Conservative criticism of women consistently falls into the redundant category of traditionalism. So it is no surprise that Vice President Kamala Harris has had her suitability for leadership questioned under that ignorant lens. On July 21, Will Chamberlain took the liberty to post his opinion on social media stating, “Really simple, underdiscussed reason why Kamala Harris shouldn’t be President, no children” .
Due to the decline in health and ability, the current President of the United States has stepped down and endorsed Harris as the frontrunner of the democratic party. Already we are seeing the disparagement from Kamala Harris’ capability to step up to the role.
Following the post made by Chamberlain there was an outpour of various reactions from each respective party. Comments ranging from questioning if he was too antiquated to agreeing with the cruciality of a “family man” leading our country. Although his statements were made in the name of the republican party, many republicans shared their outrage to this representative claim, urging him to take it down from the platform. Women all over the country took offense to this assertion and went ahead to point out former presidents who didn’t have children or were step-parents of their spouses’. Chamberlain furthers his opinion by stating that “Being a stepmother to her husband’s two children ‘doesn’t count’”,which not only is invalidating to blended and adoptive families everywhere, it is simply not true.
Chamberlain is not the only one who has boldly declared his outdated opinion of the qualifications of participating in the presidential race. In a 2021 interview, JD Vance, Trump’s 2024 pick for Vice President stated “The United States was being run by “childless cat ladies” like Vice President Kamala Harris, women who he claimed had no “direct stake” in the country’s future.” Which led her step-children and their biological mother to speak out about Harris’ involvement in their family. They go on to detail about her loving nurture and protective nature, and how she’s been a constant co-parent for upwards of 10 years. Members of the conservative party who disagree with the democratic choice for runner consequently come with the burden of infinite opinion. Some insinuate that Kamala Harris being a woman comes with certain qualifications to be met, and if failed, she mustn’t be considered. However, many great and accomplished Presidents without children had successful terms that revolutionized our country for the better. Will Chamberlin ignorantly stated that he doesn’t believe that Harris has a stance to be a runner for President due to her absence of biological children. Although she has a loving blended family, this ultimately doesn’t correlate or define her ability to lead this country.
