Many factors contributed to Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss in the 2024 election. But for those hoping that Americans would elect the country’s first woman president — especially when picking between a Black and Asian woman and an adjudicated rapist — her defeat stung deeply. At the same time, 45% of female voters – and a majority of white women voters – cast their ballots for president-elect Donald Trump. We’ll talk about the roles racism and sexism could have played in this election, and whether the U.S. could have a female president in our lifetimes.
Will Americans Ever Elect a Woman President?
(ARC via Getty Images)
Guests:
Caroline Heldman, political scientist and professor in Gender, Women, & Sexuality Studies, Occidental College; author, “Rethinking Madam President: Are We Ready for a Woman in the White House?”
Anna Sampaio, professor of ethnic studies and political science, Santa Clara University; author, “Terrorizing Latina/o Immigrants: Race, Gender, and Immigration Politics in the Age of Security"
Chaya Crowder, assistant professor of political science and international relations, Loyola Marymount University; author of the forthcoming book, “Intersectional Solidarity: Black Women and the Politics of Group Consciousness”
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Show Highlights
Unique Challenges for Women Presidential Candidates
Caroline Heldman, professor at Occidental College, asserts that the office of the presidency is uniquely masculinized. “We view the office of the presidency as this kind of hyper masculine father protector.” She notes that when men compete against each other, they attempt to “feminize” opponents to discredit them, posing a significant challenge for women candidates seeking this position. Heldman estimates that 13% of Americans harbor explicit bias against a woman president.
Chaya Crowder from Loyola Marymount University notes the challenges that Black women especially face in seeking national and statewide offices, saying, “we certainly have this sort of proverbial glass ceiling or even a concrete ceiling when it comes to electing Black women in particular.”
Anna Sampaio of Santa Clara University highlights the lack of recruitment and funding support from major political parties as an obstacle preventing more women, especially women of color, from ascending to top positions in their party.
Intersection of Gender, Race, and Party Affiliation
The discussion explored how gender intersects with race and party affiliation in influencing voter behavior. Sampaio notes differences in voting patterns, with women of color likelier to vote, register, and mobilize around social justice issues compared to their male counterparts.
Sampaio also notes the “degendering” that women candidates and “deracialization” that candidates of color often perform, especially those entering national politics, to court voters. Pointing to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaigns, she says, “There is this careful dance, careful negotiation of one’s race and gender, particularly when you operate in a field that was not intended for you to operate in.”
Heldman explains that “if only white people had voted since the civil rights movement, we would have seen all Republican presidents,” attributing this trend to racial resentment among white voters. The so-called “patriarchal bargain” leads some white women to align with their husbands’ views, even if it contradicts their self-interest on issues like reproductive rights, Heldman says.
Crowder emphasizes that while Black women are credited as “keepers of democracy” for the Democratic Party through high turnout, there is “relative silence” on policies affecting them between elections.
Impact of Kamala Harris’ Loss and Path Forward
The guests analyzed Kamala Harris’ historic yet unsuccessful candidacy and its implications. Heldman argues Harris’ loss reveals the depth of gender bias, especially against women of color candidates. However, Sampaio contends Harris achieved success in mobilizing voters, particularly Black women, despite the brevity of her campaign.
However, the election of Donald Trump, who has disparaged women and rescinded reproductive rights, is seen as a setback. Heldman argues Trump’s victory reveals the depth of misogyny, particularly among the “manosphere” that turned out for him. “We put in a man who’s openly misogynistic, and a certain section of the population ate it up and turned out and voted and put him into office.”
Normalization and Progress Despite Setbacks
The guests acknowledge progress made by having women presidential candidates, even in defeat. Heldman states, “Once we do eventually get a woman president, she will be held to a different standard, but it will normalize leadership in that position in some way.”
Looking ahead, Heldman advocates for quantifying gender penalties faced by women candidates to directly address biases. Sampaio suggests investing more in engaging and expanding the interests of communities of color, who are an increasing portion of the electorate. Both express hope that continued efforts by women candidates can normalize female leadership and eventually break the presidential glass ceiling.
This content was edited by the Forum production team but was generated with the help of AI.