I'm With You, Me, Women3 min read

“And to all of the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams;” Hillary Clinton said as she addressed her supporters the day after the world learned that Donald Trump had won the 2016 presidential elections. Some described the final outcome as “shocking,” while others were at a lost of words. Many people who were in support of Hillary Clinton are now wondering what will come of America with a man in office who puts down minorities, has been accused of sexual assault (some claims dating back to the 1980s), has hit on his daughter, Ivanka, throughout of the years, and has even gone as far to buy Miss Universe and Miss USA where he’s created the “Trump Rule” which involves the women parading in front of him as he separates the attractive from the unattractive. Will we rewind back to the 1920s or earlier when women were expected to stay at home with the kids and have dinner on the table by the time their dear husband returned from work? In reality, likely not because as women we have come a long way and wouldn’t allow something like that to happen. Not only that, but the same night that Trump was elected as the 45th president, six ethnic minority women were elected into various positions within the U.S. Government. From the election of the United State’s first Latina senator, first female Indian-American congresswomen, first female Vietnamese-American congresswoman, and first Somali-American Muslim woman legislator, the government is slowly beginning to represent the true face of America. Although the first female president of America is still a milestone we’re aiming to reach one day, hopefully sooner than later, progress is being made and it is important at such a time of concern and uncertainty about the country’s future, that we focus on the improvements that have taken place so far (while also hoping we don’t begin to step backwards).
As part of her campaign, Hillary Clinton’s administration launched a “feminist” ad which played some of Trump’s sexist and disgusting comments about women in the background as young girls looked at themselves in mirrors. The ad ends with the question, “Is this the president we want for our daughters?” Although I’m not a mother, I know that this is not the president I want for my younger cousins, female and male. I don’t want them to grow up in a world where boys come to believe it is okay to disrespect and speak down to girls, and where girls are filled with self-consciousness (instead of confidence) and body issues. Men have had gender privilege since entering this world but as women, we’ve constantly had to work for authority and always have to prove our worth to the world. History has shown that when we’re sick and tired of being put down and oppressed, we stand up for what we believe. If women before today had continued to “be a woman” and kept their mouths shut, we would not have the right to vote. Despite Trump’s presidency, as women we shall continue to move forward and let our voices be heard loud and clear. Our change will not be hindered, especially not by man.
Original Photo inspired by a poster by artist J. Howard Miller back in 1942
Recreated by Beyonce