CLEVELAND, Ohio — Many say seeing Sen. Kamala Harris appearing on the ticket as Joe Biden’s running mate is a representation of an entire group of people who haven’t seen such a major political stage.
“Here is a woman who is very much, you know, representing the South Asian community, and who has risen up the ranks … through every walk, through every position that she has held,” said Vineetha Jayaram, the president of the Association of Asian Indian Women of Ohio.
For the members of the organization, Harris, yhe daughter of a Jamaican father and Indian mother, represents possibilities for the women and young girls who are a part of the association.
The nonprofit organization engages Asian Indian women in Northeast Ohio through events, mentorship programs and scholarships. It aims to foster and support their personal and professional advancement.
“We want our young women to be to be strong, to be confident, to be aware that they’re going to face most of the time very subtle, potentially insidious sorts of discrimination. And just to be extremely stoic about it and stick with their guns and do the right thing and be sincere in what they’re doing. I think eventually, hard work and sincerity will pay off despite obstacles, which might come because of race or gender, or other other issues,” said Nita Sahai of the Association of Asian Indian Women of Ohio.
Jayaram said while there have been many politicians of Indian descent elected to office, Harris is inspiring a new generation of diverse women leaders.
“Representation is key here … because we do have a lot of women who are non-minority women who are holding positions of power right now. She has paved the way for, you know, strong women of color, as well as women of Indian heritage. Even minority women to come up in different to hold positions in political office,” Jayaram said.
According to the Pew Research Center, Asian Americans are the fastest-growing segment of eligible voters out of the major racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., and more than 11 million will be able to vote this November.
Sahai said she believes Indian Americans are now even more energized to show their support for Harris come November.
“And that includes of course not just South Asians, but further East Asians, and in America. It’s very exciting because the more the different perspectives we have in any political setting, I think the better decisions people are going to make,” Sahai said.
Jayaram said the possibility of Harris being the next vice president of the U.S. affects Indian American women in all fields.
“If you look at the face of a presidential candidate or a vice presidential candidate as an Asian Indian woman or woman of color, I think that is definitely something that would allow women in positions or professions that are dominated by men in those professions,” Jayaram said. “It will give them more confidence to pursue those positions or pursue those professions.”
