Vance's attack on "childless" Harris becomes rallying cry for women
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Vice President Kamala Harris greets stepchildren Cole and Ella Emhoff as she arrives for the inauguration of President Biden on January 20, 2021. Photo: OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images
An attack on Vice President Kamala Harris for not having biological children has spurred intense backlash from celebrity voices, the internet's "cat ladies" and her own blended family.
Why it matters: A resurfaced 2021 comment from vice presidential candidate JD Vance criticizing "childless cat ladies" on the left — listing Harris by name — has earned him harsh criticism, as a growing share of adults under 50 say they're unlikely to have kids.
- A Thursday report from Pew Research Center found that 47% of adults under 50 without kids say they're unlikely to have them, a number up 10 points from 2018.
What they're saying: Kerstin Emhoff, Doug Emhoff's ex-wife, snapped back at "baseless" attacks against Harris, reflecting on their 10-plus years of co-parenting with Harris and the Second Gentleman.
- Harris became a stepmother in 2014 to her husband's two children — Cole and Ella — who she has said refer to her as "Momala."
- "She is loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and always present. I love our blended family and am grateful to have her in it," Kerstin Emhoff continued.
- Ella Emhoff shared her mother's statement on her Instagram story, writing, "I love my three parents."
Zoom out: Jennifer Aniston also shared her shock and rage via Instagram stories, writing, "I truly can't believe this is coming from a potential VP of The United States."
- The "Friends" star continued, referencing threats to in-vitro fertilization: "Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day."
- Meghan McCain, the daughter of the late Republican Sen. John McCain, also chimed in, saying Vance's jab "made so many waves with so many different friends of mine for its insensitivity and cruelty to women."
- Swifties also rose up against Vance, noting their favorite childless cat lady, Taylor Swift herself, has yet to make an endorsement in the 2024 race.
By the numbers: 64% of young women surveyed who don't have children and say they are unlikely to in the future reported that they simply don't want kids, according to Pew.
- The U.S. fertility rate is at a record low.
The big picture: Kate Manne, a Cornell professor of philosophy who researches feminist and social philosophy, said she feels society is better prepared during this election cycle for the gender-based attacks Hillary Clinton faced during her 2016 presidential bid.
- "I think we have just now got the tools to see beyond misogynistic attacks of a woman politician as a witch, or a quote, unquote, b***h or a liar," Manne said. "We're now more savvy about the fact that that is a gendered attack that women disproportionately face in politics."
- She characterized Vance's 2021 dig as a "tired...sexist trope."
State of play: Vance's resurfaced comments are trending amid an election cycle in which women's reproductive rights are at the forefront.
- Vance has also come under fire for other past comments that reflect what he deems traditional views on gender, sexuality and marriage.
- Abortion will be on the ballot in several states in November and has emerged as a motivating issue for Democrats.
- Democrats have predicted Vance's inflammatory rhetoric and views on abortion could alienate critical swing voters.
Go deeper: Where VP Kamala Harris stands on hot-button issues
