Why I Am Voting For Hillary Clinton
I am a feminist. That’s right, I just started out this article by identifying myself with a very controversial statement. However, allow me to make it even more controversial. I am a feminist, and I will be voting for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Surprised by this statement? You’re not alone if you are absolutely shocked, but allow me to explain why I believe that Hillary Clinton is a solid choice for all feminists—despite the recent negative attention she has been getting from feminists nationwide. Hillary Clinton is one of the only women who has consistently fought for women’s rights, and this is not something that should be overlooked.
Hillary Clinton has fought for years on the grounds that “human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights.” This is a quote from none other than Clinton herself. A human is set apart from the rest of the living organisms in the world by its ability to use reason. This ability lies in all humans, regardless of gender. Therefore, since the main quality that defines a human is their ability to use reason, women in fact are humans and do deserve the same rights as men. Human rights are fundamental to what it means to be human. When someone takes these rights away from women, it is as if that person is saying that women are not humans.
Beyond this basic principle Hillary Clinton has improved women’s rights in America. One way in which she has done this involves the Global Health Initiatives (GHIs). The GHIs were designed with a focus on infant and maternal health care, and have improved medical facilities and reduced the spread of HIV, as well as lowered infant and maternal mortality rates. The GHIs have placed an emphasis on the importance of the mother as well as the child during a very vital time in the infant’s life. Clinton has been the one to start and lead these initiatives in order to guarantee that women are receiving the health care they need and deserve.
Hillary Clinton has also helped in the fight for equality for women and men in the workplace. She has fought for equal pay in scenarios in which women are doing the same job as men. In her current campaign for the presidency she has frequently mentioned the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would allow women to have the information they needed in order to fight discrimination based on gender in the workplace. Clinton even called for an investigation on the Bush administration when she was a senator because there was suspicion that they were not paying attention to the equal pay laws. This accusation was proven correct, and information was released regarding the wage gap. This is just one of many occasions on which Clinton has fought for equal pay for women and men.
Hillary Clinton has also stood up for women who have experienced domestic abuse. Women are not inferior to men based on a biological factor, and there is never an excuse for violence in any situation. She has and plans to continue to strengthen the laws against domestic abuse in order to hopefully eliminate domestic abuse altogether.
While some may be skeptical of the potential first female president, the one group of people that should not be skeptical are the feminists. There is no one willing to fight harder for women’s rights than Hillary Clinton. She has made great strides for women already, and if she becomes president she will only continue to do so. I am a feminist, and I will be voting for Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Sources: aparchive.com, thinkprogress.org