Outdated...or maybe not?

Let's say hopefully not outdated.
I was in the fifth grade in 2002. That year in government class we all had to give campaign speeches as if we were running for President. At that point in my life, being the President was so glamorous to me, that I put a lot of effort into writing my speech. I delivered in front of the class, everyone clapped, and it was amazing. But, when we voted in class, I didn't win... Logan Shallenberger did. Logan Shallenberger who did half  the work I did and  had half my passion. I was upset, but I didn't really understand at the time.

At Christmas that year, my grandma insisted that I give my speech to the whole family. So I did. Again, everyone clapped, my mom cried, all that. And then my grandpa said something to me, that at the time made the profession sound even more glamorous, "You just wait, Robyn; you'll be the first woman President."

To be completely honest, I would never want to be the President. During the 2008 elections, though, this question came to  mind again as Hilary Clinton was running for the Democratic endorsement. I remember thinking that by the time I am 35 (even though no one gets elected at 35), I hope that there will be a female in the White House.  The 2008 election, though, made it pretty clear that it's unlikely that'll happen. Hilary was met with large amounts of opposition. She was criticized when she seemed too cold, called a bitch, criticized for her dress, etc. But she was also ridiculed when she showed emotion and cried. It seemed that she couldn't win. There is no way to be a strong female  in a position of power, is the message that I got in 2008.

The thing that I find most disturbing, however, is the fact that the majority of Americans are unwilling to admit that sexism does exist. "What? Women make 77 cents on the dollar of what men make? That can't be right..." Hilary didn't lose because she's a women, that's inconceivable to most Americans. What I find even more disturbing than the unwillingness to admit that sexism exists, is that unwillingness to admit that THEY THEMSELVES are sexist. People will admit they're racist, at least to some degree. But god-forbid we recognize sexism.