Waking up on the morning of Nov. 6, I had one thing on my mind, as I’m sure almost all Americans did. I anxiously checked AP News the night before, refreshing the page every few minutes so I did not miss a single update. My anxiety gave way to exhaustion, and my eyes snapped open bright and early to check if the race had been called the next morning. What set in was a sadness that I could not quite place. I stayed off of social media. I checked on my female friends. 

As a woman, it was heartbreaking. I quickly found myself mourning for all the little girls out there who were hoping for someone who represented them to take office. Who could not understand why we have never had a female president, or the complexities and challenges they will face as a woman throughout their life. Depending on where they live, they may not grow up having the right to an abortion. It may be difficult for them to access birth control or Plan B. They may not have a choice. Maybe their parents, like mine, told them they are capable of achieving anything they put their minds to, like becoming the president of the United States. Unless that’s against a convicted felon found guilty of sexual assault. 

By no means was Harris a perfect candidate, and I hate to make this about gender. But it feels like we left the sphere of this simply being about politics a long time ago. 

As someone who was old enough to vote in 2020 and now in 2024, but too young to vote in 2016, I’ve been thinking a lot about the way our generation looks at politics and politicians. I think young people are criticized for being so emotionally invested in politics, and being quick to ostracize and block those on the other side. I don’t think Gen Z knows another way to operate politically. With a candidate like Trump and his band of supporters who embolden hate and instill fear, Gen Z really only knows how to vote against Donald Trump. With Trump being so open in his racism, misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia, and growing up half in the real world and half online, it became increasingly normal to share your views on social media, condemn the other side, and block those who voted opposite of you.

Being a journalist has taught me the importance of examining issues from all sides and listening to all points of view. I do not believe in living in an echo chamber, surrounding yourself in real life or online with only people who share your views. It is really easy to judge young people in their reactions in circumstances like this one, but when dealing with someone like Donald Trump and his supporters, I completely stand with my peers. I witnessed and heard many people my age talk about their mass unfollowing of accounts that showed support for Trump after his win. Those people were women, people of color, and queer people.

With Donald Trump as the Republican candidate for the last three presidential elections, we have gone so far beyond politics just being politics. They have transformed and melted into human rights issues that pit one side against the other. For Gen Z, they have had to unlearn that Republicans are different from MAGA supporters. As a young person growing up on social media, and having to learn and unlearn all the ways that social media is dangerous, it has made politics a very emotional issue.

Trump being in power gives people who support him the go-ahead to be unapologetic in their views on women, people of color, and the queer community. They have access to the entire world at the tip of their fingers, and some are using that portal to spread hate speech because they feel comfortable doing so. Trump does not simply represent the republican party, he represents all of the unforgivable things he has said and done. These views seep into his policies, which put people in danger. So for some young people, they are unable to stay friends with those who voted for Trump, or they feel the need to unfollow people who openly share their support for him. Because it stopped being about politics a long time ago. It’s about human rights for identities that people cannot change or control. It’s about being a woman, of any age, and hearing what the president of the United States has to say about your body and your actions. It’s about hearing fellow women around you say that women should not hold positions of power. It’s about seeing men online say “Your body, my choice.” It’s about watching your queer friends break down in tears because they are terrified of becoming a target. 

As I was sitting in class last week listening to other students around me impassioned, angry, and crying, I couldn’t help but watch from an outsider’s point of view. While I was simultaneously swept up in the emotion of it all, I was so proud of my peers. Although they expressed feeling beaten down and 2024 scared for their rights as women and as members of the LGBTQ+ community, there was a fire among them. They were not conceding. They were not going into hiding. They were tired and sad, but they were not giving up. 

I think of all the resilient, intelligent, and kind women in my life. I admire the strength and light they carry with them effortlessly. I thank them for being a shoulder to cry on. We will be okay. 

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