This country is not ready for a woman to lead it. Not because women are incapable of leadership, or are too emotional or impulsive — but because the country still behaves unjustly towards women’s mere existence. America is nowhere near ready to handle a woman in charge. In the U.S., a woman still earns 81 cents to a man’s dollar and has no guaranteed bodily autonomy. Even more concerning is the nation’s complacency in being led by someone so clearly marked and moved by misogyny.
The disgraceful President Donald Trump paves the way for new levels of sexism in U.S. politics, referring to women as “piggy,” “crazy,” “nasty,” “horse face” and “play toy.” He is the same man who said to grab women by the “p–ssy.” As Michelle Obama recently called out, no, the U.S. is not ready for a woman president.
At a promotional event for Obama’s new book, “The Look,” the former first lady answered actress Tracee Ellis Ross’ question about whether there has been “enough room” created for a woman president.
“As we saw in the past election, sadly, we ain’t ready,” Obama said. “That’s why I’m like, don’t even look at me about running ‘cause you all are lying. You’re not ready for a woman,” she persisted. “We got a lot of growing up to do, and there’s still a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman and we saw it.”
Although disheartening, it is true — the nation has yet to respect women in politics the same way it respects men in general. If an ounce of the same respect and trust given to Trump were given to women in political leadership, and the country felt comfortable and empowered under a woman president, the path toward gender equality would glow brighter. Women are underrepresented in decision-making worldwide, and the U.S. only exacerbates this by supporting a misogynistic, tyrannic sexual abuser as a president and spitting on the very name of feminism.
Kamala Harris and Hilary Clinton have fallen victim to disgusting portrayals of sexism in their respective elections against Trump. Slogans like “Joe and The Hoe Gotta Go” have been plastered on fan-made flags, while Trump has shamefully tweeted, “If Hillary Clinton can’t satisfy her husband what makes her think she can satisfy America #MakeAmericaGreatAgain.” This is the environment the U.S. has created, the one its leader continues to foster.
Although humanity has made steps toward gender equality for centuries, this country continues to recklessly unravel years of progress. The longstanding fight for gender equality cannot be for nothing. Women are not treated as equals, much less in this country and even less by its leader. People have begun to wake up to the Trump administration’s infringements on free speech and flashes of fascism, yet the sneaky, seemingly easily dismissible issue of sexism continues to be swept under the rug.
Sexism and misogyny in the U.S. stand strong not only because of the president and political leaders, but because of those who tell a woman she is too aggressive as a boss, or beautiful for someone so smart. To those who question women’s intelligence, their abilities as mothers, leaders and human beings: Wake up and quit being a part of the problem.
