When I was a little girl, I was told I could be anything I wanted to be when I grew up, even the President of the United States. I grew up thinking that to be true. I could be President, not that I really wanted to be. But I believed it to be accessible.
Then I grew up and started seeing that because I was a “girl” I shouldn’t be assertive in school. I shouldn’t want to be a catcher in softball because you got dirty. I wanted to be a sports writer, and in the Sports Department, I was told I had to work harder because no one wanted a woman to write about them. I was also told if I went into the locker rooms I needed to “keep my head up” so I wasn’t perceived as “looking” at naked men.
I went to grad school, to seminary, and was told over and over again that women couldn’t be ministers. People would go out of their way to tell me they didn’t “believe” in women clergy even though we clearly existed. Never mind I was a FIFITH GENERATION minister. Only one out of the five of us was male.
I’ve witnessed first hand the income inequality for me as a woman, compared to my male counterparts at the same, exact, church.
I have become cynical, thinking that a woman COULD become president, but wouldn’t because people don’t like women. The characteristics commonly found in leadership roles such as clergy, CEO, lawyer, President, are considered masculine. Never mind that we want our children to be strong, confident, self-assured.
Today I cast my ballot for Hillary Clinton. I’ve been on the Hillary train since I was in high school. I know she’s made mistakes, we all do. And yes, we should hold our elected officials to a high standard. I think Hillary is more qualified than most to be President.
Today, I eagerly got my ballot and went to the kiosk to fill it out. I took my pen to fill in the bubble completely. I did a happy skip as I did it. Tears filled my eyes, as I competed my ballot. I took a moment to make sure the bubble was completely filled in. I took a moment to savor the moment. A moment that my Mom didn’t get to participate in. A moment that my grandmother didn’t get to be excited about. A moment, remembering all the women who came before me, and those who will come after me, because this is the time. This is the moment that we break that glass ceiling.
Today is the day. Today children all around this country will learn that they can also be President. Hopefully without the cynicism that I’ve developed over the years.
Today I’m hopeful.
Reluctantly Writing 