ManicDDaily

The presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is tonight.

Although I am completely convinced that Kamala Harris is articulate, smart, forceful and engaging, and that Donald Trump is untruthful and incoherent, I find myself very nervous.

My concern arises in part because the stakes are so high.

But I am also worried that the debate is rigged—not in the crazy ways that Trump brings up—not in any concrete way.

What concerns me are the difficulties faced by any strong woman..

What concerns me is the conscious and unconscious misogyny that dog any woman claiming a traditionally male position.

There are people who openly can’t stomach women in power. I don’t talk about those people.

I talk about the many (some of whom even promote women in their daily lives)—-who are (unconsciously) uncomfortable with a woman’s voice—if that woman is speaking about matters of conflict.

Who find something wrong with a woman’s appearance—if that woman is asserting herself.

Who find her hands too manicured —what is she doing wasting time on her hands? Or too rough—what’s wrong with her hands?

Who find her hair too fixed or too— Well, forget that one. No one is going to be able to say that Kamala Harris spends more time on her hair than Donald Trump.

There are people who even have a hard time reconciling Kamala Harris’s sweetness and good humor with the ability to be commander-in-chief. Again, this seems to me to be an unconscious bias against her femininity. Biden could be incredibly sweet to a child with a stutter; he’d elicit deserve accolades. And it would not detract from his presentation as a national defender; ditto Obama.

But even the kindness of a woman, and a jubilant sense of humor, can be treated as a mark against her. (Of course, God forbid the woman should be sharp, or not have an unfailing sense of humor!)

You get my point. It’s so obvious, but still so present.

There are simply many people who find the idea of a powerful woman great in principal, but who are uncomfortable with the specifics of any actual woman. There’s just something that doesn’t sit well with them; something that they just can’t put their finger on.

I don’t know what I’m asking for here. Maybe that we all just do what we can to combat this unconscious bias. That we point it out. That we try to send out a mental wave against it, that, we emit, to the best of our abilities, a positive buzz. That we pay attention.

Because we need people not only to support Kamala Harris, but to be genuinely enthusiastic. (I am.)

Thanks.

(Finally, please note that when I say negative things about Donald Trump, I don’t mean to attack his supporters. They are not Donald Trump; I’m sorry the GOP has let them down.)