Former Vice President Kamala Harris is speaking candidly about criticism she has faced for years, particularly mockery of her laugh, and framing it as part of a broader, outdated standard imposed on women.
During a recent appearance on the podcast Rich Little Broke Girls, Harris encouraged young women to reject expectations of quietness and self-erasure, arguing that demands for humility are often rooted in sexism rather than virtue. “I don’t aspire to be humble,” Harris said. “Humility, yes, is very important. But it’s a very dated perspective on who women should be. To say women should be humble. Women should be quiet. Women should laugh quietly.”
Harris described the scrutiny of her laugh as emblematic of what she called an “out-of-touch standard,” one that polices how women express joy, confidence, and presence. She suggested that behaviors celebrated in men are often criticized in women, especially when those behaviors signal authority or self-assurance.
The former vice president has addressed the topic before. In a 2024 interview with Drew Barrymore, Harris noted that people seem unusually fixated on the way she laughs, a remark that sparked renewed discussion about gendered criticism of women in public life. For Harris, the issue is less personal and more structural, reflecting lingering expectations that women should minimize themselves to be acceptable.
The podcast conversation also took a lighter turn, with Harris offering dating advice inspired by the very trait critics often target. She encouraged listeners to choose partners who embrace joy and ease. “Choose to be with someone who allows you to laugh at yourself and them,” she said. “Choose to be with someone who you know you like going to the grocery store together, taking a walk together.”
Harris also reflected on timing and relationships, sharing that had she met her husband, Doug Emhoff, earlier in life, she might not have been ready for marriage. The couple married in their 40s, a point she offered as reassurance to listeners navigating their own timelines.
Taken together, Harris’s remarks blended humor, personal reflection, and a pointed critique of cultural norms, reinforcing her message that women do not need to soften themselves to be taken seriously.
