A Celebration of Women: What Kamala Harris’s Vice Presidency Means to Me
After one of the most stressful elections in recent times, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have officially been sworn into office as the President and Vice-President of the United States respectively. During her historic victory speech as the highest-ranking woman and woman of colour in America's leadership, Kamala Harris spoke words that left a resonating impact on me:
“While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last.”
Her words inspired me to write an article to discuss and share how important this event is to me and the women of the world.
First off, I want to start by saying that there has never been a better time to say that I am proud to be a woman. Women, especially women of colour, must often work harder than others in order to make their voice heard. In the workplace, this rings exceptionally true. However, in recent years, I feel that there has been exponential progress in the ongoing fight for women's rights, and it seems that every year something monumental is happening.
Kamala Harris's election as Vice President this year has brought me so much excitement for the future. It is a big step in the right direction, and it is a signal to the world that things are changing. This means that the people of the world must change along with it.
Before discussing my personal feelings, I want to acknowledge that this historical moment does not mean that the fight for equality and feminism has stopped. Harris's title does not end at being the first woman to be elected Vice President. Now that Harris has created a space on the table, she must now use her position and use her voice to constantly strive for a better and more equal world.
Of course, that does not just apply to Harris and politics. This applies across the board to every woman in a leadership position, myself included. If we see something in society that can be improved, we should seek opportunities to be a part of the solution, and actively work towards creating a better tomorrow. It is so immensely important to use our privilege and pay it forward, to help others find their seat. Whether it be offering your time or providing financial resources to those who do not have the same opportunities as you do, helping others leads to a more progressive tomorrow. If you have the resources, seek opportunities to help your community, and to help other women.
However, what this event has taught me is that to be successful as a woman, you must use your femininity as a tool that propels you forward, not to view it as something that holds you back. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in her Vogue Beauty Secrets Youtube video expresses the same view when going through her skincare and makeup routine from the 1:04 mark to 1:54:
In this video, AOC says that the reason why she thinks it is so important to share skincare and makeup tips is that "femininity has power." She goes on to say that "There's this really false idea that if you care about makeup, or if your interests are in beauty and fashion, that that's somehow frivolous–but I actually think these are some of the most substantive decisions that we make and we make them every morning."
"Feminity has Power."
I absolutely loved what AOC said here, especially since she's a woman in the very male-dominated profession of politics. What we decide to wear, whether it be on our face or on our body, dictates how we decide to present ourselves. Every piece of clothing, every item of jewellery, and every makeup product we use has a purpose: to show confidence.
Despite the fact that I'm currently working in software and construction, I always dress up when I go to work. It makes me feel powerful and confident when I do my makeup and put on my clothes because it allows me to embrace my beauty, my feminine energy, and my womanhood. Being a woman is not something to be ashamed of. In a previous webinar, I discussed the role that your attire and appearance play in the professional world with celebrity makeup artist Alina Oh and wardrobe stylist Nashly Mathews. If you're interested in hearing more about embracing your beauty, you can watch the video below:
Although there is still so much work that needs to be done, I can't help but feel joyful and emotional over this monumental event. To see a daughter of immigrants of Black and South Asian American heritage in one of the highest offices in America means more to me than words can express, and it shows us that anything is possible.
But the most important message Harris delivers during her acceptance speech was to the young people watching, telling them to “dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see yourselves in a way that others may not simply because they’ve never seen it before. And we will applaud you every step of the way.” Harris thus advises the future to continue to break glass ceilings and create a world in which all opportunities and all people are equal, regardless of gender or sexuality.
Overall, I want to take this moment to celebrate the beautiful, successful women I have encountered in my life. I am so so proud of where we are at in the world, but I know it does not end here. I will challenge myself and others to constantly learn, constantly grow, and constantly ask ourselves how we can be of service because together, our small gestures will make a big difference.