A Brief Hate Break
Leave a commentJune 8, 2016 by Jan Stone
Can we please break for a beat from the unprecedented level of hate and vitriol scarring the 2016 presidential campaign process and appreciate the significance of a woman winning the nomination of a major party for President of the United States?
This is not a rant against Bernie Sanders or the Republican nominee, which otherwise appears to be de rigueur for any discussion about presidential politics. This is a high-five to all the sisters, nieces, daughters, granddaughters, girlfriends and wives in our country who are witnessing the renovation of an oppressive glass ceiling that has often made it incredulously more challenging for women than men to live and work equitably in this country.
When I graduated from college women made 64 cents to every dollar male colleagues made. That’s like working until May with no salary. Twenty years ago the number of women running Fortune 500 companies—0. For that matter, forty years ago a woman couldn’t get a credit card without a male signature.
There’s still much inequality to balance. But today 51 percent of the US population won a long, hard-fought battle, and I’m reveling in it.
Too hard to hold back the hostility? The nasty comments, misrepresentations, exaggerations and, sadly, the anger and contempt seem inextinguishable for now. But you know what? Knocking us down doesn’t make you any taller.
Cheers, girlfriends! 🎉