It's time we put a woman in charge

An overly simplistic idea that makes a lot of sense

My dudes, it’s been a month.

On July 1st, my birthday, the Supreme Court and their Insurrection flag-flying justices made the president “a king above the law,” as Justice Sandra Sotomayor wrote in her dissent. 

On my mom’s birthday, July 13, a young man raised in “lone wolf” culture tried to assassinate Donald Trump.

On July 21, the day we flew home to Alaska with our brand-new puppy, President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. Now Facebook tells me I should rename our puppy Kamala. Should I?

This month has been rife with plot twists and anxiety, but have you ever walked through a major airport holding a puppy? I did Sunday, feeling like Glinda the Good Witch casting glitter love bombs everywhere (thanks for the idea,

Gaelynn Lea

). Seems that everyone could use some puppy energy.

Meet Rumi. Maybe I should rename her Glinda.

Once cancer season shifted to anxiety season following the disastrous Biden-Trump debate on June 27, I began writing about how ingesting the news can give us a false sense of control, resulting in more anxiety and sometimes depression. But with the stakes so high for this presidential election, from everything to the existential crises of climate and gun violence, to our daughters’ bodily autonomy, to our children’s education and my teaching job, to democracy itself, I decided to lean into the heat.

“Anxiety,” from Inside Out 2, as drawn in chalk on a playground sidewalk in Bellingham, WA

I understand that the “we need a woman in charge” perspective is overly simplistic, but it makes sense for several reasons.

In my article ¡Adiós, cojones! Mexico's first woman president won by touting her ovaries, I discussed how women’s leadership in political decision-making improves the living standards of its population. Higher rates of women in government correspond to less corruption, increased legislation on priority issues for women, and prioritization of education, health, and welfare.

Like anyone historically marginalized, women must work harder to get where they are. Just as Joe Biden had to work harder than many due to his humble upbringing and stutter, so did vice president and presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

Politics is often a boy’s club, which makes it hard for women to break through—especially when you have guys like former Vice President Mike Pence, who has claimed he won’t even go out to work dinners with women.

One report from the UNC School of Media and Journalism found that “The deeply rooted gender dynamics of the ‘boy’s club’ in politics and the ‘bro culture’ of tech often blend together to create a difficult working environment for women.” This included campaign exclusion, harassment, and pervasive “imposter syndrome.”

That Kamala Harris has gotten to where she is as a woman, especially as a woman of Black Jamaican and East Indian parents, is a testament to how hard she has worked. This is not a woman who, like former president Donald Trump, refuses to read complicated daily briefs, opting for more simplistic soundbites via Fox News. 

Now, please enjoy this excellent song and video by Keb’ Mo’:

And this video of RDJ explaining why the world should be run by women:

“She’s a DEI hire”

Some GOP officials have said that about Kamala Harris's appointment. DEI, or “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” is not just the right thing to do; it improves the health of communities. Forests with high biodiversity are generally healthier and more resilient. According to a Forbes article, “Companies committed to diversity and inclusion significantly outperform those that aren’t.”

Furthermore, studies have shown that women of color are most attentive to marginalized groups and the needs of poor communities and are more likely to take restorative approaches to criminal justice.

Also, JD Vance is a phony

JD Vance is a “hillbilly phony,” writes Caleb Miller in a superb article for the Daily Beast. Read it here.

So tell me, what’s keeping you chill during all this July heat? Should I change my puppy’s name to Kamala?

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Thank you!

Summer