As a girl in the United States, I find it to be a big deal when there are women in positions of power. They allow me and many other young women to imagine ourselves out there, taking on great responsibilities. Throughout history, the majority of leadership positions have gone to men. However, I have started to notice women making breakthroughs by landing those more stereotypical male jobs, broadening the list of jobs that young women, including myself, can choose from. 

It isn’t a myth that women face biases in everyday life, and in the workforce, compared to men. The Pew Research Center found that in 2013, 45% of people thought that men are more favored as compared to women in society. The American Association of University Women (AAUW) cites that women only earn 82% of what men earn.

Junior Xaura Stager-Kamats explained her views on the biases between men and women, as well as her views on equality between the two sexes. 

“I think that it’s very important for men and women to be treated equally, if not women to be treated better than men in society, just because women are known to face biases and be treated as less than men,” she said.

Just recently, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the United States Presidential  Election as president and vice president-elect. Kamala Harris is the very first woman, but also the very first Black and Asian American to win the vote of vice president. Not only did Harris make history, but she set the pathway for many women, specifically young women in America, to have a role model in the second-highest office in the U.S, not just another man.

Junior Ainsley Paulson shared her thoughts on the role of women in society, as well as how younger girls view them.

“Little girls look up to princesses, why can’t they look up to politicians as well?” she said.

Harris is changing the image for young girls who aspire to be politicians, though there is still much work to be done throughout the whole government. According to data the Pew Research Center recorded in 2017, less than 22% of women hold seats in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, and the U.S. Cabinet.

Stager-Kamats also added her input on Harris as the new vice president-elect, as well as her impact on the younger generation of women.

“I think that it’s really cool that she is the vice president now, because that’s a first for a female to be a vice president. If you ask anyone who she is and they don’t know, that’d be really surprising, especially if they’re a girl,” said Stager-Kamats. “I know a lot of people who post about her [on social media] and talk about her all the time, and how much of a role model she is.”

Knowing that other girls my age have the same opinions as me on this topic, it brings me hope that there will be equality between all genders, and break the typical stereotypes. A woman heading to the vice-presidential office just brings us another great step forward. Today, there is one more role model for girls, and she’s not just another princess.