Democratic men finally get up for a female president by resigning

Women run for US President since 1872and for nearly as long, people have been wondering what women have to do to interrupt through what Hillary Clinton calls “highest, hardest glass ceiling“ in American culture.

Almost nobody has asked what men have to do to repair the issue that this job has been off-limits to greater than 50% of the talent pool for ages.

At the 2024 Democratic National Convention, that modified. Democratic men made decisions that were entirely latest or extremely rare to support a female presidential candidate and serve the nation. This was unprecedented.

As Communication scientist who studies gender and political leadershipI even have argued that the most important obstacle to electing a girl president will not be a scarcity of qualified candidates, but a collective inability to acknowledge them as suchThe fault lies not with the candidates, but with American culture.

As it turned out, men in politics were also accountable.

Faced with competition from female presidential candidates, many men previously have used their power and privilege in ways in which undermine women's candidacies. But the Democratic National Convention was different.

For the primary time in history, the lads of a significant political party unanimously supported a female candidate. They avoided strategically using the stereotype that strong women are unlikable, Barack Obama did this with Hillary Clinton within the 2008 Democratic primaries.

They accepted the party’s overwhelming support for a female candidate as an alternative of insisting Entitlement to superdelegateslike Bernie Sanders did in 2016.

And they put their careers on hold to support their spouse’s candidacy, moderately than undermining it by offering support to challengers in the first, as Bob Dole did when Elizabeth Dole ran for the Republican Party nomination in 2000.

“Relinquishing male power”

Rhetorical decisions reveal the underlying motivations of people and groups. The messages from Democratic men on the 2024 convention signaled that their party was finally able to do something no major party has done before. Not only did they nominate a female candidate, but in addition they renounced male power and privilege.

Biden surprised everyone by withdrawing from the race in response to pressure of declining poll numbers, skeptical donors and party leaders, and nervous candidates on the lower ballots. But any resentment he could have felt didn’t translate into irritation or pettiness on the convention.

As the gang chanted “Thank you, Joe,” he instructed: “Thank you too, Kamala” and promised to be “the best volunteer the Harris-Walz camp has ever seen.” He didn’t just hand over his candidacy. He gave up his authority – to the people and the party, but additionally specifically to Harris.

Although Transport Minister Pete Buttigieg to be Harris' running mate and possibly still harboring his own presidential ambitions, he didn’t use his place on the convention to advertise the 2028 campaign. Instead, he took on the role historically reserved for girls at party conventions: presenting the party's message from the angle of a parent whose primary concern is “Kitchen table” politics, Issues that the majority directly affect children and families.

The speech by the presidential candidate's spouse on the convention has historically been a possibility for future First Ladies to portray their husbands because the patriarchs of a perfect American family. In his speech, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff emphasized painted an image a “complicated” and “patchwork family” and not using a patriarch, but with two energetic partners who may be equally successful of their careers and be intensively committed to the family.

When Harris selected Tim Walz as her running mate, She defied many experts and the Bookmaker who considered Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to be the most effective strategic selection. The performance of the convention was described by a news channel as a message from a “Midwestern man” and an “antidote to toxic MAGA masculinity.” Even Ms. Magazine praised it as “Populist motivational speech on masculinity.”

But Walz did something that Americans are usually not used to seeing from “real men.” He made it clear that he couldn’t only work with a girl, but additionally for her. And that everybody should try this.

After inform the gang that the pick was within the metaphorical “fourth quarter,” the team was “a field goal behind,” and the offense was “driving down the field,” Coach Walz made it clear that, as in his time as a highschool coach, he was the assistant coachTheir leader was Kamala Harris, and “Kamala Harris is tough. Kamala Harris is experienced. And Kamala Harris is ready.”

Satisfied second fiddle

To be clear, Harris' early success as a presidential candidate is primarily as a result of her skillful and skilful response to a series of unprecedented events and to the competent support of black women who’ve long supported the Democratic Party.

But the lads of the Convention made a joint decision, “their supporting roles,” as one Axios reporter described it, and treat Harris like a commander in chief. This shouldn't be anything special. Women have been doing this for presidential candidates since… endlessly. But to see so many white men step down so enthusiastically for a lady of color was almost unbelievable.

Stepping back will not be the identical as walking away. This is vital since the overarching message of the Convention was the best way to create an inclusive, democratic community. If you want to expand a circle and let more people in, step back. That doesn't exclude you from the circle. It makes your circle greater.

The congress offered a big selection of topics, including Gay fathers raise strong-willed toddlers, Patchwork families attending synagogue and church, Football coaches who kill pheasants and function Faculty Advisor of the High School Gay-Straight Alliance ClubAnd Presidents who hand over their power for the great of the country.

This features a presidential candidate who’s unlike another president in US history. This is a big step forward for the country.