Making your voice heard in a man’s world 

Although the fly on Mike Pence’s head certainly captured the attention of people all over the United States, another moment from the Vice Presidential debate has inspired young women and girls everywhere with just two words: I’m speaking. 

Vice President Mike Pence repeatedly attempted to speak over VP candidate and California Senator, Kamala Harris. In response, Senator Harris looked directly at VP Pence and rebuked these interruptions, repeating on several occasions “Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking.”  

While some viewed Senator Harris’ statement as demeaning and ill-mannered, others heard those two words and were inspired by her resolve. Here is a woman—a woman of color no less—refusing to be spoken over and unapologetically making a place for herself. Some women could personally relate to the Senator’s experience, having themselves experienced an ‘I’m speaking moment’. 

Professor Victoria Gilbert, visiting assistant professor of government and international affairs, is one of only two women in the government and international affairs departments at Wofford. As a woman in the predominantly male field of political science, Gilbert herself has had a few ‘I’m speaking’ moments. 

Gilbert explained the misogynistic culture that permeates the world of political science, recalling instances from her time as a doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania. She noted that both as a doctoral candidate and as a Wofford professor, “the gender power dynamics are certainly present and they’re something I think women are used to thinking about in the workplace in general.”

These gendered power dynamics can create an environment where sexism, both in the form of overt discrimination and microaggressions, can thrive. When asked if she has ever experienced sexist or misogynistic behavior in her work life, Gilbert responded without hesitation, “yes. Definitely. And I definitely remember having a couple of experiences… that made me keenly uncomfortable.” 

Gilbert explained one situation she witnessed often in graduate school “between male faculty and female students” where the male would “talk down to them,” or resort to “tone policing a woman.”

These frustrating situations did not end once the student-teacher dynamic was flipped, however. Gilbert shared that here at Wofford, “I’ve had male students try to talk over me… the gender dynamic plays into these interactions…and this happens more often than one might expect in higher education.”

For Gilbert, watching Kamala Harris tell Mike Pence “I’m speaking” resonated with her lived experiences. She also commended Senator Harris on her comportment throughout the debate, sharing “she has to come across as firm, but not too firm cause she doesn’t want to look angry cause that fits into certain racist stereotypes. She wants to both have her time, and push back on the gendered assumption that men can interrupt women whenever they want… dealing with two no-win situations because she’s a woman of color.” 

The tight-rope that women like Kamala Harris are forced to walk makes her performance even more impressive. Senator Harris’ response to VP Pence’s interruptions was warranted. CBS News kept a tally of the whole debate, finding “Pence interrupted Harris twice as many times—Pence interrupted Harris 10 times, while Harris interrupted Pence five times.”
As a woman finding her way in a predominantly male field, who has already had her fair share of ‘I’m speaking’ moments, I, too, commend VP candidate Kamala Harris for unashamedly taking up space. For women and girls everywhere, and for everyone who has been systematically silenced, follow in her example and boldly, proudly proclaim, ‘I’m speaking.’ It’s past time we make our voices heard.