At 16 years old, I have now watched two qualified women lose to Donald Trump.
Since the 1970s, at least 26 women have accused Trump of sexual assault. Trump continually attacks his female political opponents with sexist insults. Vice President Elect J.D. Vance has repeatedly insulted childless women, and on a podcast in 2021, he said that women choose a “path to misery” when they pursue a career over starting a family.
What lesson does it teach young girls if we treat misogyny as normal, expected even? Desensitization is dangerous. It serves as permission; it declares that these things are acceptable, that “grabbing them by the p___” is just what men do. According to a study by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, there was an increase in the phrases “Your body, my choice,” “Repeal the 19th,” and variations telling women to “Get back to the kitchen” on platforms including X, forums, blogs, Reddit and YouTube from Oct. 1 through Nov. 6. Young girls, who may not even understand the context, are hearing and internalizing these messages on social media.
Our generation needs to stay awake. By 2028, nearly all of Gen Z will be eligible to vote in the next presidential election — but what will we do in the meantime? All of us, no matter our political affiliation, grew up hearing male politicians insult and degrade women, so much so that no new development, no new allegation, is shocking anymore. Gen Z grew up in online spaces that shaped the way we view political issues – through Youtube, TikTok and Instagram, we were often exposed to crude and sexist comments online at a young age.
We didn’t come up with these thoughts on our own – we learned them from the people around us, and especially from those on the internet.
We can change the atmosphere of these online spaces. When you see a bigoted comment online, don’t ignore it. Call attention to it by reporting it and speaking out about it. Instead of spreading hopelessness and negativity about politics, start posting about what people can do to make a difference. Midterm elections will begin Aug. 2, 2026 in Ohio. By then, I and many of my peers will be old enough to vote. Most importantly, continue calling out those in power. Every time we hear a misogynistic insult, we should be outraged. Every time a new allegation surfaces, we should be angry. Stop letting this toxic rhetoric become normal and routine. Now more than ever, we need to stay vigilant.
If we do this, we can shape how the next generation sees these issues; we can shape what the next generation sees as normal. I was 8 years old when Trump was first elected. It’s up to us to decide what our message will be to young girls this time around. For the next four years, let’s create a generation of voters who call out misogyny without exception, who will create a new atmosphere for 8 year olds to grow up in. It’s possible – but only if we stay engaged.
A version of this editor’s note appears in print on page 2 of Volume 95, Issue 2, published Nov. 20, 2024.
