Girling

She’s so Kamala.

As a feminist blogger, I’ve been getting a lot of questions on my thoughts about Kamala Harris (with her newly-announced running mate, Tim Walz) running for U.S. president. I generally try to steer clear of politics because, while the two are often linked, feminism is not a political stance. Nor do I think it should really be debated but that’s a post for another time. 

Feminism is not a political stance.

I don’t plan on dipping my toes into the world of political opinion today, but I am, of course, excited by the prospect of a female president. It would be historic, a huge step for equality, even more note-worthy because of Harris’s demographic identities – we know all this. My brain, however, can’t help but jump to the absolute vile that will undoubtedly spill into the mainstream over the next few months, let alone if she wins the election.

Harris’s entry into the presidential race was unexpected and unprecedented, yes. That doesn’t undercut her decades-long career in public service nor the credentials that helped her earn her spot in the VP’s office. I know the people who don’t like her (politically or otherwise) will call her unqualified, that she didn’t “earn” the nomination. Don’t fall for it. 

For the people in the back: Vice President Harris is qualified to be President. 

Regardless of your ideological leanings or if you would’ve voted for her had there been a democratic primary, you can’t deny that she is qualified for the promotion. Any argument against her qualifications is thinly veiled hate. Whether it be for her gender, race, or political party, it’s hate. 

People attack things you can’t change when they can’t think of anything better to attack. Calling VP Harris unqualified or undeserving is just that. It’s not a secret that racist and misogynistic comments exist and thrive in pockets of the country, but I worry about how her nomination will entice those voices to get louder. 

As feminists, I don’t think it’s our job to vote for the female candidate on the basis of her sex. I do, however, think it’s our job to remind people that doubting Harris’s qualifications has no basis in fact. 

This is lifting up other women. 

You don’t need to blanket agree with women because they’re women. You should, however, encourage others to question their gender-based opinions of women. You should be encouraging people to vote based on their ideologies and vision for the country. You should be shutting down hate-speech. 

I worry about the kind of nonsense that people will say in an attempt to dull VP Harris’s shine, but I know there is a growing faction of our country that doesn’t tolerate hate speech. I know the majority of Americans are smart and conscientious people who will focus on a candidate’s platform rather than their demographic features. And I know that Kamala Harris is one strong woman.

And for the love of God, pronounce her name right. It’s KAM-ah-lah.

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