Why the US Should Choose a Woman Leader in 2028

Kamala Devi Harris, the first woman Vice President of the United States, will be leaving office in January 2025.

- SRINIVAS MADHAV

Kamala Devi Harris, the first woman Vice President of the United States, will be leaving office in January 2025. Despite her Indian origin, not much has been written about her in India. Her remarkable story deserves to be told for the global inspiration she provided as a leader, who ‘fights for those not in the room,’ lest her achievements risk being overlooked in a media landscape that often focuses solely on winners.

Women in politics face numerous challenges, including time poverty, limited funding for campaigns and fewer opportunities for political training and mentorship. Social media often exacerbates these issues, as women are disproportionately targeted by personal attacks that can drive them out of the political arena.

Kamala’s advocacy for social causes began in school. In high school, she learned that her friend was being molested by her stepfather, who was permitted to stay in their home. This led Kamala to pursue a career as a prosecutor specializing in combating child sexual assault. She has championed legislation that improves the lives of survivors and strengthens penalties for offenders, promoting use of technology to address the backlog of sexual assault cases.

As a fierce advocate against human trafficking, Kamala launched a state-wide task force in California to combat human trafficking, uniting law enforcement and community organizations to raise awareness and enhance victim support services. Her initiatives led to increased training for law enforcement to better identify and assist trafficking victims. She fought for years to shut down a website (backstage.com) that facilitated human trafficking.