I am a Minority.

You wouldn't know it by looking at me, but I am.

As I watch the post-Election news reports this morning, I hear America saying that “every child in America now knows they can grow up to be anything.”

I beg to differ.

Across this Nation, there are millions of young girls who, after this Election Cycle, have undoubtedly been left with a very negative impression of our country's opinion of women.  We have seen an Election season filled with sexist remarks at every turn – from commentary on Hillary Clinton’s pantsuits to endless ribbing over her teary-eyed, verclempt moment.  Questions surrounding Sarah Palin ("How can she be a Vice President AND a Mother? Tsk, tsk!") to a description of Sarah Palin as a pig who wears lipstick.  I have talked about it all right here on this site.  We as a Nation seemed to be more fixated on what shade of lipstick was covering their mouths, rather than what was coming out of their mouths. What’s interesting is that the sexism seems to have been bipartisan in nature, with attacks on both the Democrat AND Republican female candidates.  Which places women squarely in the back of the bus together.

Today, I join the ranks of the newest minority in America – the class of citizens that remains discriminated against and kept from the highest ranks of power.  Someone who is welcome to clean the White House, so long as I don’t try to run it.

Of course, I say all of this tongue-in-cheek.  Whatever the reason, women are not quite there yet.  Whether we are truly the weaker sex, or whether we just haven’t presented the right candidate yet remains to be seen.  One thing is certain, I look forward to engaging women (and men) in this conversation over the next four years to see how we can truly level the playing field.

Just as African Americans today are telling their children they can achieve the highest levels of American society, I would like to be able to look my 4-year old niece in the eyes and tell her that she, too, can be anything she wants to be.