Women are galvanising behind Kamala Harris

The US Vice-President is a lightning rod for female rage and by voting for her women in America can finally vent.

Kamala has songwriter Charli XCX’s Brat energy behind her. Picture: Scott Olson

It’s the Teals, Tillies and Tay Tay, Barbie and the green-hued season of Brat. And now it’s Kamala too. The energy, roar, dazzle, the connection and the rage. The women are coming and Trump is on the back foot. Who foresaw this a mere month or so ago? Vice President Harris was the incredible disappearing woman during Biden’s presidency; now she’s released from under the thumb of him. Showing us who she really is and American women, in particular, are responding in their millions.

Do not come for the childless cat ladies, JD Vance. Big mistake. Kamala has songwriter Charli XCX’s Brat energy behind her – shorthand for honest and blunt and mouthy, a female speaking out, being authentically herself. It’s the energy of the woman who’s had enough. Who lives her life the way she wants to without obeying the men who’d like her to be quieter, lesser, meeker – or disappeared entirely from their arenas of power. Hear her roar. To celebrate the singer’s embrace, Kamala turned her socials Brat-green. She’s everywhere.

Flooding TikTok with that laugh, which a large swathe of men hate while a large swathe of women connect with because it’s warm, authentic, sisterly. There’s also the dance moves. The articulateness. The CV. This daughter of immigrants has accomplished much – oh, the depth of experience – and no one can take that away from her. This feels like a new way of leading, with joy. She’s 59 yet her energy seems younger; she’s bouncy and indefatigable in trousers and sneakers, telling it straight with a twinkle in her eye.

In Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Vice President Kamala Harris appeared with running mate Tim Walz. Picture: Scott Olson

JD Vance is an easy target. The man who called for a “federal response” to block American women travelling for abortions. Who suggested the childless have “no direct stake in America”. Who wanted to repeal no-fault divorce laws. Who claimed that women “shift spouses like they change their underwear”, and that wives in violent marriages should stay for the sake of their children. Pardon? Women recognise this particular type of misogyny, and we’re so very tired of it. As Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said: “[Vance] seems to be part of a he-man women-haters club.” This in a presidential contest that’s somewhat of a referendum on abortion access; on a woman’s right to control her own body. Step forward Ms Harris.

It’s quite extraordinary how normalised misogyny has become. The convicted male child-rapist (the victim was 12) was allowed to compete at the Paris Olympics; the female horse whipper was not. Women of the world were enraged by the controlling actions of the husband on Insta-famous Ballerina Farm – a Times article highlighted his behaviour towards his ex-Juilliard dancer wife, and he suddenly became a stand-in for every man who’s tried to mute or break the confidence of a successful, talented woman. It spoke of patriarchal conquest, in so many spheres.

Harris is now a lightning rod for all that female rage, and by voting for her women in America can vent. They are galvanising. “Let’s do this” is the vibe. “Kamala gets it.” Can that energy be sustained until November?

It’s the kind of vivacity that propelled Teals into the Australian parliament, made Barbie a box office phenomenon, sold out Swiftie stadiums worldwide and now has Kamala riding high. Women are sick of it, we see through it, and we’ve had enough. All mentioned above have strong professional backgrounds. Are listening. Are not interested in the easy agenda of division; of stoking racism through fear of the other and of scapegoating for popularity’s sake. That’s too destructive. They’re bigger-hearted, better-hearted than that. It’s why Harris’s vibe is resonating so energetically, and why the Teals will be a major energising force come our next election, too.