Kamala Harris is the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first woman of South Asian heritage to be elected vice president. In a brief speech on Saturday night, Harris said, “every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.” Research indicates that the implications for little girls and their future careers go far beyond Saturday night.
In the past, researchers found an “Obama effect,” which indicated that former President Barack Obama had a positive impact on reducing racial stereotypes about Black individuals. We have yet to see what the “Harris effect” will be, but previous research has suggested having positive role models leads to some powerful outcomes, particularly for women and women of color. Both inside and outside of politics, her mere presence could provide a career boost for women in the following areas:
