A Lot Has Changed for Women Since 2016. What Does That Mean for Kamala Harris?
Voters eager to elect the first female president pointed to anger over a loss of abortion rights, but also acknowledged a fear that sexism would remain difficult for Ms. Harris to overcome.
A Lot Has Changed for Women Since 2016. What Does That Mean for Kamala Harris?
In the eight years since Hillary Clinton failed to win the American presidency, the workforce for the first time grew to include more college-educated women than college-educated men. The #MeToo movement exposed sexual harassment and toppled powerful men, and the Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion. Will any—or all—of it make a difference for Vice President Kamala Harris?
As the almost certain Democratic Party’s presidential nominee after President Biden’s decision not to seek re-election, Harris faces some of the same electability questions as Clinton in a nation that has yet to pick a woman as its leader. A contest against former President Donald Trump would be a rematch of sorts, but the dynamics would be different. Harris has neither the political legacy nor the baggage of Clinton, and Trump is now a known quantity. Harris is also Black and of South Asian descent.
While some voters argue that a woman president is more possible now, with women angrier over the loss of abortion rights and other issues, others fear that sexism will remain a challenge for Harris to overcome. Some voters and activists eager to break the glass ceiling worry that, as one voter said, “She’s smart and she’s a prosecutor, but there are a lot of old white men who will want to stop her. The only thing wrong with her is that she’s a woman.”
The prospect of Harris as the Democratic nominee energizes those looking to elect a female president, but it also resurfaces old fears, as Trump defeated Clinton despite losing the popular vote. However, Christina Wolbrecht, a political scientist, notes that Clinton’s candidacy changed the idea of what was possible, with female candidates like Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren, and Nikki Haley being taken seriously in 2020 and beyond.
Some voters argue that a female nominee would amplify the issue of abortion access, a key issue for the Democratic Party. Others point to societal shifts, with younger people less likely to make judgments based on rigid gender definitions. However, Harris is expected to face a tough road ahead, with some voters anticipating a challenging campaign similar to Clinton’s.
Despite Clinton winning the most votes in 2016, some found her off-putting due to her association with her husband’s affairs. These voters are now more inclined to support Harris to prevent Trump from returning to the presidency. Harris’s qualifications and the societal changes since 2016 may work in her favor, but the challenges of sexism and gender expectations in American politics remain.
In the eight years since Hillary Clinton failed to win the American presidency, the workforce for the first time grew to include more college-educated women than college-educated men. The #MeToo movement exposed sexual harassment and toppled powerful men, and the Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion. Will any—or all—of it make a difference for Vice President Kamala Harris?
As the almost certain Democratic Party’s presidential nominee after President Biden’s decision not to seek re-election, Harris faces some of the same electability questions as Clinton in a nation that has yet to pick a woman as its leader. A contest against former President Donald Trump would be a rematch of sorts, but the dynamics would be different. Harris has neither the political legacy nor the baggage of Clinton, and Trump is now a known quantity. Harris is also Black and of South Asian descent.
While some voters argue that a woman president is more possible now, with women angrier over the loss of abortion rights and other issues, others fear that sexism will remain a challenge for Harris to overcome. Some voters and activists eager to break the glass ceiling worry that, as one voter said, “She’s smart and she’s a prosecutor, but there are a lot of old white men who will want to stop her. The only thing wrong with her is that she’s a woman.”
The prospect of Harris as the Democratic nominee energizes those looking to elect a female president, but it also resurfaces old fears, as Trump defeated Clinton despite losing the popular vote. However, Christina Wolbrecht, a political scientist, notes that Clinton’s candidacy changed the idea of what was possible, with female candidates like Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren, and Nikki Haley being taken seriously in 2020 and beyond.
Some voters argue that a female nominee would amplify the issue of abortion access, a key issue for the Democratic Party. Others point to societal shifts, with younger people less likely to make judgments based on rigid gender definitions. However, Harris is expected to face a tough road ahead, with some voters anticipating a challenging campaign similar to Clinton’s.
Despite Clinton winning the most votes in 2016, some found her off-putting due to her association with her husband’s affairs. These voters are now more inclined to support Harris to prevent Trump from returning to the presidency. Harris’s qualifications and the societal changes since 2016 may work in her favor, but the challenges of sexism and gender expectations in American politics remain.