The Kaptivating Kamala
On January 20th, 2021, Kamala Devi Harris was sworn in as the first female vice resident of the United States. Not only is Kamala the first female, she is the first Black and South Asia VP. The portrayal of Vice President Harris has so far been nothing but positive. Many blogs and news outlets are praising Harris for the impact that she is having on women and people of color. The leadership in the United States has for a long time been, for lack of better words, old, white, men. Harris and the entire Biden administration have been focused on diversity and Kamala just the first powerful woman to take office.
Although Harris has been a wonderful name for herself and the media has been on her side, there is a now added pressure to women in politics. If the media is to portray VP Harris as a failure, it is truly a failure for all women. No woman has been seated this close to the Presidency, so all eyes are on Harris. Her decisions, her successes, her failures will steer the future of women in politics. The whole world is watch her. One day a woman will sit in the Presidency, but the way the Kamala is seen in the media will dictate people's ability to trust a woman in the most powerful seat in the world.
I agree with your take on this, and I think the fact that it's so true is immensely saddening. Men can be in the VP spot and not have an iota of the pressure that now sits on Harris' shoulders. I look forward to the future where the gender divide is much narrower and brilliant men and women are measured in the same way.
ReplyDeleteKamala Harris being the first woman Vice President is probably the biggest achievement and biggest risk America did. For us women, we have this huge opportunity in our lap and depending on how Kamala Harris decides to go about this title will determine the future for other possible females fighting to be in the government. Some people think it is just President and Vice President we as women should be worried about but personally, I think any position in government will become difficult to run for if Kamala Harris fails us .
ReplyDeleteWith Kamala Harris being the first female Vice President, she will be definitely be on the spotlight. As you ,mentioned above, we're used to white males being charge of the United States. Of course, Barack Obama change that perspective several years ago, which was a big change for American politics. Now an ever bigger change with Harris being the first black female as Vice president in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that Americans (and even people worldwide) will be scrutinizing Kamala Harris more than they would any former VP because she is the first woman. While she has these high expectations placed on her, I still think she will be able to handle the pressure. As a result of her diverse background, she is a positive role model for not only women, but also people of color as well. Having Harris as our VP will hopefully encourage and inspire others to follow in her footsteps.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly something to be able to witness so many historical feats in my lifetime. Kamala Harris becoming the Vice President of the United States is certainly in my top list of things I am forever grateful I got the chance to witness. While it is true that all eyes are now on her, I don't believe that she carries the entire burden of optics when it comes to women in politics. Take AOC and Stacey Abrams for example; both have certainly made their mark in the political sector and have paved the road for younger females to take the lead when they're ready. All this being said, it is no lie that Harris has A LOT to carry in terms of a legacy since all eyes are on her.
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