In 2020, the United States ranked 53rd in the global gender parity index by the World Economic Forum. One key reason was the lack of women in political leadership in the U.S.
Executive offices have long been the ultimate glass ceiling for women in politics, with representation in governorships and the presidency lagging progress at the legislative level. Women will hold 18 lieutenant governor offices in 2021, close to the 2000 record of 19 and far ahead of the representation of women in governor offices, where women hold just nine seats.
Today, American women are one step closer to the presidency and gender parity as Senator Kamala Harris is elected as our first female vice president.
Vice President-Elect Harris is no stranger to firsts. She is the first South Asian American and the first historical black colleges and universities (HBCU) graduate on a major party ticket, and now, the first woman vice president.
While there is a tremendous amount of work to do to reach parity, today millions of more cracks were made in the glass ceiling. Vice President Kamala Harris is and will be a role model for millions of women and girls across the world who can now see someone how looks like them in the Executive Branch.