Mark Mikhail Headshot
During spring break, I went to my home in Jacksonville, North Carolina. As a military city, Jacksonville has a lot of conservative views, which are often reflected on truck stickers. Growing up, my favorite car game was reading these stickers, and I learned over time that the growing polarization seems to amplify the absurdity of vehicle stickers.
One sticker I saw over break stated “say no to Sleepy Joe and that h**,” the latter moniker referring to Vice President Kamala Harris. This sticker, and the accompanying widespread cultural connotations, are both incredibly offensive and misogynistic. Its relevance in my hometown prompted me to deeply consider the role of women in politics.
Ultimately, Harris has faced unfair criticism due to her prominent position in historically male-dominated areas.
Harris’s early career as a prosecutor required her to assert considerable strength in a field where women have been historically underrepresented. This challenge is mirrored in her political career, where, as of 2023, women constitute only 28.5% of the House of Representatives and 33.7% of state legislators. Harris is one of only 60 women to ever serve in the Senate and was the third Black woman to ever be elected to the body.
The underrepresentation of women in these areas contributes to an environment where the default behaviors are male-oriented — where the cultural norms are influenced by traditional male perspectives. Traditional male perspectives center around competitiveness, power and incapability to appear vulnerable.
In environments dominated by traditional male perspectives, women, including figures like Harris, might adapt by adopting characteristics typically associated with these male-oriented settings. Thus, the person with the truck sticker may not have been accustomed to seeing women in powerful positions, potentially feeling intimidated by such a shift from what he considers traditional roles.
Increased gender equality in government correlates with a lower likelihood of civil war. Many studies also show that countries with more minute gender gaps experience fewer conflicts and tend to find more peaceful means of addressing conflict.
Nevertheless, we must remember that gender social construction is not a monolith and is not binding. Some women, including Harris, might naturally exhibit traits like assertiveness due to personal disposition or childhood. However, these statistics regarding conflict toward women grant us keen insight into what our country should do in government.
Our nation is currently embroiled in two proxy conflicts, one in Gaza and the other in Ukraine. Regardless of political affiliation, it’s likely that we are all exhausted by our country’s persistent tendency towards conflict.
To truly address this inclination toward war, we must not only address our gender gap but also prioritize the inclusion of women, even if it means giving them greater representation than men.
My reasoning behind this asymmetrical solution is influenced deeply by philosophy.
Tommie Shelby, current chair of the Department of African and African American Studies and professor of philosophy at Harvard, argues in his article, “Justice, Deviance, and the Dark Ghetto,” that asymmetrical support is needed to uplift historically marginalized groups.
In his essay, Shelby emphasizes the critical role of reciprocity in social cooperation. He states that for a society to be considered just, all members must be granted the opportunity to contribute and benefit from the government equally.
Shelby argues if individuals did not receive their equitable share of societal benefits it is a requirement of the society to address this imbalance. Those who have been marginalized should not only receive their due share but also compensation equivalent to the present value of what they were initially denied.
This solution acknowledges the compounded disadvantages that accrue over time when one is denied equal participation in society — something we must consider when addressing the gender imbalance in politics.
Shelby’s article focused on alleviating the conditions of impoverished African American communities by suggesting improved schooling, housing and healthcare. However, based on these solutions, we understand how we may alleviate the masculine culture of power and domination. Shelby’s ideas suggest that we must create pathways that create female entry and sustainability in these spheres.
To reduce the dominance of traditional masculinity in politics, it’s essential to increase women’s representation in leadership roles and raise public awareness about the significance of gender diversity. This approach will help ensure that historical marginalization is addressed for centuries to come.
Although it may seem from my discussion that individual actions have a limited impact on the masculine culture in politics, this perception is incorrect. Individuals play a significant role in fostering a more inclusive environment.
You can contribute by ensuring that you are making an effort to make women feel comfortable and respected at work, avoiding dominant male behaviors. Additionally, you can educate yourself about the advantages of having more women in political and leadership positions by attending events like Wonderful Women Wednesday, which highlights the accomplishments of women at NC State. In attending such events, you can help to shift societal norms which can influence policy. Moreover, you can support female political candidates who display empathy and understanding, rather than adhering to traditional competitive male behaviors.