Spoiler alert: I am strongly in favor of the Harris-Walz campaign for the 2024 Presidential and Vice-Presidential election. This may come as no surprise, but if you respectfully support the other candidate, feel free to exit this blog post now.
Onward and upward and despite my election confession above, for the most part I will try to make conversation this month not a political discussion in its entirety. This about names and how it plays out it in gender equality.
Like many who usually lean towards the blue side of the political spectrum, I lost hope after the first presidential debate. I was emotionally and physically preparing for the reality of Donald Trump as our President for another four years. I would have respected the outcome but in parallel I was also educating my nieces and my partner’s daughters, empowering them for what might come. Some days, I discussed with Kevin—sometimes in tears—what we would do the day after Trump’s potential re-election. With Congress potentially flipping to the red side, and the terrifying implications of Project 2025 looming, I was in a pit of despair. The rhetoric from figures like JD Vance felt straight out of "The Handmaid’s Tale." The Supreme Court had essentially declared the twice-impeached, now-convicted former President immune for his acts while in office. I found myself deeply apathetic, despite my training as a coach.
Then, recently, the news broke that Joe Biden was bravely stepping aside. It must have been a decision filled with frustration, anger, and sadness. Imagine training your entire life to climb Mount Everest, only to be so crippled by fatigue near the peak that you put others in danger and had to turn around. Stepping aside was perhaps the bravest and boldest act President Biden could have done for his country, and for this, we owe him a debt of gratitude.
To say that I came back to life would be an understatement. I saw hope in young voters, women and our male allies who had lost faith, the LGBTQ+ community, and even middle America. The surge in grassroots support and fundraising, fueled by endorsements from both sides of the aisle, was nothing short of inspiring. We could feel the fire rekindling—the same fire that dimmed when Roe v. Wade was overturned (more on that later).
Reflecting on a few months ago, I have been continuously interviewing women from across the globe, particularly in ski resort operations, focusing on the challenges they face as females in the male-dominated outdoor industry. During this time, a longtime male friend asked, “Why are we still talking about this? Aren’t women already considered equal?” It was a fair question, and I realized I needed to be prepared to answer it if I wanted to support my clients effectively. I also had to be wary of my own conditioning, work experiences, and biases to not cloud the conversations.
Around the same time, I was volunteering with FEMA in Vermont after the historic floods of 2023 assisting local citizens that were impacted. During one of my volunteer days I had a thoughtful political discussion with two male co-volunteers who were clearly on the other side of the aisle, yet we shared common beliefs serving our community. One of them, likely in his late 60s and who served in local government, said, “A woman has a right to choose as long as she behaves.” My shock and horror were compounded when the younger man at the table agreed. In that moment, I realized we cannot, and should not, assume that the conversation around women’s rights is over. The battle is still very real.
Before you close this blog because I’ve used the word “battle,” let’s look at some facts around two bills that were voted down in 2024 in Congress overwhelmingly by the GOP. These very simple one or 2 page bills were introduced after the Dobb’s decision in 2022 meant to help protect a women’s right to control her own health care:
S.4381 - Right to Contraception Act: This bill aims to protect an individual’s access to contraceptives and a health care provider’s ability to provide them.
S.455 - Reproductive Freedom for Women Act: This bill expresses support for protecting access to reproductive health care.
These are just two examples of the ongoing struggle for women’s rights in this country. Of note…..there isn’t one single law against a man having control over their own bodies. The overturning of Roe v. Wade was a wake-up call for many of us, including myself.
So, back to the original question asked of me by my male friend….”why are we still talking about this?” Here we are in August 2024, less than three months out from the primary election, and the misogyny and rhetoric against Kamala Harris are prevalent. Let’s set aside politics and focus on the facts: A woman is running against a man. This woman is a stepmother and co-parent, while the man she’s running against has been accused of sexual misconduct and boasts about groping women. The woman is a former prosecutor; the man is a convicted felon and twice impeached. Her platform resonates across demographics, while his speaks of deportation and walls. She’s gaining ground in the polls; he is not. Yet, despite this, the man refuses to properly address her by name—a common tactic of gender bias meant to undermine a woman’s competence in any field, especially circles that are historically dominated by men.
The use of first names versus surnames for women in power can have serious implications. According to the Pew Research Center, women are four times more likely than men to say they were treated as less competent due to their gender. Gender bias in naming contributes to this perception. Across industries, we need a deliberate effort to eliminate these biases and level the playing field.
During the wee hours of the morning when I often write in my own head before it hits the computer I was thinking about my own contribution to this bias. In my former company in the ski industry there have been monumental efforts to balance the operational gender roles but even I would often refer to women of power by their first name and men by their last. I too am part of the problem as a 30-year tenured ski industry professional and now want to be part of the solution.
So, why are we still talking about this? Because name distortion is still at play in all industries. From politics to the outdoor industry, the impacts of this form of gender bias are real. As women, we must claim our space and stand up to these biases and call even our own idiom out. To our steadfast male allies, speak up on behalf of your female counterparts and don’t accept this rhetoric. We can all be the change we’ve earned and expect.
Say My Name.
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