Trump's New Presidency and Its Effect on My Life (already)

I know it, you know it, the world knows it: Donald J. Trump is the new president elect of the good ol' United States of America.

To help readers who may not want to hear what I have to say about our new president, I'm going to cut to the chase and tell you right now that I am 100% anti-Trump, and will never support him as president of this country. 

Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me go on to my opinion on the results of this election.

I am a non-white female child of two immigrants. Although I believe my English is as accent-free as my white American peers and colleagues, the one thing I don't have in common with them is the fact that I don't have the privilege of being white.

Yesterday, not 24 hours after the country found out the results of the election, I was told by one of my students that it's a good thing Trump won because "women don't deserve to be the president." Do you understand what that does to me? Here I am, holding the highest authority in that classroom as his teacher, and he's looking me in the face and essentially telling me that women don't deserve to be in positions of power. This dialogue isn't a new one; it's one that the patriarchy has been instilling in each and all of us in order to ensure that women do not feel empowered. However, the reason that this student felt bold enough to say those words with such confidence is because he believes that under Trump's presidency, he is allowed to say those words without suffering the consequences.

If these are the comments that people -- no, a child -- is willing to direct at me so soon after hearing the results of this election, I am terrified to see what adults will feel bold enough to say to me. Trump's victory makes me upset not because the candidate I wanted to win didn't, but because it now means I have, now more than ever, legitimate reason to fear for my physical and mental health. It tells me that half this country does not care about my life, my body, my voice, or my opinions. It means that despite being born and raised in this country, I will still not be good enough because of the color of my skin. This is why Trump is not my president. This is why I did not and do not support Trump. This is why Trump did not get my vote.