Kris Walberg
Aug 8, 2017 · 2 min read

I like her too, both for who she is and what she represents, all the strong, smart, caring women who dare to speak their minds. The insults that have been consistently lobbed at her infuriate me, especially since so many of them are based solely upon age and gender. She’s accused of being “shrill” (definition: being assertive and making rational points in a female voice), a “hag” (definition: being a woman of mature years who has allowed herself to age gracefully and naturally), “frumpy” or “fat” (definition: wearing tailored, practical clothing appropriate to her age, position and schedule/having the reasonably fit but natural body of an older woman), “corrupt” (definition: being successful in her chosen field despite having lies, readily believed by the hateful and gullible, told about her constantly) and an “enabler” (definition: loving her spouse despite his moral flaws.

As an older woman myself, one who worked in the business world for many years, I have some inkling of the challenges she’s faced: the interruptions, the criticisms for being “too smart,” “too serious” (smile! you look so pretty when you smile!), “too assertive,” not “feminine” enough, not “sexy” enough, not willing enough to defer to the males in the room. I’ve been told a million times about all the things women “can’t” do, because we’re “too emotional,” “too people oriented,” “not rational enough,” or because we have periods or are “just going to quit to have babies.” I hope I live to see a time when women like Hillary are loved and admired by the majority, just as they are, and all the foolishness and misogyny has come to an end.

    Kris Walberg

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    Sometime writer, full-time mom, crazy film-buff, diehard liberal, confirmed insomniac