For the second time in eight years, a woman has won the Democratic nomination for US president, only to come up short in a campaign where gender was a central issue.
Like Hillary Clinton in 2016, Kamala Harris had a shot at becoming the first woman to occupy the Oval Office but stumbled at the final hurdle.
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (L) greets US rapper Cardi B during a “When We Vote We Win” rally at the Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Center in West Allis, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 1, 2024. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)
While the charisma of their opponent — Donald Trump, in both cases — clearly played a role in these historic defeats, many observers also saw misogyny as a factor.
In their duelling campaigns, Harris and Trump laid out starkly different visions for women’s status and rights.
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (R) waves next to husband US Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff after speaking on The Ellipse just south of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 29, 2024. – The Harris-Walz campaign is billing the speech as “a major closing argument” one week before the November 5 election. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)
Trump, who has faced multiple accusations of sexual assault he denies, sought to broadcast a hypermasculine image, appearing alongside mixed martial artists and offering praise for autocratic world leaders.
He and his campaign surrogates also made multiple comments that were criticized as insulting or contemptuous of women.
Pro-Palestinian protesters chant and wave a Palestinian flag as people gather to watch on a screen as US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks on The Ellipse, just south of the White House, in Washington, DC, on October 29, 2024. (Photo by Amid Farahi / AFP)
He called Harris “crazy” and “mentally disabled”, and claimed she would be “like a play toy” for other world leaders if elected.
His running mate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, doubled down on a quip he made in 2021 about “childless cat ladies” running the country, saying “I’ve got nothing against cats.”
Trump also presented himself as a “protector” of women, saying he would protect them whether they “like it or not.”
Former US President Barack Obama holds hands with US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris during a campaign rally at the James R Hallford Stadium in Clarkston, Georgia on October 24, 2024. (Photo by Drew ANGERER / AFP)
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– Defender of women’s rights –
Harris by contrast relied heavily on female celebrities such as Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey, betting that they would help her reach even conservative women voters.
Harris did not campaign openly on the fact that she would have been the first female president of the United States.
US actor and director Tyler Perry during a campaign rally with former US President Barack Obama supporting US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris at the James R Hallford Stadium in Clarkston, Georgia on October 24, 2024. (Photo by Drew ANGERER / AFP)
But she made the defence of women’s rights, and abortion in particular, one of the cornerstones of her campaign.
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But this appears not to have won over enough moderately conservative women.
At a campaign rally last month, former first lady Michelle Obama denounced the apparent double standard by which the two White House candidates were judged.
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (L) joins US television producer Oprah Winfrey at a ‘Unite for America’ live streaming rally in Farmington Hills, Michigan, on September 19, 2024. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)
“We expect her to be intelligent and articulate, to have a clear set of policies, to never show too much anger, to prove time and time again that she belongs,” she said of Harris.
“But for Trump, we expect nothing at all. No understanding of policy, no ability to put together a coherent argument, no honesty, no decency, no morals.”
US Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris (C) is pictured in studio at ABC during a break in the recording of the show “The View” with hosts (L-R) Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, Whoopi Goldberg, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Joy Behar and Sunny Hostin in New York on October 8, 2024.
(Photo by Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
AFP
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