Kamala Harris’ run for President in 2024 is both a significant political event in the United States and a momentous occasion for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) on a global scale. As the first woman, and first Black and South Asian Vice President, Harris has already broken barriers that resonate far beyond American borders. Her candidacy for the presidency can potentially transform leadership worldwide, signaling a more inclusive future for global governance. If successful, her victory could challenge traditional leadership models, reshape narratives around migration, and contribute to closing the gender gap in political empowerment.
Challenging stereotypes and traditional forms of leadership
Harris’ candidacy underscores the critical importance of representation, not just in the United States but across the globe. As a woman of color, her ascent breaks away from the historically male and predominantly white leadership that has long dominated global politics. If she were to win, it would showcase that leadership can and should reflect the diversity of the populations it serves. It’s redefining what is possible for women, people of color, and other marginalized groups worldwide.
More than representation, it also challenges bullying behaviour, a characteristic of more traditional leadership styles. As Oprah so courageously pointed out in her speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), “freedom requires standing up to life’s bullies”, pertaining to a characteristic of her opponent Donald Trump.
Changing the narrative on migration
Harris brings a unique perspective to leadership through her intersectional identity as a Black woman of Indian descent, something she refuses to exploit (Politico, 2024). This intersectionality, which combines multiple aspects of identity, allows her to understand and address the complexities of social issues that affect people in her part of the globe and worldwide.
The daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, her migrant background would offer a fresh perspective on global migration issues. In our currently polarized world where migration is often seen as a problem, Harris’ story challenges this narrative, showing that migrants and their descendants are able to rise and contribute. This could inspire new, more inclusive policies around immigration, emphasizing the positive contributions of migrants to society and politics.
As ex-First Lady Michelle Obama asserted in her speech at the DNC (Time, 2024; CNN, 2024), “Of the two major candidates in this race, only Kamala Harris truly understands the unseen labor and unwavering commitment that has always made America great.”
Closing the gender gap on political empowerment
The Global Gender Gap Report 2024 (WEF, 2024) confirms that political empowerment remains the slowest area of progress in closing the global gender gap. The chart below shows that only 22.5% of the 100% has been achieved in political empowerment, reflecting continued imbalance in political representation. So while more and more women are educated (we only need 5.1% to close the gap in that category), they are still not seen in places of political power where decisions about them and how they live their lives are made.
A Harris win could inspire greater political participation and leadership for women in the US and beyond. It could encourage reforms and drive attention to the importance of gender parity in political spaces influencing countries where political empowerment is stagnating, setting a global precedent for more inclusive forms of leadership.
When leaders from diverse backgrounds ascend to positions of power, they challenge deeply ingrained narratives about who is considered “fit” to lead. Harris’ candidacy sends a powerful message to the world: that our difference is not a hindrance to leadership but an asset that enriches decision-making and governance.
In other words
Kamala Harris’ run for the presidency is already a defining moment for global diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her potential victory would not only break new ground in representation (touching on many areas of social justice as outlined here), reshaping how we view leadership, migration, and political empowerment. It challenges outdated norms, brings intersectionality to the forefront, and shines a light on global gender inequality in politics. However, while her win would mark an important milestone, it wouldn’t signify the finish line. The journey toward an inclusive world is ongoing, requiring constant, collective effort to bring about lasting systemic change.#
Sources
- CNN. (2024, August 21). ‘Who’s going to tell him?’: Michelle Obama slams Trump’s remarks on ‘Black jobs’ [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6jluQcENjc
- Politico. (2024). Harris Sidesteps Spotlight When It Comes To Her Identity.
- Takeaways from CNN’s interview with Harris and Walz. (2024, August 29). CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/29/politics/kamala-harris-tim-walz-cnntv/index.html
- The Democrats. (2024, August 22). Oprah Winfrey Full 2024 Democratic National Convention Speech [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBuPv7X883A
- Time. (2024). A Full Transcript of Michelle Obama’s Speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
- Time. (2024). A Full Transcript of Oprah Winfrey’s Speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
- World Economic Forum. (2024). Global Gender Gap Report.
