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