Nevertheless….

My alarm blared, startling me awake in the cold darkness of my bedroom. I drearily hit snooze and when I realized I couldn’t find my sleep again, grabbed my phone to scroll before my feet hit the floor. Through tired eyes I squinted at the illuminated screen and read the first headline on my feed:

Biden Surges On Super Tuesday, Transforming Democratic Primary Into 2-Man Race

“Bummer”, I thought, as I continued to scroll past various memes, Coronavirus warnings and engagement photos. My feet finally hit the floor and I continued about my routine of getting lunch packed and children delivered to school. It wasn’t until I was on my way to work that it really began to sink in: our next President will without a doubt be a man…..again.

Now, as a US History teacher, I’m all too familiar with the overtly masculine string of presidential portraits that adorn the walls of my classroom. It shouldn’t be a surprise to me at this point that America continues to choose the familiar, safe(?) bet when it comes to the highest office in the land. And, as a lover of history and tradition, I can respect that there is a certain “framework” that comes to mind when the American people visualize that leader.

But, as a “progressive feminist” (what that terms means to me is another blog for another day) I can’t help but to think that that vision no longer represents the people. I’m certainly not saying that someone less qualified for that office should get the job, simply based on sex or race – I’m just disappointed that, once again ladies, it’s not our year. With Kamala Harris out of the game and Amy Klobuchar dropping out just prior to Super Tuesday, my hopes were hinged on Elizabeth Warren. In her time in the political spotlight, she has proven that she isn’t afraid of inserting herself into conversations that are frequently dominated by the “Good Ol’ Boys”. She isn’t afraid to be determined, assertive, articulate and different. She captured the attention of many Americans, including my seven year old who came home from school a few weeks ago declaring “Momma, a GIRL is running for President!” I didn’t agree with every single political stance she took, but this is almost beyond politics: it’s about the need for representation. It’s about wanting my daughter to see someone like herself as Commander in Chief. It’s about our nation finally believing that a woman could handle a job of that caliber. It’s proving to Americans what many countries around the world already know – that a female can not only be a world leader, but a damn good one. It’s about proving that women are competent – not callow and that pragmatism and empathy are not mutually exclusive.

“Young girls need to see role models in whatever careers they may choose, just so they can picture themselves doing those jobs someday. You can’t be what you can’t see.”
Sally Ride

So many issues in today’s America specifically affect women. Out of 535 members of Congress, only 127 are women. Only nine women occupy the position of governor. As we approach the centennial year of women’s suffrage, I feel slightly defeated that women aren’t taking up more space in the places where we can effect change. Is it any wonder that:

Only 14% of civilian workers have access to paid parental leave?
The United States is the only developed nation in the WORLD that doesn’t mandate any amount of leave, even unpaid, for new parents?
Viagra is tax-free, but feminine hygiene products are not? (Seriously, you can buy a GUN tax-free in Wisconsin because it falls under the “necessity” category but you’ll be taxed at 5% for your tampons.)
Planned Parenthood has been involved in years of litigation JUST to be able to continue providing BASIC low-cost healthcare to young women in need of preventative birth control, cancer screenings and STI care?

If there were more women woven into the fabric of our nation’s government, how many of these issues would no longer exist? If there were more women filling these roles, how many young girls across America would begin to dream of one day becoming a governor, Supreme Court justice, or congresswoman? If a woman held the office of President of the United States, how quickly would the conversations of true equality be brought to the forefront of American politics? I had hoped that this would be our year. I truly believe our first female President is out there. But is she currently serving in Congress or being served in her elementary school cafeteria? How long will American women have to wait our turn?