At a time when everyone is up in arms about Donald Trump, can we please just focus on one thing: the United States could soon have a female president.
For the first time in history, as of this week, a woman is a major party’s nominee for President of the United States.
And that’s a pretty massive deal.
Yet, the focus in the headlines isn’t on this monumental achievement. Instead, they are dominated by the ridiculous and maddening buffoonery that is the life, times and stupidity of Donald Trump. For many Americans, thoughts of the election generate feelings of anxiety and fear at the prospect of this reckless individual becoming the most powerful human being on the planet.
I get that. And my heart truly goes out to them.
But it’s a shame that everything Clinton represents is slightly overshadowed by the latest Trump drama and commentary on how crazy it would be if Donald Trump does indeed get elected as President of the United States. Instead of indulging in Trump’s antics and childlike behaviour, we should focus on the positive: Hillary Clinton and everything she represents for the future for females.
There’s no denying that the past few years have been defined by a relentless and impossible-to-ignore collective voice calling for a focus on gender rights. And we’ve no doubt made major headway. But Clinton’s win would take things to a whole new level. Her campaign already has.
If you need a reminder about just how inspiring this is, there’s a new video fresh from the White House on female rights and empowerment – and it’s pretty amazing. Filled with an assortment of bold and powerful women, the video boldly states that the time has come for women to be in control, with a slogan of “Today, we’ll change tomorrow.”
It features Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Tina Fey, Meryl Streep, Christy Turlington, Laverne Cox and Kerry Washington, among others, in all of their powerful and strong-willed glory.
The video was released in advance of the United State of Women Summit, hosted by Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, set to take place on June 14 at the White House. It’s time for women to demand things like equal pay, access to safe and legal abortion, awareness about consent, and female leadership. Oh, and everything in between.
At one point in the video, the women state that it’s their choice when to say yes and when to say no. “Because duh,” says comedian Jessica Williams. “Literally, duh.” Sadly, it still needs to be said. Apparently, despite a growing dialogue, some still aren’t getting the memo.
The Summit will see Obama and Winfrey sit down to discuss how far women have come during their lifetime, along with the challenges they’ve faced in their own careers. The focus will be on six topics: equal pay; women’s health care; education; violence against women; entrepreneurship and leadership and civic engagement.
There’s no doubt that Clinton’s name will make its way into the conversation.
The now-viral promotional video was released the same day that Clinton made history by securing enough delegates to win the Democratic presidential nomination.
“My supporters are passionate. They are committed. They have voted for me in great numbers across the country for many reasons,” said Clinton on Monday on the campaign trail in California. “But among the reasons is their belief that having a woman president would make a great statement – a historic statement – about what kind of country we are, what we stand for. It’s really emotional.”
Clinton pledged to expand on the achievements of forward-thinking pioneers of female empowerment, like the 19th-century leaders at Seneca Falls, N.Y., who began the fight for women’s rights in the U.S. “Tonight caps an amazing journey — a long, long journey,” she said at a rally in Brooklyn. “We all owe so much to those who came before, and tonight belongs to all of you.”
Of course, we’re not doing too shabby up here north of the border when it comes to a progressive leader who puts women’s rights front and centre. Trudeau, who identifies as a ‘proud feminist,’ will hopefully pave the way for another female Prime Minister (yes, another…albeit short-lived, remember Kim Campbell?) one day.
As Tina Fey reminds the world in the video, “We’re not done. We’re definitely not done.”
You know who probably should be done, though? Trump. After Obama publicly endorsed Clinton today in a video, saying, “I don’t think there’s ever been someone so qualified to hold this office,” Trump weighed in on Twitter: “Obama just endorsed Crooked Hillary. He wants four more years of Obama – but nobody else does!”
Naturally, Clinton shut him down in the best way: “Delete Your Account.”
If that doesn’t give all the Clinton supporters a reason to smile, the star-studded United State of Women Summit video definitely will. Check it out for yourself:
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