You May Not Know It, But She Is The Revolution

I wish people would stop pretending that there’s nothing revolutionary about electing the first female leader of the free world. There have been 227 years of male presidencies in American history. Women couldn’t vote in national elections in our country until 1920, with the passage of the 19th Amendment. There are women alive today who were born before women could vote. There are women today waiting for this revolution. Many of these women couldn’t even legally get a credit card in their own name until 1976.

While there have been great advances today that allow women to pursue their ambitions, there are still many barriers that hold us back. And these barriers are both real and imagined. Some people have grown accustomed to social and cultural barriers and feel uncomfortable with removing them. Some take advancements and progress for granted and are so complacent that they ignore or forget about gender inequalities that exist today. Some have adopted an egalitarian view of gender, even though that view has yet to truly manifest itself. These egalitarians tell us we’re all equal, yet fail to see that societal and cultural barriers — the double standards — still contradict this notion.

Like many millennial women my age, I’m not always aware of the sacrifices that older women (and older male allies) have made to pave the way. But women like my grandmother have ensured that I don’t take the rights I have today as a woman for granted. It’s with this vigilance that I’m compelled to write this article.

Despite progress, girls and young women like myself grow up with mixed cultural signals that govern our lives. We’re empowered by feel-good mantras (i.e., “girl power”), yet disempowered by cultural expectations that force us to fixate on our insecurities and appearance. Some of us have parents like I do who tell us that we can be anything we want, yet their assurance isn’t always reflected or validated by the representations we see in our neighborhoods, government or media.

As a culture, we struggle to fully embrace complex female protagonists; many people, without thinking, prefer, instead, to see women as one-dimensional caricatures. That’s why, some argue, ambitious women are often typecasted as one-dimensional characters whom we either viscerally like or dislike.

An experiment has shown, for example, that voters’ preference for a female leader is negatively impacted by the perception that she is seeking power. The researchers hypothesized that power-seeking women “disrupt prescribed communal expectations for women” and elicit moral outrage from subjects. The study ultimately found that people mentally penalized ambitious women, not men, for violating social norms by seeking power. This explains, to some extent, why many people still struggle with the idea of a female leader. To some degree, it explains why women have never comprised more than 20% of US Congress. Twenty-three states have never elected a female governor. In the corporate world, only 26 corporate leaders of Fortune 500 companies are women (5.2%).

The stark reality remains: women in leadership positions, women in government, won’t become the norm, until we make an effort to make it the norm. This starts with an optical revolution that works to transform opinions. This starts with bold initiatives that encourage girls and women to be ambitious — initiatives that loosen social stigmas about female ambition. It begins with public examples and visibility.

So, let’s talk about Hillary Clinton. Many people have preconceived notions about her — myself included. But for many older women like my mother and grandmother, Hillary Clinton symbolically represents something I myself do not have the authority to challenge. Having lived through several eras in American history, some older women know a different Hillary Clinton than I do, and the culmination of their experiences as women themselves shape how they view the candidate as a trailblazer.

If you actually listen to some of Hillary Clinton’s older female supporters, you can start to understand that they have a legitimate point: Hillary is a pioneer who has led by example. She has stepped up when other women have not. She has broken glass ceilings when people said she couldn’t. She was the first student ever at her alma mater’s history to give a student commencement speech. At Yale Law School in 1973, she was one of 27 women in a 235-person class. In 1974, when she moved to be with her then-boyfriend, she “became one of only two female faculty members in the School of Law at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.” She was the first female associate, and first woman to make partner, at Rose Law Firm. She was the first First Lady with a law degree and a successful law career (she was named by the National Law Journal as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in the US in 1988 and then in 1991.)

Hillary Clinton is the first First Lady to run for political office and win when she was elected as US Senator of NY. She is New York state’s first female US Senator. She is the first First Lady to run for president…. You get the point. She is a unique and consequential feminist figure in American history; anyone who argues otherwise doesn’t understand the significance of the path she’s blazed for millions of women.

No woman in American history has achieved what Hillary Clinton has managed to accomplish. No woman in American history has come as close to becoming US president as Hillary Clinton. Sure, she has a ton of baggage, but she’s been in the public eye longer than I’ve been alive, serving our country as First Lady, as US senator and then as Secretary of State. She’s not perfect. She has screwed up in more ways than one. So if you’re looking to elect a perfect ideological Barbie with a squeaky clean image, then you might be “disappointed” to discover that she’s actually more of a mature, scarred and battle-tested warrior.

Despite being the subject of a modern-day Salem witch trial that has occurred on and off for decades, Hillary Clinton has never been indicted, charged or convicted of a crime. Investigations after investigations, by Republicans and a special prosecutor, have cleared her name, yet her partisan foes continue to dredge up baseless charges — often at the approval of a public mob that can’t seem to stop believing the worst about her. This charade has gotten so bad that a fascist movement has now galvanized itself around “lock her up” chants. One can easily replace the phrase “lock her up” with the word “witch” (“witch” chants would sound just as ominous and unjust.)

As another writer (male, no less) has blatantly pointed out, there is an obvious component at play with regards to how Hillary has been viewed, treated, persecuted and demonized: her gender. For some people, using Clinton’s gender as a “defense” induces eye-rolls and mumblings about victim mentality, but the background into how Clinton initially earned public scorn in the ‘90s should be considered. Clinton was an unprecedented political spouse and First Lady who rubbed many people the wrong way when she brazenly tussled with critics to defend a successful legal career she had while her husband was governor of Arkansas and, once again, when she defended her husband against adultery allegations. Hillary also earned partisan contempt when, within 100 days of her husband’s inauguration, she became the first First Lady to directly involve herself in policymaking by chairing the National Task Force on Health Care.

In the ‘90s, Hillary Clinton was often viewed by social conservatives as an intimidating liberal feminist who had far too much influence on policies in her husband’s administration. As she worked to reform health care, her political foes worked tirelessly to undermine her and her credibility. People like my grandmother often assert that if Hillary Clinton had kept quiet and played the role of the traditional First Lady, she would have never been singled out the way that she’s been for partisan political persecution. But then again, if Hillary had been like any other typical First Lady, she wouldn’t be on the brink of making history today.

There is a legitimate point: be it gender, be it the way she presents herself or is perceived, Hillary Clinton has been “abnormalized” and judged harshly by a different standard than her male counterparts. Some people expect and want Hillary Clinton and other female protagonists to be pure. They want to rally around someone new and exciting, who inspires people with artful prose. They want her to be outgoing and cool. Instead, they get a woman who’s been tarnished by decades of activities in the public eye — an over-ambitious woman who male-dominated media and male politicians have worked hard to destroy.

But say what you want about Hillary Clinton. I think she’s badass. Hillary has been the subject of ruthless smear campaigns longer than I have been alive. Yet she wakes up every day and tackles challenges with her head held high.

This may be a poor analogy, but Hillary Clinton is kind of like the nerdy girl in school whom peers pick on and make up lies about. Yet by the grace of God, she always has the tenacity and perseverance to weather the storm. As she puts it, when she gets knocked down, she gets back up again. She doesn’t let her detractors stop her from achieving her goals. She does it because she loves our country. She embodies the kind of resilience and dedication that represents the spirit of our country. She embodies the kind of relentless determination that I personally strive to have. (I mean, this woman survived a grueling 11-hour Congressional hearing where she was asked the same questions ad nauseam.)

Contrary to what condescending detractors would have you believe, Hillary isn’t some ditzy blonde who rolled out of bed one day and decided to run for president. This is an intelligent and accomplished woman who has earned a place at the table through decades of public service, starting with her work at the Children’s Defense Fund in the 1970s.

Hillary Clinton isn’t just any woman: she’s an accomplished and qualified woman. This bears repeating because detractors keep insisting that women like myself voted for, or are voting for, Hillary simply because she’s a woman. It’s a baffling accusation, considering that the male candidate they support is the least qualified candidate in modern history.

Hillary Clinton is the most qualified woman in American history to seek the oval office. She is the first Secretary of State to have mounted a presidential campaign in nearly 28 years. If she wins in November, she will be the first former Secretary of State to become president since James Buchanan in 1857. No man, woman or child in American history has ever had the type of qualifications and résumé that Clinton boasts as a presidential nominee.

It’s not a coincidence that the first female presidential nominee of major political party in American history has credentials that far exceed those of male nominees in recent history.

Unlike her male opponent, Hillary spent years earning legislative and foreign policy experience to even be considered qualified for the position. When she was rejected in the 2008 presidential Democratic primaries after a tough and prolonged contest, she went to gain more experience by accepting a job from a man who defeated her.

Hillary Clinton was pushing for change even before she held elected office. Her record speaks for itself. She was instrumental in reforming schools in Arkansas, in the creation of HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) and CHIP (Child Health Insurance Program) and in advocating reforms for foster care children. As a US Senator, she helped, and provided support for, 9/11 survivors. She worked to rebuild NYC and to provide health care for first responders; she stood up to the EPA when it lied about the air quality at ground zero. As our country’s top diplomat, she was involved in advising the President on bringing Osama Bin Laden to justice. She personally negotiated a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. This woman has done more for our country than the 70-year-old life-long businessman whom media and pundits have worked hard to portray as her equal.

You may not know it yet, but Hillary Clinton is the revolution.

There’s a lot of talk about the “establishment.” But the good ol’ boys’ club is the establishment. This establishment allows for a man to get away with bragging about sexual assault by calling it “locker room talk.” This establishment allows for societal circumstances and expectations to hinder and thwart female ambition. This establishment encourages women to doubt themselves, their appearance and their worth — allows career-women to doubt themselves in negotiations about their salary. This establishment creates double standards that allow for people, without hesitation, to choose male bravado and bombast over a woman’s qualifications and experience. These double standards allow for us to judge an accomplished woman more harshly; double standards allow society to blame her for her husband’s transgressions , yet give a pass to a serial philander who’s been married three times.

Double standards allow for a pathological liar and con artist who’s been involved in over 3500+ lawsuits and 75 ongoing lawsuits (including a civil lawsuit accusing him of racketeering and fraud), who lies about giving to charity, who refuses to release his tax returns (yet admits to not paying federal income taxes for years), to be perceived as more “honest and transparent” than a woman who has released 39 years of tax returns.

This establishment allows a male presidential candidate without political or foreign policy credentials to be seen as an equal to a woman with them. This establishment allows for a pioneering woman with qualifications and credentials to be dismissed as an “establishment insider.” This establishment allows for a temperamental and vindictive ignoramus with a business record rife with cronyism, bankruptcies and lawsuits, to be considered by millions as qualified for the presidency.

These double standards are not lost on me as a young female voter. If a well-qualified woman like Hillary Clinton is dismissed and disrespected the way that she is, what chances do other women have at becoming president? Do qualifications suddenly stop mattering when a woman has them, even if she’s facing a candidate who’s just as flawed as, if not more flawed than, she is? And consider this for a second: what kind of message would her defeat send to young girls? You can aspire to be great, have all the credentials, but you’ll get passed over for the least qualified man, simply because you fail the “like-ability” test or fail to overcome the pervasive lies people spread about you?

“When there are no ceilings, the sky’s the limit.”

The highest glass ceiling has yet to be shattered. As I’ve said, Hillary Clinton has gotten further than any woman in American history to becoming the president of the US. Several things stand in the way: sexist attitudes, chauvinist double standards, lies and innuendos, foreign foes, and an establishment of men and their female allies who are eager to humiliate her for threatening the male status quo.

Tons of glass ceilings have been shattered over the course of this century. Women like Hillary Clinton have done a lot of that shattering during their lifetime. Hillary has navigated a man’s world as an over-ambitious woman, in hostile terrains, where she had few women to model her ambitions after. And, through it all, she has faced tremendous obstacles. Every step of the way she has had to answer to critics and detractors who smear and lie about her, who doubt and assail her character. Every step of the way, she has had people criticized the tone of her voice and her appearance. Yet she’s still standing. The reason that she’s still standing is because she’s tough and resilient.

Over the years, her challenges as an over-ambitious woman, however, have made her cautiously adopt a colder, tougher public persona that’s often deconstructed and poorly received. Though similar coping mechanisms have been adopted by men who are viewed as stoic, her existence challenges our perceptions and social conventions.

The GOP nominated a serial sexist who humiliates, allegedly assaults, and objectifies women to face the first female presidential nominee of a major political party. As a millennial woman, I voted with pride to ensure that he is the first male nominee in American history to be defeated by a woman.

As Hillary Clinton said nearly half a century ago at her historic commencement speech, I voted to make the “impossible possible.” I voted to give her a brick to finally break that highest glass ceiling. (And more importantly, I voted for her to stop an ignorant, proto-fascist demagogue who threatens minorities and our country’s values and endangers the very existence of our democracy and republic.)

“Women’s rights are human rights,” Hillary said, but that wasn’t always true in this country. Women haven’t always had a seat at the table. Just 144 years ago, Susan B Anthony was “locked up” and fined for trying to vote. Tomorrow, we’ll find out if Hillary Clinton becomes the first woman to finally sit at the desk of the oval office, to lead the free world, after women secured the right to vote just 96 years ago. Hillary started a chaotic revolution by violating traditional gender norms as First Lady to fight for health care reforms. Decades later, that revolution has led to more advancements and opportunities for women and, eventually, to her presidential nomination. As president, she’ll finish that revolution by creating a fairer economy for both men and women, and by continuing to pave the way for millions of people in this country and around the world.