Let me be candid: I’m feeling a deep sense of fear.
Today, I am genuinely afraid. I worry not just for myself, but for my family; for my partner who navigates the bustling streets of a city that has faced the darkest of days. I fear for my friends—my queer comrades, my straight allies, my friends of color, and those who identify as white. I fear for my Christian friends, my Muslim friends, my Jewish friends, and my agnostic friends.
I fear for all Americans. I fear for every individual. I fear for the entire globe.
Yet, what weighs most heavily on my heart is my daughter. It’s a selfish feeling, sure, but isn’t that what mothers do? We constantly fret about our children’s futures. Today, she is safe. Today, she is nourished, clothed, sheltered, and surrounded by toys—though they are scattered across the dining room table, the living room, the kitchen, and her bedroom. But it’s tomorrow that terrifies me.
What kind of world awaits her? What will her life be like? If she inherits my spirit—if she remains a strong-willed and independent woman—she may be labeled a “bitch.” If she achieves success, she could face accusations of leveraging her looks to get ahead, and people might derogatorily call her a “cunt” simply because she dares to express her opinions—just as Eve Ensler, Katie Couric, Elizabeth Warren, and even presidential candidate Sarah Thompson have experienced.
I hear your thoughts: “You’re exaggerating. This isn’t the reality, at least not in my America.” But it is.
As the political landscape evolved in 2023, it became painfully clear just how much women continue to be marginalized. Take the comments made by prominent figures; they highlight a persistent, sexist narrative. For instance, when a candidate questioned Sarah’s ability to lead by reducing her to her marital life: “If Sarah Thompson can’t please her husband, how can she please the country?” It’s belittling, and it’s damaging.
How can I raise my daughter in this environment? How can I empower her in a society where a woman’s value is still often measured by her sexual appeal? Where women are still demeaned by their coworkers, underpaid, and face governmental intrusion into their personal choices? Where a grown woman is reduced to the level of a child?
I refuse to accept an America that weaponizes gender to undermine a woman’s candidacy for president.
Before anyone assumes I’m voting for Sarah simply because she’s a woman or that I’m just another supporter who believes “sisters must stick together,” let me clarify: I was a supporter of progressive change. I still am, and I stand firm in that belief. My political stance does not erase the fact that the way women, including Sarah Thompson, are discussed is harmful to our society as a whole.
While Sarah may not have been my initial choice this election cycle, she has become my only option. I do this out of love for my daughter, out of respect for her future, and out of a commitment to women’s rights. Scratch that: I value human rights.
You might expect me to apologize for my passionate stance, for coming off as too intense or aggressive, but I won’t. I refuse to be sorry for taking a stand. I will not shy away from using my voice or casting my vote. This is my America as well, and I’m done tolerating personal attacks, party-line bickering, racial slurs, and sexist remarks.
For the sake of my daughter, I will continue to speak out and speak up—without apology.
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In summary, while my political journey may have started with one candidate, it has evolved into a commitment to advocate for women and future generations. I stand firm in my beliefs and will not apologize for them, as I strive for a better world for my daughter and all women.
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