On Saturday, Kamala Harris became the vice president elect of the United States.
The first female, the first African-American, and the first Asian-American vice president in history, Harris has already broken records before she has even taken office.
The win has been described as hopeful and progressive, a vindication for the millions of women and young girls in the States who ever felt underrepresented, unimportant or unheard.
This is not to say that simply having a woman in power is enough – it isn’t. But to have a woman of colour who is an avid supporter of the LGBT community, an advocate for healthcare reform, and who has fought for undocumented migrants’ rights might just be.
Here in Ireland, where we’re no stranger to female heads of state. As early as 1990, we elected Mary Robinson, a woman who was heavily involved in the country’s campaign to decriminalise homosexuality and liberalise contraceptives.
Her eventual resignation led to Mary McAleese taking over the helm for a further seven years, where she spent time “building bridges” between unionist communities in the North, later lending her support to multiple LGBT rights issues including Ireland’s marriage equality referendum.
Irish presidents both past and present – and of both genders – have led the country down similar progressive paths. It doesn’t take a woman to get the work done, but having more gender balance in office will only encourage more young women and girls to incite change in the world.
The soon-to-be highest ranking female elected official in the US – ever – Harris’ win wasn’t just monumental, it was a relief – a sigh of hope for the women and the minorities who have struggled to be heard beneath the Trump administration.
Of course, there is room to be sceptical. Kamala’s 13 year career in law enforcement has led to fears that conviction rates will only continue to climb, adding more strain to America’s already swollen prisons.
But despite this, the majority remain hopeful. Hopeful for movement, for action, and for change. Already, analysts are predicting that if Biden serves just one term, Harris could become the US’s first female president – a feat that right now, doesn’t sound entirely beyond the realm of possibility.
As Ireland marks this year’s Equal Pay Day, we’d do well to remember the core reasons why the gender pay gap exist – a lack of opportunity for women, and a lack of visibility.
Our own presidential history may boast progression and considerable gender parity, but elsewhere the country (and countless others around us) struggles from muted representation and a lack of women in high power positions.
“While I may be the first woman in this office,” Harris said during her victory speech, “I will not be the last.”
