Yes… I am a glutton for punishment. I was very close to making it though the entire campaign season without having made the self-abusive decision to actually watch any of the noise that surrounds what is supposed to be an election for the next leader of this plot of land we call the “United States of America.” Last night, I failed myself and tuned in to the third and final (THANK GOD!) “presidential” debate. I’ll spare you my feelings on the spectacle in its entirety, but I do want to hone in on one (of the many) despicable comment made by the GOP Nominee.
Towards the end of the debate, the GOP Nominee, in his predictably misogynistic candor, actually referred to his female opponent as a “Nasty Woman.” Watching live, I heard the utterance and, sadly, didn’t even blink – such language has become commonplace. It is disturbing, though, that a person in the position to be elected as commander and chief of this country doesn’t have the decency …. OK, I said I wasn’t going to do this. Let’s zero in on this “Nasty Woman” comment:
Women in the Workplace
This “Nasty Woman” comment comes on the heels of the Women in the Workplace study that was released by McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.Org. This comprehensive report analyzes the state of women in corporate America and provides insight to obstacles and challenges women face and how we can work to eradicate gender bias issues. Topics covered include representation, career trajectory, child-care, differing perspectives for men and women in the workplace and much more. What we knew became even more clear – women in this country continue to receive far less in nearly every category that would be considered important when career building. As if the data isn’t troubling enough, our GOP Nominee reminds us (frequently) that is it far from uncommon for women to be blatantly disrespected and objectified, directly and indirectly, in the workplace and other work environments.
The Race Factor
While the GOP Nominee has steered clear of making those types of offensive comments directed towards our First Lady, who happens to be a woman of color, the American workplace has been less kind. Sadly, it’s no secret that gender still plays a role in determining salaries and that impact is felt even more by women of color. Additionally, it was found that while women of color find far less opportunities to advance in the workplace, they are actually more likely to strive for a c-suite or executive level position. When considering the child-care challenges, it’s worth noting that in 2011, 67 percent of black children grow up in a single-parent household and that single parent is more times than not a woman (Kidscount.org report). Race amplifies the challenges and introduces a number of barriers for women who are already battling against the status quo.
Being a Nasty Woman in 2016!
I’m not thrilled about the 2016 election by any means, but it was beyond disheartening to watch the Democratic Nominee be forced into discourse with an opponent who is making a joke out of this process.
So after watching the debate last night, I now must ask myself, “What does it take to be a ‘Nasty Woman’ in 2016?” One must be bold, and remain calm in the face of misogynistic opposition. One must be fully capable of standing on their own, while having the ability to lead, and follow, their team and family. One must be firm in their stances on the issues that rank among your top priorities, and forceful when advocating for them.
By those standards, this country needs all women to rise (and vote… seriously) as “Nasty Women.” These are the women who refuse to accept the status quo as acceptable for themselves or women to come. Women who let their successes speak volumes and advocate for culture changes – like child-care benefits, parental leave vs. maternity leave, processes that ensure equal pay and much more – that create inclusive environments for women of every shade and racial background. This includes the women who raise children alone and build the foundations for their families to grow all while maintaining career growth. These are the women who will lead us into a future that is brighter, more productive and more welcoming.
With that, I say we should all do more to support every “Nasty Woman” who is working to make a difference in this country.
