first female presidential candidate nominated by a major party.  It won’t be long before a woman runs for the Presidency… and wins.

Even though this election was disappointing, change is coming.  Millennial and Gen Y women now typically expect to go to college, pursue a career, and then perhaps marry and have a family.  The culture shift is real.  Attitudes are changing.  It just takes time in a democracy for things to change at the top.

Of course, some will argue that the only time for equality is NOW, and moving at this slow pace only condones current injustices. And more women are urgently needed in leadership – nowhere was this more clearly illustrated for me than in this article, where pro-life male legislators show an appalling ignorance about women’s health.  But Trump was just elected on a backlash against many changes the Obama administration brought us.  I believe slow change, while painful, may be the most effective and permanent.  We made progress this year, and personally, I choose to be happy with that increment while working toward future progress.

Right now America is in a state of flux.  Trump is on his way into power, and Obama is on his way out of power.  The nation is on tiptoes trying to watch the transition over the White House fence.  Several tempting options are not productive right now: for instance, waiting for Trump to be found guilty of fraud or rape or tax evasion, waiting for the election results to be fraudulent, lashing out at Trump supporters in long rants on Facebook, and lying in bed miserably staring at your ceiling.

Here’s what I’ve decided to do.

• Add my voice. There’s a lot of noise right now as millions use Facebook as a platform to express their opinions.  Even in all the hubbub, I choose to believe my voice and opinions matter.  I refuse to use anyone else’s words.  I’m going to express myself and I hope you will too.
• Take action and speak up when I see my values being challenged. Election night brought out a rash of ugly events against minorities, including women.  The saddest part of the reports is that many bystanders did nothing.  The result of an election, the opinion of a nation, will not change what I believe in.  I will help people remember how we treat our fellow Americans.
• Share my goals and collaborate more. It’s a common misconception that women don’t want leadership roles.  Nothing could be further from the truth… we just haven’t figured out how to make leadership roles happen on our terms yet.  If we all start speaking up about what we want to accomplish, then we can dispel the myth that we don’t want to accomplish anything, start to collaborate more, and help each other reach those goals.
• Start intentionally supporting women in leadership. A few weeks ago, I ran into an immensely talented young woman who I could easily see representing her state in the House or Senate.  I realized the biggest thing holding her back, besides herself, would be a lack of a mentors and role models.  Then I realized how old I am.  This is starting to be my problem.  Meeting this young lady challenged me to work harder toward my own goals because before long, women graduating college might be looking at me when they complain they don’t have an example to follow toward leadership positions.

Losing an election is emotionally painful – that’s been scientifically documented.  But this is just a setback for feminism in America, not a total loss.  In a democracy like ours, I believe the real progress isn’t made as much on the national stage as it is in the grassroots movements of ordinary women.  Choosing to lead college organizations, choosing to run for city office, choosing to step into a higher management position, choosing to raise families with sons and daughters who respect gender equality: we take action every day in this country, and we are the reason real change is happening. Let’s press on.