Moving Forward What women do best
“ What I know now ”
Women of different viewpoints on their election 2016 epiphanies because the idea of “ likability ” ( whatever that is ) is in and of itself deeply , painfully , inextricably gendered . We simply do not require our male candidates to be as likable as our female ones . Research proves it : Voters will support a man they don ’ t particularly like if they believe he is right for the job . Trump , for instance , was disliked by 20 percent of the people who cast votes for him . But when it comes to women running for office , studies indicate , voters demand a very specific cocktail of both competence and likability .
All of which makes it particularly galling that it ’ s so damn hard for a lady candidate to be considered likable to begin with . It ’ s not that our culture has a problem with powerful women necessarily ; this is 2016 , and there are plenty of well-liked Sheryl Sandbergs and Shonda Rhimeses to show otherwise . But we may actually be more cool with women having power than with women seeking power : Research shows that when females campaign for office — or otherwise lobby for promotion — their
“ likability ” takes a hit . ( Clinton ’ s approval ratings were just fine back when she was secretary of state , after all ; it was when she openly strove for the next level that they started to drop .) The hard-to-ignore message ? We may still have issues with women openly admitting they want power , be it in the form of votes or even a raise .
That disturbing observation could really mess you up if you let it . ( How are we ever going to get anywhere if we ’ re not supposed to be caught trying ?) So my suggestion is that you don ’ t let it . Let ’ s resolve to redefine likability to include women who want things , badly , for themselves and for others . I liked Hillary Clinton ’ s doggedness , and I like the determination it takes for any woman to go for a promotion , seek a better salary , or run for office , as many times as it takes .
So go do it already ! I ’ d like to vote for you someday , and I ’ ve already got my outfit all picked out .
Cindi Leive , editor-in-chief @ cindi _ leive
That we all need to get outside our bubbles
The fact that the election results caught liberal women by surprise makes S . E . Cupp , a conservative commentator and Glamour contributor , think that “ instead of protesting and hurling insults , both sides need to understand each other better ,” she says . “ Disappointed in the election , a liberal friend in New York asked if I knew of any women ’ s groups that brought thoughtful conservatives and liberals together ; I was sad and surprised that I didn ’ t . But it ’ s a great idea . Make a new friend from the other side of the aisle .”
That “ lesser ” sexual assaults are still assaults
The issue of consent was a huge one during the election — and Natasha Stoynoff , the former People writer who came forward in October with an account of being sexually assaulted by Donald Trump , thinks the awareness is a lasting positive . “ Groping a woman ’ s body without consent is … so common that many women may not even categorize [ it ] as sexual assault . I never did ,” she admits . “ But the truth is , these are crimes . The more aware we are of that — and the more we speak up — the better chance we have of preventing these actions that chip away at the self-esteem of women of all ages .”
That if you want to fight for women ’ s rights , fight
Robyn Moreno , the editorial director of Latina , is one of many women worried about what a Trump presidency will mean to people of color . “ But the Buddhists say pain puts you on the path to awakening ,” she says . “ We have been stunned into awakening ; now we must stay woke . The upside of this horrid election is that for many of us , we have found our voice and we must use it !” Actress and Glamour contributor Amber Tamblyn puts it this way : “ Don ’ t be afraid of what ’ s to come . We know our power , and we can ’ t unknow that now .” glamour . com 11