(draft) A Seemingly Innocuous Argument for HRC as President that’s Actually REALLY Unhealthy
“But think of what it would mean for all the little girls in the United States and the world to see a woman in the White House . . .”
. . . said a pro-HRC friend.
I’ve heard stuff like this before.
The token victor who then “opens the doors” for everyone else of the same demographic to feel able and capable and worthy.
Well.
It’s a totally unhealthy framework to come from.
The healthiest place for a person to affirm his or her identity is from Self.
In fact, it’s UNHEALTHY to affirm value, capability, identity, worth, possibility, in the actions of another.
Little girls don’t NEED a woman in The White House to say, “as a girl, I can do whatever I want.”
That’s unhealthy.
To place stock of one’s ability in the accomplishments of another.
If a young girl did that . . . built a chunk of her identity as a WOMAN/FEMALE on HRC being president . . .
What if HRC does a horrible job?
What if HRC gets assassinated?
What if HRC gets impeached?
What if she loses in re-election?
What if ANY un-stellar thing happens?
Then all the girls with their identities wrapped up in HRC, a female, being president, could have their futures shattered … “ah, I wanted to be president, but look how it turned out for HRC, a woman . . .”
Or whatever.
There are 100 ways to spin this.
Bottom line:
The ONLY healthy place from which to assert and affirm one’s value and identity is from the Self, and connected with that for those of us who credit existence to a supreme creator and more specific believe we are created in His image . . .
“I have worth because I say so(, that I am a child of God who believes in me and loves me fully, always). I can do good and make a difference because I can and do choose to do that(, with the gift of agency He’s granted unto me and with the power and support He lends to me every day).”
You think this girl needs to see a woman in the White House to become president?
No.
With self-affirmed value like this, she’ll get there all on her if she so chooses to commit herself to that endeavor.
It is a MISTAKE to say, “Oh, but an upside of having a token first-timer of a new demography in this visible position is GOOD because think of the message that sends to everyone of that demographic . . .”
NO.
Think about the ILL already existing in our society if YOU believe that people NEED to see “someone like them” doing something good in order for them to grant themselves permission to go for it.
EVERYONE has value.
EVERYONE is better off believing that and affirming their value on their own, rather than locating it or “finding” it in someone else’s accomplishments.
YOUR value is NOT contingent on ANYONE ELSE’s choices.
If you can see this is true for you . . .
Then indeed I believe you can see it’s true for EVERYONE else too.
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Btw, this is the case for ALL combinations of demographics and roles/positions/accomplishments.