Hillary Clinton has expressed her belief that Kamala Harris has the potential to break the “highest, hardest glass ceiling” in the United States by becoming the country’s first female president. Speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Clinton reflected on her own historic achievement of being the first woman to receive a major party’s presidential nomination, stating, “When a barrier falls for one of us, it clears the way for all of us.” Despite her groundbreaking campaign in 2016, Clinton ultimately lost the election to Donald Trump.
During her address to thousands of supporters, she emphasized the urgency of passing the torch to Harris, saying, “Together, we’ve put a lot of cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling.” She envisioned a future where Harris raises her hand and takes the oath as the 47th President of the United States. Delegates and politicians at the convention noted that the political landscape has evolved since Clinton’s candidacy, observing that Harris has chosen not to focus heavily on her gender the way Clinton did.
Minyon Moore, chair of the Democratic National Convention Committee, acknowledged Clinton’s groundbreaking efforts, stating, “Mrs. Clinton shattered a lot of glass for many people,” but emphasized the ongoing challenge of changing societal mindsets. Female politicians shared their experiences of facing barriers in politics, with state senator Mallory McMorrow recounting being questioned about her suitability for office due to her status as a mother.
Throughout her 2016 presidential run, Clinton faced intense scrutiny regarding her appearance, clothing, and voice, with some voters also judging her based on her marriage to former President Bill Clinton. Her defeat to Trump sparked a wave of women’s marches and inspired a record number of female candidates to enter politics in 2018. As of now, women make up 28.5% of the House of Representatives, a significant increase from 19.1% in 2017.
According to recent data, the perception of men being better suited for politics than women has decreased over the past decade. Female politicians believe that Harris is in a different position than Clinton was during her campaign, allowing her more freedom to campaign authentically without the pressure to represent all women.