Since the late 1800s, women have been fighting for their rights nonstop. And this past year, we had our very first credible female candidate for president, and she was oh-so-close to winning. Although many mourn the loss of Hillary Clinton's candidacy, we must appreciate and admire how far she got — how far we got. Her loss was not a defeat, it was merely a reminder that we still have some work to do.
Do not be discouraged.
Clinton set an example and became a role model for many. The 2016 election was thought to be another mark on the timeline of women's history. Although Clinton may not have won, it still stands as an important time to remember; for there were quite a few positive outcomes involving women that deserve to come to light.
Several women were elected to congress this past week. Even better? Four of the seven women elected are of color. Catherine Cortez Masto, the first Latina senator, along with Kamala Harris, Pramila Jayapal, and Ilhan Omar are all making history in the 2016 election. Jayapal is the first Indian-American woman elected to The House, and is planning to fight for social justice. Harris, elected to the senate, is the second African-American and first Indian-American to be elected. Omar, a former refugee, is the first Somali-American Muslim female to be elected to the legislature.
Tammy Duckworth, Stephanie Murphy and Kate Brown are also honorable women, who were elected during the election. Oregon's governor, Kate Brown, is the first to openly be a part of the LGBT community and Duckworth was another to be elected senator and is the first female senator that has been in combat. Not only did she serve, but she lost both of her legs in the Iraq War.
All of these women are incredibly inspiring and have a story of their own.
It is important for people, not just in the United States, but all over, to see representation — to be able to see someone who perhaps has the same skin tone, background, or gender and say, "If they can do it, I can too."
Whether the first female president is working her way up from congress, just getting into politics, or perhaps just being born, (although hopefully, we will not have to wait that long) there will be a woman in office one day.
As Hillary Clinton said in her concession speech, "To all the little girls...never doubt that you are valuable and powerful, and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world - to pursue and achieve your own dream".
