This is not a millennial whining about her candidate not winning. This is not a feminist buckling up her chastity belt and walking up to the gate of Trump Tower. This is a middle-class white female expressing why she thinks her generation is so fearful, now that Trump has won the election.
When I went to sleep last night, Trump was ahead by 30 Electoral College votes, and I knew I needed to work on accepting the fact that Donald Trump was going to be the 45th President. I went to sleep with tears in my eyes, and fear in my heart, not because I thought the world would end, but because I am afraid of the steps backwards we have now taken. I have faith that everything will work out. But I am fearful for those who are minorities, and those who may fall victim to those citizens who never accepted them as Americans. My high school worked in favor of those who had money and perfect teeth and knew when to shut their mouths. I did not fulfill any of those requirements, and I do believe that that is okay, but I heard what these people had to say. Often times when it wasn’t appropriate, but I heard the racist and misogynist cries of Trump supporters who only heard what their parents said and then repeated it back without the understanding of what was being said. I often had to simply shut my mouth and wrestle with who I thought deserved the title. Neither of which did, in my opinion, but Trump did not deserve it by any means. If anyone else had said the same things, the media would have hung them out to dry. When Trump’s “grab them by the p*ssy” scandal broke, I was not shocked. He had displayed time after time that he did not have any respect for women. And when he said that no one respected women as much as he did, I almost did a perfect spit-take. That’s complete bullcrap. I remember hoping that women would become angry, that they would not accept that. The locker room defense meant nothing to me, because I do not want my future sons and their friends talking this way anywhere. I am saddened by these results. Those who rejoiced when Barack Obama won the presidency cried themselves to sleep last night and are now left wondering what will happen next, because all of the progress that was made between 2008 and 2016 now has gone so far in the other direction. Those who said that Barack Obama was not their president are now telling those who are saying the same thing about Trump to sit down and shut up. And those who thought the Electoral College was bull are now thanking them profusely and encouraging the continuation of the procedure. Everyone is for something when it works in their favor, until it doesn't. I have fought with many people on social media over Trump and the things that he has said, but it did not ever occur to me that he would actually win this election. I do not want to live in a country where LGBTQ rights are repealed, where abortion is punishable by law, and where the separation between church and state only means that those who are not a part of the Christian church are not supported by the state. I am terrified of what this all could mean. I say all of this out of a place of sadness and anxiety. But I truly hope that Mr. Trump realizes the magnificent opportunity he has. I pray that whatever he does, it is accepted with grace, understanding, and with others in mind; LGBTQ+, Muslims, Jews, African Americans, and women. I hope that he sees how much support he has and how much he can accomplish. I hope that he is truly what this country needs now. But I pray that if he is not, that we, as a country, can band together and make light of this situation.
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AuthorGabrielle Willingham is a young Arkansan woman who sees the importance of simultaneous cynicism and optimism. Gabrielle is currently working on a MA in Communication with a focus in gender studies and political science. Archives
January 2021
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