As we’ve witnessed time and time again, when a woman steps into the political spotlight, she becomes the target of relentless attacks. Hillary Clinton experienced this firsthand during her presidential campaign, facing a wave of misogyny from every direction. And now, as Kamala Harris emerges as a potential Democratic nominee for President of the United States, the same pattern is repeating itself. However, Kamala is not just a woman; she is a Black, Indian woman, which has only intensified the aggression against her.
The attacks on Kamala have already been vicious. Her critics have targeted her gender, even going as far as criticizing her for “laughing too much.” Recently, JD Vance, the Vice Presidential nominee under Trump, took aim at Kamala’s choice not to have children. In an appearance on Fox News (no surprise there), Vance boldly declared that women who haven’t given birth are nothing but “childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives” and have “no direct stake in America.” Sadly, these derogatory and ignorant remarks are far from original.
Thankfully, there are voices of reason and support echoing through the political landscape. One such voice is Jennifer Aniston, who expressed her disbelief and disappointment in a social media post. Jennifer shared a screenshot of Vance’s appearance and wrote, “I truly can’t believe this is coming from a potential VP of the United States.” She then addressed Vance directly, saying, “Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day. I hope she will not need to turn to IVF as a second option. Because you are trying to take that away from her, too.”
Jennifer Aniston’s fertility journey has included unsuccessful attempts with IVF treatments, making Vance’s comment particularly hurtful for her. However, his words should anger all of us, regardless of our personal experiences. Vance’s choice of words is not only insensitive but also reveals a concerning disregard for the realities women face in trying to have children in today’s challenging economic climate. Furthermore, Vance has consistently voted against the Right to IVF act and advocated for a blanket abortion ban. It’s clear that he believes he has the authority to dictate what women can do with their bodies.
As someone who has decided not to have children and does not even own a cat, Vance’s comments offend me. But more importantly, it is disheartening that in 2024, we are still attacking a woman based on her choice not to have given birth. It is worth noting that Kamala Harris is a stepparent to two children, so the Republican’s argument about her “family dynamic” doesn’t hold water. Kamala’s stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff, took to her Instagram story to express this sentiment, sharing a quote from Kerstin Emhoff, the ex-wife of Doug Emhoff (Kamala’s husband). Kerstin’s quote debunks Vance’s claim and emphasizes that Kamala has been just as much of a parent to her stepchildren as their biological parents. Ella added her own perspective, writing, “How can you be ‘childless’ when you have cutie pie kids like Cole and I?” She concludes with, “I love my three parents.”
It’s disheartening to see misogyny persist, although it is not a new phenomenon by any means. But haven’t we missed the days when it was at least somewhat covert? It is concerning to think about the state of our politics when the Republican presidential nominee is Donald Trump. These ridiculously ignorant and offensive comments from JD Vance hardly deserve a response, but it is crucial to reiterate that a woman’s ability to hold the highest office in the nation has nothing to do with what she does or doesn’t have in her vaginal canal. If we find ourselves needing to explain this to someone who aspires to the second most powerful job in the world, then we should be deeply worried about the upcoming election.