I was seventeen years old during the 2016 presidential election.
I couldn’t vote, but I was deeply emotionally involved with politics even before my teenage years. I remember all the feelings of outrage and disbelief. Coming from one of the largest liberal bubbles in the United States, I had grown up blind to a completely different demographic of people with opposite views and core values as I had been raised with. The most memorable aspect of the 2016 election when looking back seems to be the stark polarization that was emphasized from two candidates who could not have been more different. However, after watching the mini docu series on Hulu titled “Hillary”, the fact that the first ever female major presidential nominee of the United States was completely undermined by a loud and angry man only echoes the experiences of women across time, all over the world.
Hillary Rodham Clinton was impressive from early adolescence. As a teenager in the 1960s, Hillary became a supporter and advocate of the Equal Rights movement. Attending Wellesley College, an all women’s college in Massachusetts, Hillary became involved in the early stages of the women’s liberation movement, spearheaded by the likes of Gloria Steinem. Graduating at the top of her class from Wellesley College, she went on to attend Yale Law School as one of 27 women in her class, the most Yale Law had ever seen. And again graduated at the top. Selected to work on the impeachment trial of Nixon after Watergate, Hillary was only 25 years old. After moving to Arkansas to be closer to Bill, her then future husband, she was hired and later made partner at the oldest law firm west of the Mississippi.
This was all before turning 30. The list goes on and on from there, but after seeing such accomplishments, I can understand how many might feel intimidated. Especially men.
As such an ambitious woman for her time, Hillary explained in the documentary that she had never even considered running for public office as a young person. She and her classmates at Wellesley marveled at the idea of graduating and having their own careers rather than get married and start a family immediately.
Due to politics, toxic media coverage, and negative rhetoric in the press, people forget that Hillary and her peers were key members of the women’s revolution/feminist movement. Thanks to her and the generations before us, I don’t have to even question myself for holding individual goals such as having a successful career and influencing others in my own right. Yet too often, I think we take for granted just how hard advocates for equal rights and gender equality have had to work to get us to where we are now, which still is far from perfect. This active pursuit for justice though is something that has given me and so many others purpose and meaning in what it is that we do every day.
We still have yet to see a woman president of the United States. As we all know, obviously, Hillary did not win the election. But the fact that she was nominated, and that she gave hope to little girls who don’t quite understand why there haven’t been girl presidents, is something that should not go without recognition. Regardless of your individual politics and whether or not they exactly align with Hillary or the democratic party, women gaining power in representation is important. Not only in politics, but in all walks of life and careers.
While I have always known what is true to me and at the core of my values, I have felt myself hiding my beliefs or opinions out of fear all too often, especially in order to please men. I didn’t want to get too political for fear of offending others or making things awkward or not getting along with everyone. I have let others put me into boxes because I relied on other people for my own sense of identity. Comparing my looks, my intellect, my grades, my skills in sports and all other things, has led me down a dark path too many times.
Yet, after watching Hillary on Hulu, I can confidently say: Screw that.
Generations before us did not protest and be arrested and march on Washington so that I or my peers alike could waste their efforts. They were attempting to expand the horizons for little girls, which could hopefully positively impact little boys, too. Not everyone will take away what I have from watching a four-part Hulu documentary. But personally, this was the exact motivation I needed to remember why I am doing what I’m doing, why I have to get up every morning and get things done. There is a much bigger picture. If you are like me and find yourself focused too selfishly a little too often, this series can offer both perspective, and a reminder to remember your “why”.