History was made this week when Presidential Hope Joe Biden announced California Senator Kamala Harris as his VP candidate. (Time and time again, Senator Harris has demonstrated her ability to lead our country into a better and brighter future.

However, not everyone is taking this new appointment in stride. Sadly, it is still common for women, regardless of industry, especially women running for political office, to endure sexist attacks in both mainstream media and social media. In the wake of this announcement, Marie Claire spoke with Times Up President and former Obama aide Tina Chen about the historic moment. Times Up, a nonpartisan organization that cannot endorse any candidate, has expressed its intention to call out the vitriolic and biased attacks faced by prominent women. Here, Chen talks about the historical moment, what she and Harris have in common (both are Asian American and daughters of immigrants), and how Times Up will continue to work tirelessly to quell the racist and sexist rhetoric.

Marie Claire: How did you feel when you heard that Senator Kamala Harris was Joe Biden's choice for Vice President?

Tina Chen As an Asian American, I am especially proud that Senator Harris is the first black and Asian woman to be nominated for Vice President. It was truly a historic moment.

MC: Was this a moment you imagined you would see in your lifetime?

TT: No, I never imagined it at all. When I was growing up in the 50s and 60s, there were no women in leadership. I remember the day Connie Chung went on national television as a news anchor. I remember those days and how wonderful it was to see a black actor on television. [This announcement] is especially encouraging [for women and minorities] in 2016 and beyond. It is a reaffirmation of the progress we all want to see in this country. In the midst of a pandemic, when so many values are under attack and under threat, this announcement is especially important. We are witnessing how black and brown women are suffering disproportionately in terms of unemployment. We conducted a study (opens in new tab) on pay equity at Time's Up that showed not only the impact of the pay gap on women, but also how much it (affects) Black and Latina women in particular.

MC: Can you tell us more about the Times Up Now initiative "We Have Her Back" (opens in new tab)? But she is not alone. Other female candidates have also faced racist and misogynistic coverage, whether in the mainstream media, social media, or memes. We have seen a litany of attacks made against women running for public office due to the fact that they are women, regardless of their experience or qualifications. They criticize her dress, her ambitions, her appearance, and use derogatory language. The message during the presidential campaign is very strong. It is very broad. And if it is a message that perpetuates false and harmful (ideas) about women's leadership, we must stop it. We need to nip it in the bud and stop its spread. That's what we want to do with We Have Her Back.

MC: People tend to absorb media that aligns with their point of view. How do you think people should absorb content that is contrary to their own views?

TT: Gender discrimination transcends partisan or political party positions. Just take the events of the last few days: not only did we see the right wing and Fox News attack Senator Harris (opens in new tab) and [Tucker Carlson's] refusal to say her name correctly (opens in new tab) last weekend (we saw many examples). The New York Times, perhaps with a different perspective than Fox News,] ran a headline about wrist corsages and the vice presidential race, (opens in new tab) the Los Angeles Times compared the vice presidential process to The Bachelor ran an article (opens in new tab) comparing [the White House] to a fantasy suite. I still can't get over it.

[That's a demeaning way to describe the female candidates. It's not even a question of right or left. The progressive or liberal media uses terms that are as derogatory to women as the right wing media. It is so pervasive and ubiquitous. We have internalized and absorbed sexism and sexism. We were raised that way. That is why it is so important for us at Time's Up to change the culture.

MC: It is especially important for Senator Harris to face sexist and racist attacks. Can you elaborate on the impact of discrimination in relation to intersectionality?

TT: She will be attacked from all sides. But what I can say about her as a leader and as a candidate is that as a candidate, people expect you to rise above it and be kind. And she should be. On the outside, we need to stand with her as advocates and as people who care about women leaders and women leaders of color, and advocate for her and raise these issues. She has other things to address. She should talk about the pandemic. She should talk about the economic crisis. She should talk about racial justice issues. That is why (Times Up) has taken on this role. It is not her job to address these issues, it is our job.

MC: Has the vice president's announcement changed your approach from now until Election Day?

TT: [Despite the rhetoric that has already begun], [despite these multiple crises], we must not lose the opportunity to experience the excitement, the sense of excitement and change that we experienced in 2008. I remember the night of Election Day in Chicago, where I now live, the city was full of people. A moment like that once again. [Times Up Now is not an endorsement of candidates. But I will say that as a women's rights organization, the possibility of a Black and Asian American woman becoming vice president of the United States is a true statement and a historic event. In one generation, a woman can become Vice President of the United States after her parents immigrated to the United States. Between you and me. I am the daughter of two immigrants. My parents died long before I was in the White House. My parents would have been surprised to see their daughter return to China on behalf of the President and First Lady of the United States, something I have done several times. My parents had fled China's civil war and came with only what they could fit in their suitcases. And yet, within a generation, their daughter is working in the White House as a presidential aide, chief of staff, and first lady. It is remarkable. I can understand a little bit of what Senator Harris might be feeling, in that when you think back to the sacrifices that your parents made, they never would have expected this to happen to their own daughter.

MC: Why is it so important to go to the polls this November (opens in new tab)?

TT: We are a democracy and the way democracy works is through the ballot box. If people don't vote, democracy cannot function. Taking the time to learn how to vote safely is more important this year than ever. The deadline for early voting is fast approaching: If you haven't registered to vote (opens in a new tab), you need to go vote now and learn the rules. Times Up is a partner of When We All Vote (opens in new tab). This year marks the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote. This year, voting is going to be more difficult than ever. We have to figure out how to vote safely in the midst of a pandemic, but that is nothing compared to the sacrifices these women have made. We should honor that sacrifice by voting.