The Ramifications of Hillary

When considering whether the United States is ready for a female President, there are three factors that come to mind: human’s reaction to change, society’s conscious and unconscious prejudices, and the ramifications of how the world will view the United States with a female as its President. Do we really take it seriously and will the powers that be allow it to happen?

This is the same country that voted George W. Bush for a second term after he proved to be ineffective as a President during his first term. He raised taxes, was fruitless in his self-proclaimed ‘War on Terror,‘ set the stage for oil and gas prices to skyrocket, and waged a war against Iraq for reasons that are still unclear to the common American. Historically, we have never voted a President out of office during a war — no matter how horribly he was doing. Why? In short, fear of uncertainty, fear that things may get worse and fear of the unknown in stressful times. Fear that a new president’s sudden moves can cause an avalanche effect and make an already bad situation even worse.

It is human nature for people to fear new experiences and not make themselves vulnerable to the unknown. And voting in a female President is a change that, in my opinion, many aren’t ready for. I don’t believe America has been given enough time to consume the idea that a female can really be the head of this country. Without even yet having a female Vice President, I can’t imagine the American people, who voted George Bush in for two terms, committing to that type of sudden change.

The Women Right’s Movement is reaching its 60th anniversary. I find it unimaginable that after decades of inequality for women, 60 years later, Americans are now ready to vote their first female President into office. The thought is as beautiful as voting Bush out of office, but the conservatives that currently “run” this country did not allow that and it’s unlikely that they will allow this.

One consistent view all over the world is that men are the protectors and leaders and women are his support system. It’s no secret that Americans also live in a patriarchal society. What differentiates us is the level of inferiority of women to men. America is also the melting pot and because of that, it is sometimes hard to determine exactly where it sits in relation to certain issues. However, I don’t think that America has come to terms with gender equality.

Every year, there are thousands of documented sexual discrimination suits (and note: the operative word is “documented”). Institutional sexism is alive and well and just as it plays a part in corporate America — and in our every day lives — it will play a part in the polls. Even people who consciously don’t believe they are sexist will unconsciously pay a little more attention to Hillary’s speeches; they will listen closely, and at the first sign of weakness or inconsistency, they will find their means to withdraw. The idea that this is happening because she’s a woman may never cross their minds, but it will definitely be likely. Typically, millions of people vote for Democrat or Republican. Since Hillary is running, will those same people automatically decide to vote Democrat without any further thought, or will they start to take more interest in the campaign? I tend to believe sexism is ever-present — even within her supporters.

Do you think Americans who do support her would be as supportive if she wasn’t Bill Clinton’s wife? Does the sense of comfort many supporters feel have a direct relation to the fact that she has an ex-President — admired and loved by many — as her husband? If the answer is yes, then her supporters aren’t exactly supporting her. They are supporting Bill Clinton’s wife as President and, in a way, feel as though they are putting Bill Clinton back in office.

In analyzing this theory, we must also acknowledge that we are amidst war and confusion with countries in the Middle East. Many of these countries believe in and practice polygamy. Some do not see women fit to make decisions or fit to fight in combat. Others believe we are unholy and in direct violation of God’s work with our selfish materialistic desires. And now, to top things off, we have a female President. How will these Muslim leaders, allies and enemies, respond to a leader with a gender they have been raised to disrespect? Hillary winning this election means so much more than a historic moment for the United States. It would be a chaotic shock to the world. This is also an important analysis in which I believe that conservative powers would feel more comfortable with a Black man in office.

This read may be upsetting to many and arguable to everyone, but it’s based in reality. What does this mean for those of us who support Hillary Clinton? It means absolutely nothing. This is just food for thought. Keep supporting her. Hillary and Barack represent forward movement. It is necessary for them to run (and possibly lose) in order for people to begin to conceive that it can happen and maybe accept the next great minority candidate.