To be a woman

As a young woman in America this election cycle, I was overjoyed to cast my vote for the first time. I was contributing to my country, performing my civic duty.

And for the first time in history, a woman of color was a choice on my ballot. Imagine that, for my first time voting, a Black woman was on the ballot for the first time too. It’s like we were experiencing history together, as women, for the first time.

I stayed up until I couldn’t any longer, watching election coverage on my television. In a room full of other hopeful women, we watched as the swing states continued to be declared as “toss ups”. Optimistically, we went to bed hoping for “a new world”. Waking up, this felt foolish.

I woke up to a message from my father, asking me if I was okay. He has been there for my political rants about everything that outrages me about our society today. Usually, he has a rebuttal to test my debating skills but always shows understanding and empathy for my feelings and perspective as woman. Today, he showed a different kind of empathy for me, for my fear as a woman.

Knowing that most of our country refuses to have an ounce of his same empathy outrages me even more. From some men voters, this may be expected. Sure. They cannot possibly understand what it is like to be a fearful woman in America hoping for an ounce of empathy from anyone. However, knowing that almost half of the female population also voted against me is almost unfathomable.

To be a woman today means that I am afraid for my sisters in states where rights to their bodies are gone. It means that I continue to build defense for myself against those who call me “dramatic” or “too woke”. It means that I am forced to call a convicted sexual abuser my leader.

To be a woman today means that I must harness enough compassion to fight for other women, while I am feeling my own hurt. I hear OUR voice. Hopefully one day they will too.