Kamala Harris against the Glass Ceiling

Kamala Harris’ nomination as the Democratic Party’s pick for the vice presidency of the United States of America is a simultaneous blow to sexism and racism.

The attacks came quickly from Fox News, the television channel that has distinguished itself as President Donald Trump’s media ally. Political commentator Tucker Carlson started his show by condemning Harris, saying, “There are timeshare salesmen you would trust more than Kamala Harris. You could find payday lenders who are more sincere.” He also constantly mocked her name by mispronouncing it.

Days later, a freelance photographer who provided services for the National Basketball Association, Bill Baptist, posted the official Biden 2020 campaign logo. But instead of “Joe 2020” in the blue circle, it says “Joe and the Hoe.”

And while this kind of expression is in line with the stance of Trump, who has already attacked Harris, calling her “nasty,” the president will have to rightly interpret the social climate on this occasion. Although giving free rein to his assaults worked for him in 2016, comments of this ilk may not be well received now, after protests against racism, the feminist movements that have taken to the streets with even greater force in the last few years and the indignation over the havoc following the pandemic.

To start, on Carlson’s show, a senator* who was there publicly upbraided him for making fun of Harris’ name, and Carlson had to pretend that it was “unintentional.” The NBA photographer’s services were immediately terminated.

And although Trump insists on addressing his bastion of “suburban housewives,” a label that he uses to refer to white, middle and upper-class women who do not work outside the home, it seems that once more he has failed to update his references.

According to data presented by Lyman Stone, researcher from the Institute for Family Studies, “suburban housewives” only represent 4% of the total population of the United States. On the other hand, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the participation rate of working women with children between 0-17 years old fluctuates between 66% and 77%.

Coupled with that, in interviews conducted by The Associated Press with women in decisive suburbs, almost all of them expressed dismay or indignation at Trump’s racially polarizing insults. They often described it as unpresidential treatment of people.

If Biden wins, Harris would also be beginning her race for the presidency in the near future. Will it be possible at that time to translate this social outrage into a hammer strike against the glass ceiling that it seems women cannot break? Trump will soon find out.

*Editor’s note: The guest on Carlson’s show was Richard Goodstein, a Democratic campaign adviser, not a senator.