From Hope To Despair
Living Through the 2024 Election Results
A convicted felon has been chosen to lead this nation. Misogyny, racism, xenophobia, and authoritarianism have triumphed in 2024. What a bleak, depressing, and messed-up situation.
Yesterday, when I woke up to the news that Trump had won, the nightmare became a reality. I wanted to crawl back under the covers and pretend it was all a bad dream. I tried to write something yesterday, but I was bereft of words. Instead, I spent most of the day scrolling through the news, absorbing the magnitude of this dark moment.
I feel a tension within me—trying to reconcile my love for this country with the despair I feel about living here under these circumstances.
On Tuesday afternoon, my girls came home from school, buoyed by hope, excited to watch the live coverage of what we hoped would be an exciting, historical outcome. My daughters have become so interested in American politics, and we’ve had some great discussions leading up to the election. My eldest daughter, Amber (15), has been listening to political podcasts, reading election predictions, and absorbing every twist and turn of this dramatic campaign season (and there has been no shortage of drama—from President Biden stepping aside, to two assassination attempts on Trump, to Kamala Harris becoming the presidential candidate).
We were eager for good news on Tuesday, excited but cautiously hopeful. Trump had won before, and we knew he could do it again. But surely, this time, things would be different, right? Surely more than 50% of voters would support Kamala—championing women’s rights, freedom, immigration, and environmental concerns.
I sat with my four daughters as the election results trickled in, watching in real time as the fate of our future unfolded on the screen. Each shift to red on the map tightened the knot in my stomach. As my daughters huddled around me, our optimism—the buoyant hope we had felt in the lead-up to this moment—began to unravel. By the time I hugged them goodnight, I told them it was still too close to call. But deep down, I felt the creeping dread that our hopes of waking up to Kamala’s victory might remain just that: hopes.
My sleep was restless, haunted by the possibility that, come morning, we would be facing a different reality. When I woke up and saw my daughters emerging into the dawn light, I had to summon the words I never thought I’d have to say: America has chosen a convicted felon. This country, with all its promise, has chosen misogyny, racism, xenophobia, and authoritarianism in 2024.
As non-citizens, we couldn’t cast a vote, but our family has grown to care deeply about the place we now call home. We hoped to witness a moment of transformation—one where America could embrace equality, hope, and inclusivity, led by the first woman president. There is so much to love about this country and its people, yet today, even my American friends feel bereft, numb, shell-shocked, and deeply ashamed. They are bewildered by the choice their fellow citizens made and heartbroken over what this decision means for their children, their communities, and their country.
There are many things to be deeply concerned about under a second Trump administration. Here’s a small sampling:
The continued attack on women’s reproductive rights.
Escalating racial divides and the marginalisation of communities of colour.
The rise of far-right extremism and hate groups.
A complete disregard for climate change and environmental protection.
A growing anti-science agenda that undermines public health efforts.
And this is where I struggle: My blog is all about Girls Thriving. But how can girls truly thrive under a Trump administration? The very rights that women and girls need to thrive—agency, autonomy, and control over their own bodies—are under attack. If we cannot secure reproductive rights and freedoms, how can we expect girls to grow up in a world where they have true agency?
My girls are feeling a deep sense of disbelief and disillusionment. It's hard to explain to them how this has happened when I am just as stunned. We had dared to hope for a moment of progress, a moment where my girls could witness history being made as we elected the first female president. But now, all we feel is the weight of disappointment.
Still, I keep reminding them that we must not give in to despair. We have to keep fighting for equality. We have to show up for one another. We must live by Kamala Harris’s message: "Purpose, not hate." We must find ways to live out this purpose in our everyday actions—showing love and compassion, even when the world around us feels uncertain.
I’m grateful to live in a blue state where the values I hold dear are still alive, but I know for many others, the results of this election mean dangerous consequences. The spectre of a Trump-led government looms large, and the fear of what that means for so many vulnerable communities is overwhelming.
Trump is no longer just a polarising figure—he’s a far-right-wing dictator who thrives on division. This is terrifying, not just for the U.S., but for the world, including Australia. The influence of this kind of leadership extends beyond borders, and we should all be concerned about what it means for global democracy.
How are you feeling in the aftermath of this election? Were you susprised at the results?
We feel it too M... xx