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11/19/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 11/20/2024 01:36

“This Loss Was Personal for All of Us”

"This Loss Was Personal for All of Us"

The editor in chief of Her Campus Boston University felt sadness, anger, frustration, and fierce resolve after Kamala Harris lost the election-then she learned she was not alone

Editors and writers from Her Campus Boston University who shared their thoughts and reactions to the 2024 presidential election. Photo by Tenay Mathis (COM'26)

Politics

"This Loss Was Personal for All of Us"

The editor in chief of Her Campus Boston University felt sadness, anger, frustration, and fierce resolve after Kamala Harris lost the election-then she learned she was not alone

November 19, 2024
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Beginning with the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, women in the United States fought for suffrage, culminating in the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. The feminist movements of the 1960s and 1970s further advanced women's rights, advocating for reproductive rights, workplace equality, and the dismantling of gender-based discrimination. Around the world, countries, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Israel, and Taiwan among them, have been led by women, and women now run 10 percent of Fortune 500 companies. And yet, as the United States nears its 250th birthday, American voters still hesitate to do what many other developed countries have already done-elect a woman as president.

The 2024 election underscored this reality: Vice President Kamala Harris, the second most powerful person in the country and a trailblazer as the first woman to hold such office, lost to former president Donald Trump. For those keeping score, that's 47 American presidents, 47 men (46 of them white men).

The moment Harris gave her concession speech, it felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. For a brief, hopeful moment, I thought we might be witnessing history-a woman, a woman of color, breaking the highest barrier, leading this country. But when that moment was snatched away, it wasn't just a political loss. It felt like the crushing weight of a glass ceiling that, for all our progress, still hasn't been cracked. It was as though every woman who had ever dared to dream of seeing someone like her in power was knocked back down again.

I watched the faces of the women around me, my classmates and my colleagues at Her Campus Boston University-angry, frustrated, heartbroken-as if we had been collectively betrayed. And in a way, we had. This was more than just one election-it was the loss of something we had clung to for so long: the belief that a woman could lead us, that we could finally shatter the barriers that have kept us sidelined for centuries. The weight of that loss was so much more than just one moment-it was the pain of being reminded, once again, of how far we still have to go.

As I looked at my peers, their eyes tired and their spirits drained, I realized this loss was personal for all of us-not just as voters, but as women. And yet, Kamala Harris' defeat has only fueled the fire inside us. We might have been crushed in that moment, but that anger, that frustration are what will drive us forward.

Harris' defeat highlighted something powerful that she spoke about in her concession: "To the young people who are watching, it is okay to feel sad and disappointed. But please know it's going to be okay. On the campaign, I would often say, when we fight, we win. But here's the thing, here's the thing, sometimes the fight takes a while… Don't ever stop trying to make the world a better place. You have power."

Her words remind us that progress is not always linear-but that doesn't mean it isn't happening. Each setback is a spark that fuels our determination to keep moving forward. As women and as the next generation of leaders, we draw strength from these moments-not because they are easy, but because they prove that the fight is worth it. This loss does not define us-it propels us. It ignites a fire within us to build a future where all voices are heard and where every girl who dreams of leadership can see herself reflected in the highest places of power. The road may be long, but with every step, we are breaking new ground-and the ceiling, piece by piece, is falling.

As women and as the next generation of leaders, we draw strength from these moments-not because they are easy, but because they prove that the fight is worth it.
Sophia Featherstone

These reflections are shared by myself, the editor in chief of Her Campus Boston University (HCBU), and by my fellow writers, all of us BU students. HCBU is a student organization at BU that is a chapter of the leading media site in the United States created for and by college women.

I spoke with some of my fellow writers and they shared with me how the election impacted them.

Shared grief and disillusionment

"What I am most torn up by as a woman is the results of the popular vote," Sydney Tullai (COM'25), HCBU chapter vice president, told me. "America voted to put a felon, a sexist, racist threat to safety, in power over a woman with decades of experience and who has proven to have basic human empathy."

For many girls and young women, the election result was a moment of sadness and a time for reflection. Photo via AP/Aaron Schwartz/Sipa USA

Her anger and frustration echoed the disillusionment many of us feel about where the country stands on the issue of gender equality, particularly when it comes to reproductive rights.

"I was feeling the weight of the election coming up on behalf of my friends here, especially the women," said Geena Prestia (COM'25), HCBU co-senior editor, who is not a U.S. citizen. "My heart goes out to anyone who feels like the hope and optimism they had for this country in nearly having a female president has been stripped away by the outcome."

For Lilly Chapman (COM'26), HCBU co-senior editor, Harris' loss highlighted the painful reality of how far we still have to go. "When I was a little girl and wasn't quite exposed to gender disparities yet, I believed that the power of women was accepted and limitless," she told me. "Growing up is realizing that the power of women is limitless, but not accepted."

As a young second-generation woman and a writer at HCBU, Noyonika Gupta (CAS'27) talked about one word the election brought to mind for her: privilege. "Recent events have made me rethink privilege-the privilege to be indifferent to our democracy's future, the privilege of being a man granted respect and credibility by default. I am left disappointed and frustrated, as Harris' loss felt like a loss for every woman striving to be heard, trusted, and respected. Despite all our efforts, our voices could not break the unyielding status quo. What will it take for our country to finally take us seriously?"

For many, this loss is a reminder that while society has seen women elevated to some of the highest ranks of power, it still feels as if every step forward is met with a giant step back. The words of Rae Ruane (COM'27) reflect the sense of emotional exhaustion many of us feel-but also the recognition that we must keep fighting. "It's been an emotional and dystopian-feeling week," she said, "and now is not the time to allow ourselves to be silenced."

How women of color feel the weight differently

While the loss is painful for women of all different backgrounds, it's particularly heavy for women of color. When I spoke with Afia Asamoah (COM'28), she articulated the deep sense of betrayal she felt.

"Heartbroken. Heartbroken is the best adjective to describe the shock and devastating pang of seeing Kamala Harris-a bright, confident, and overqualified leader-lose to a convicted felon who repeatedly attacked her ad hominem," she said. "It has always been my goal to understand and respect multiple sides of the ideological spectrum, but as a young Black woman, I feel extremely disrespected and failed by the American people-and I can't imagine how Harris herself must feel. Nonetheless, my hope to see a woman in office-and particularly a Black woman-will never die. As Kamala Harris emphasized in her concession speech, I accept the election results and the peaceful transition of power; however, the fight is not over to restore our democracy and uplift marginalized voices against those like Donald Trump whose values and disgraceful rhetoric seek to divide Americans."

From loss to motivation

In the face of such a monumental setback, there's a profound sense of resilience. Angelina Pires (COM'27) expressed the renewed urgency to act in the wake of the election's outcome. "This election was obviously a monumental one," she told me. "As a young woman, I was really looking forward to the 'we did it' moment. I haven't given up hope, and I haven't stopped advocating either."

"My initial reaction to watching another highly qualified woman lose the presidency was one of immense grief, frustration, and fear for the future," Stella Coffaro (CAS'27) said. "For me, this moment is a time to grieve and accept the election results, but soon we must move forward as a community to protect each other and those most at risk in the next four years. Together, I believe we can create a hopeful future even in the face of uncertainty."

Instead of feeling crushed by the loss, many of us have redoubled our efforts. Like Lily Alvino (CAS'27), who found herself processing the results through her studies in political science, the election led her to a place of renewed purpose: "Though at times feeling hopeless, I choose to continue to pursue avenues in my education that will lead me down the path to where myself and other women are in positions of power regarding our bodies."

Kamala Harris' loss was not just a political defeat; it was a stark reminder of the glass ceiling that continues to hover above us. Yet, while it weighs heavy on our hearts, it also galvanizes us. As Harris said in her concession speech: "This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves." This loss doesn't mean we stop-we rise. We rise to make sure the next generation of women, especially women of color, are represented, respected, and heard. Because, despite everything, the fight for gender equality is not over.

"We did it" will come. Together, we will shatter the glass ceiling, one crack at a time.

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