It Was a Bad Night for the Patriarchy and Mediocre Men Everywhere

I have been a woman in a man’s world for 40+ years. That all ended last night.

I am a doctor. I work in politics. I live in the South. As my son reminded me last night, I was born in the 1900’s (the ancient times). My grandma was a stay-at-home mom to 7 children while my grandfather worked. My mom was a teacher (because according to her, the options available to her were teacher or nurse) and my dad was a successful businessman, the primary breadwinner, the head of the household. I was the only girl on my little league baseball team. 

I live in a man’s world. 

Until I took a job at the Children’s Hospital in Washington, DC last year, every single boss I have EVER had has been a white man (yes, even in pediatrics). When I was in high school I worked at a bagel store with my best friend. During our first shift after spring break our middle-aged male boss asked us to bring in pictures of ourselves in our bathing suits. When I ran for Congress MANY people asked me who was watching the kids while I was out on the campaign trail. 

I live in a man’s world.

In 2016 I thought all of that was going to change. I birthed my second daughter on Nov 2nd 2016 and six days later I put my oldest daughter to bed and told her she was going to wake up to the news of our first woman president. I posted a picture of my newborn baby girl all swaddled up with the caption “I’m With Her.” I thought the world was going to be different for my daughters. I thought they would grow up with the explicit understanding that the playing field was leveled. The ceiling was shattered. The world was theirs for the taking. I was wrong. 

They are growing up in a man’s world. 

Or, at least, they were, until last night.