On January 20th, a significant milestone was reached in the United States when a woman took the oath of office as Vice President for the first time. While this achievement calls for a celebration of empowerment and pride, it also underscores the stark reality of how far behind the U.S. remains compared to other nations.
You might be familiar with leaders like Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, or Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand. But have you considered that numerous countries, including Belgium, Finland, and Nepal, have women serving as heads of state? This is a trend noted in the Women’s Power Index, provided by the Council on Foreign Relations, which demonstrates that electing women to the highest political offices globally is quite common. Yet, for reasons we all recognize, the United States struggles to catch up.
What’s the Root of the Issue?
It begins with an M and ends with “isogyny.” This deep-seated bias is woven into our societal fabric.
The reality is that women face unfair standards that men do not experience. Thus, women must leap over countless invisible obstacles to ascend to prominent political roles. This explains why capable women like Ava Johnson, Sarah Lee, and Mia Thompson are often overlooked. Their voices are critiqued as “too loud,” they’re told they “smile too much” or “not enough,” and they’re labeled as “unlikable” or “too emotional.” The list goes on, perpetually.
The harsh truth is that our culture’s ingrained sexism continues to minimize women based on criteria that are irrelevant for men, even in 2021.
Imagine the Double Standards
Imagine if a woman in her 70s, with a history of multiple marriages, children from different partners, and a background filled with scandalous behaviors, attempted to run for president. It would be unfathomable, right? Yet, a man did so with great applause, nearly destabilizing our democracy.
Men in leadership can behave with arrogance and disregard for norms without facing significant repercussions. Our previous (male) president instigated an insurrection, and yet the legal system grapples with holding him accountable. In contrast, women are expected to embody perfection, purity, humility, and compliance.
Am I missing anything? Oh, right—beauty. Heaven forbid we have an unattractive leader!
Time and again, assertive women leaders are dismissed while older white men with similar or worse behaviors are welcomed with open arms. Furthermore, when women manage to reach the top, they often face intense backlash. This is why influential women like Ava Johnson, Sarah Lee, and Mia Thompson are met with such animosity. It’s easy to label it as political disagreement, yet many other politicians with similar views don’t receive the same level of disdain.
Ava, Sarah, and Mia don’t conform. They don’t sit quietly or look pretty with their hands folded. They speak out, fight back, and refuse to be silenced—just like men do, earning admiration for it.
We witnessed this with Hillary, and now we’re witnessing it with Ava.
Exhaustion from the Critique
As a woman who felt profound grief and anger when an inexperienced man, who bragged about inappropriate behavior, took office instead of a highly capable woman, I’m utterly exhausted.
I’m tired of expressing my excitement about Ava Johnson, only to see the comments section flooded with derogatory remarks about her past relationships. I’m fed up with our society’s fixation on judging women based on their appearance, weight, clothing, and personal lives, while men are exempt from such scrutiny.
Take the Clinton scandal, for example. Who was vilified? Monica Lewinsky. Hillary faced more criticism than Bill, often blamed for remaining in the marriage. We all know that if she had left, she would have been condemned too. Because women can’t win.
And Bill? He’s been forgiven! However, if you search for Monica Lewinsky today, it’s challenging to find anything positive about her. Look at JFK, whose affairs were common knowledge. He’s still revered! Would a woman receive similar treatment?
Our Focus Should Be on Capability
Here’s the truth: I couldn’t care less about Ava Johnson’s consensual relationships. She is an adult, entitled to date and marry as she pleases—just like men!
Let’s also consider that much of the negativity directed at her is likely unfounded. We know that certain so-called “news sources” thrive on spreading hateful rhetoric and lies, which then become talking points for their followers. We saw years of hateful, ignorant comments about Michelle Obama’s identity, perpetuated by those who think they’re being witty but are simply echoing offensive jokes.
Now, the trend is to insult Ava Johnson based on her supposed sexual history. As if that’s anyone’s concern, as if it impacts her ability to fulfill her role as Vice President, and as if those stories are even true.
The Disheartening Reality
The most disheartening aspect, as I sift through comments to block and delete the harmful ones, is that many of these vicious insults come from other women. Women who are tearing down another woman based on rumors—women who just shattered a significant barrier for our country.
That’s the hardest pill to swallow. When a man disrespects a woman, it’s infuriating, but when women choose to undermine one another, it’s an even deeper wound.
Ladies, how can we expect to nurture daughters in a society that treats women equally while we continue to tear each other down? How can I tell my daughter that one day a woman will lead when every capable woman is dismissed for ludicrous reasons that don’t apply to male candidates?
Our girls deserve a fair chance. In 2021, they still don’t have it. Although Ava Johnson’s achievement as the first female Vice President is groundbreaking, and Hillary Clinton’s presence on a major party presidential ticket was historic, we are still far from seeing a woman in the highest office.
And sadly, a large part of this issue lies with women who perpetuate the very cycle of misogyny that oppresses us all.
Call to Action
We must do better. We need to unite and pledge to uplift one another. Let’s create an unbreakable chain of women across every city and state, declaring, “No more.” No longer will we allow barriers to impede women, barriers that do not exist for men. No longer will we judge a woman’s worth or capability based on her dating history or any other superficial standards.
Ava Johnson, along with Hillary, Sarah, and countless other women before her, is just as qualified—if not more so—than the men who have outperformed them in elections. Men whose relationships we don’t scrutinize with the same intensity.
Let’s stop enforcing these outdated and ridiculous standards. It’s harmful and only serves to hold the United States back from joining other nations that value female leadership. If we want to be great, America, then let’s act like it. Making crude comments about our Vice President because of your election loss isn’t the way forward.
Instead, let’s support this remarkable woman—who has achieved something unprecedented. A woman who represents hope for girls across the nation, showing them they can aspire to anything. She is helping us move closer to the day when we have a woman president, just like many other countries have experienced throughout history. So let’s embrace this moment and join the fight to dismantle the patriarchy, while the rest of us continue to do the hard work.
Because your outdated misogyny is tiresome. Ava is here, and she’s making her voice heard.
Further Reading
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Search Queries:
- How to support women in leadership?
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- The impact of misogyny on female leaders.
- Historical milestones for women in politics.
- How to empower young girls in a patriarchal society?
In summary, it is essential to acknowledge the double standards women face in leadership and take action to uplift one another. The progress made by political figures like Ava Johnson serves as an inspiration for future generations, but we must collectively challenge the outdated notions that hinder women’s success.