U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks to the media before boarding her campaign plane at the Westchester County airport in White Plains, New York, U.S. September 19, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
Following recent announcements which declared Republican Party candidate Donald Trump as the president-elect of the United States of America, several thoughts have trailed women groups as to the effect of the Clinton loss for women all over the world. It was indeed a long road travelled by a strong woman with a brave heart.
Women have been known to be resilient in their quest to achieve what they set out to and so it was not surprising that Mrs. Clinton put up a tough fight if not for anything, but to show women that with the right tools in place and self-development, ANY woman can be where she wants to be.
So many women have held on tight to the “girl-card” which is usually perceived as manipulative in every sense as it tends to utilize feminine subtleness to get things done. It is true that this unique card has moved mountains in times past and still works magic, however, women the world over need a reset which is more geared towards value, self-development, and pure quality content such that they will be judged based on what they have to offer rather than the mere fact that they are female.
It would be rather short-sighted to consider Mrs. Clinton’s ordeal a loss to the women folk giving that the quest for leadership positions for women is not particularly a clamor for equality with the men, but a sincere desire to join in and contribute to the developmental processes of the various regions and the world at large. Bearing this in mind, the call for women to enter the political arena is expected to be stronger now more than ever especially with current display of notable leadership skills amongst women in different fields of endeavor.
There is no doubting the fact that women are still being marginalized especially in leadership and the work force, but this election has shown very clearly that ‘the battle’ is real and every woman must be ready to fight to be in positions that matter and where their voices will be heard loud and clear in order to effect the desired changes, and positively influence occurrences in the world.
Despite the stumbling blocks that Mrs. Clinton was faced with, she never failed to maintain her composure, and was not threatened by her opponent’s counter-attacks. Her feminine frailty and compassionate heart was not swayed by the battleground she found herself in. This serves as a source of encouragement to women who have covered their faces in shame as a result of their natural frailty and humanity – a unique gift found in women alone. It is time to stand up tall and be the woman you want to be. The standard has been set. Women are capable…very capable in fact, to achieve successes beyond the imaginations.
Is this the time to sob and be depressed? Not at all. It is a time to reawaken the greatness that lies within roughs of feminine “weakness” and contribute to the growth and development of the world regardless of what anyone might think or say. It is a time to show more than ever the potentials hidden in women leaders.
Although the long emotional night that resulted in Hillary’s loss, no doubts left an ‘intact glass ceiling;’ this remains a monumental moment for women the world over, as she has ‘cracked the ceiling’ and made history as the first woman presidential nominee in the history of the United States of America. In her words, during her concession speech, she said- ‘Now, I know we have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but someday someone will — and hopefully sooner than we might think right now.’
The greatest lesson is for all women to wake up and continue to fight for what they believe and stand for – with strength in their convictions, irrespective of the battles they encounter.
In Hillary’s words, she said- ‘’I have had successes and setbacks and sometimes painful ones. Many of you are at the beginning of your professional, public, and political careers — you will have successes and setbacks too. This loss hurts, but please never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it.’’
And worth it, it is. This is the greatest lesson to learn from the proceedings of the 2016 US Presidential elections. By all means, let all women move forward and Break their own ‘Ultimate Glass Ceilings.’
Source: Amazons Watch
