After Donald Trump's insistence that Hillary Clinton is only getting votes because she is a woman, Clinton decided to spin Trump's reference to a "woman card" into a campaign strategy. Hashtag and all.
And frankly, as a woman, I'm not a fan.
I receive emails from both front runners out of plain and simple campaign advertising interest curiosity. Within less than 24 hours, my clutter folder had three emails from Clinton's campaign. All three asked if I wanted a #womancard to play whenever I want. Clearly the emails were sarcastic in nature and meant as a rebuttal to Trump's words; but three of them was overkill.
Understandably so, Clinton's campaign spun Trump's words into a powerful movement. That was a smart move on their end. Those insightful words rile people up and make them want to talk and tweet and support one side versus another. It's another ripple in the campaign wave.
I am neither for or against Clinton, as I am neither for or against Trump. At this stage of the election and it being my first participation in one, I'm still weighing my options. I see the downfalls of both; Trump's proposed wall and Clinton's controversial dealings and emails. But I also see the value in each; Trump's aggressive foreign policy in a fear inducing world and Clinton's dedication to fighting college issues, like campus sexual assault and mounting student debt.
None of those issues requires the care of a specific gender. They require the attention and focus of a person who can handle the job. A person. Not a man or woman. The presidency, although obviously historically solely dominated by males, should not be dictated by which gender we think should hold office.
Yes, it would groundbreaking and encouraging for a woman to be president of the United States come this November. It would be the culmination of years of discrimination and inequality across the gender spectrum to have a woman in charge. But that doesn't mean Hillary Clinton will make a groundbreaking president.
Because although Clinton is a woman, she's also a person. Donald Trump is also a person. This election should not be centered around who the best gender for the job is. It should be who the best person for the job is.
I sincerely hope Clinton broadens her campaign beyond this woman card. Inequalities do exist between men and women. But Clinton is speaking with knowledge of a time where these inequalities were on a much larger scale than they are now. Feminists have made great strides in her lifetime and they will continue to do so for many more lifetimes. Her four year presidency might make a dent, but it won't knock the whole barrier down.
This country is made up of both men and women, and even those who don't identify as either. We need a president that includes all of the above in their plans and promises. We need a president who will speak to us and on our behalf in terms of people, not genders.
I am a millennial, collegiate woman who identifies proudly as a believer in equal rights.
But I do not want a woman card. Especially a stereotypical pink one at that.
Do not deal me in as a woman; although I am proud to be one, that is not all that I am. Deal me in as a student, a writer, an entrepreneur, and everything else that makes me, me. I am so much more than my gender.
I want a person card. Or better yet, a business card.