17.
“There are many valid reasons to be motivated to vote in this election (from women’s reproductive rights to the safeguarding of our democracy), but one major reason I’m voting is personal: my daughter.”
“In 2016, my daughter was in grade school and very excited about the prospect of a woman president. Hillary Clinton was qualified, handled herself with dignity, and spoke with insight and depth on all the issues. On the other side was an unqualified man with little understanding of the issues, who bloviated and insulted in the most crude, schoolyard way, and who was accused of sexual assault while bragging about grabbing women’s genitals.
When my daughter went to bed on election night, she was filled with hope that she would wake up to our first woman president. I was hoping for that, too, to show her and all the other little girls out there that anything was possible for them. But early returns weren’t looking good, and I kept asking myself: ‘How do I explain to her that the American people not only preferred a man to an incredibly qualified woman — but a man so arrogant, boarish, and ignorant?’
In the morning, my daughter ran into the kitchen and asked, ‘Did she win?!’ I said, ‘I’m afraid not, sweetie.’ Her face dropped, trying to process this. ‘Why?’ she said. ‘I don’t understand.’ I’m unsure what I said in response, but it probably wasn’t too comforting. I, too, didn’t understand and was grappling with a new understanding of our country.
Now, my daughter is in high school, and we again have an incredible, inspiring woman running for president against a man who lies, whines, and insults like a spoiled toddler. This time, my daughter is far more aware of how problematic Trump is. She is a teenager who lived through the staggering lows of his administration, who is old enough to understand the allegations of sexual abuse Trump was found liable for in a court of law, and who can see through his bald-faced lies, like that schools are performing gender-confirming surgeries without parental consent. My daughter’s response to this? ‘Pfft. They won’t even give us an aspirin without calling home for permission!’
Just as in 2016, I am hopeful that my daughter will see a woman become president. But I’m nervous again. How will I possibly explain it if he again defeats an incredibly qualified woman? If he wins, I suppose, it would teach her a brutal truth about what it means to be a woman in America, but that’s not the America I want for her. I don’t want an America where not just a man — but a deeply flawed man — beats the best and brightest woman every time. I want a future of hope for my daughter and all women. I want them to be able to say, ‘We’re not going back.’ So, if that’s the America you want, too, please take the time to vote and stand up for what we can be.”
—Michael Spohr
