As Vice President Kamala Harris steps into the spotlight of the 2024 presidential race, backed by President Biden’s endorsement, we’re forced to confront an uncomfortable truth. Despite progress, the political arena remains an uneven playing field for women. As a long-time advocate for women’s representation in government, Harris’s candidacy strikes me as a litmus test for our nation’s readiness to move beyond superficial judgments and focus on true leadership qualities.

The path to gender parity in government is steep. Despite recent progress, women comprise only 28% of Congress and 32.9% of state legislatures. Though women comprise roughly half the population, these figures indicate the highest percentages of female representation in U.S. history. This is a significant reason, among others, why Harris’s candidacy represents a meaningful opportunity to shatter the “imagination barrier”—in other words, the difficulty many have in envisioning women in the highest positions of power.

In a world where 63% of women say there are too few women in high political offices, compared to just 42% of men, the conversation surrounding Harris’s candidacy has already begun to echo the “likeability” discussions we’ve seen plague women candidates in the past. As I explain in my latest book, Women in Politics, these double standards often shift the focus away from a candidate’s qualifications and onto superficial aspects of their personality or appearance.

The Likeability Double Standard

The likeability double standard isn’t new, generating negative results for women seeking to hold office. Research shows that if voters believe a male candidate is qualified, they’ll support him even if they don’t particularly like him. In contrast, women candidates must be liked and perceived as competent to win. In fact, 54% of Americans think women have to work harder to prove their competence in politics. This double standard has derailed countless qualified women’s campaigns and continues to be a significant barrier to achieving true gender parity in politics.

But let’s be clear: Kamala Harris is eminently qualified for this role. As a former prosecutor, Attorney General of California, U.S. Senator, and now Vice President, her record of public service is extensive. As Vice President, Harris has been a key player in the Biden administration, taking on complex issues like immigration, calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, body autonomy, and voting rights.

The real question voters should ask is not whether they’d like to have a beer with Harris but whether her policy positions and experience align with their vision for America’s future. Can she effectively lead on pressing issues like climate change, healthcare reform, and economic strength? These are the substantive matters that should drive our political discourse.

Women’s Political Aspirations Mirror the Messages They Receive

Harris’s journey echoes those of many women I’ve interviewed, who often face questions about their qualifications or likability despite extensive experience. As mentioned, women are frequently held to higher standards than their male counterparts, and they are not encouraged to participate in politics at nearly the same rate. For instance, the Citizen Political Ambition Study began in 2001, surveying 4,000 potential candidates with relevant professional backgrounds—lawyers, political activists, businesspeople, and similar. The study was repeated in 2011 and again in 2021.

Across the board and with very similar credentials, regardless of political party affiliation, income, age, marital status, and more, women are three times as likely as men to rate themselves as “not at all qualified” to run for office. At the same time, the study consistently finds potential candidates’ political aspirations and beliefs mirror the messages they receive about running for office. Even in the latest 2021 version of the study, men were two-thirds more likely to be encouraged to run by an already-elected official or party leader and 40% more likely to receive the suggestion to run from a colleague, spouse, or family member.

This issue isn’t unique to politics, either. It is an ongoing, pervasive issue. Research shows that women experts are erroneously viewed as “less qualified”—and therefore hired less often—relative to equally qualified men. Women are also consistently rewarded less for high levels of expertise and punished more severely for any real or perceived lack of expertise relative to their male counterparts.

Focusing on substance over style is crucial for dismantling the barriers preventing women from reaching the positions of impact and authority men more swiftly attain. This is exacerbated by the media, as coverage of women candidates often devotes disproportionate attention to their appearance, tone of voice, and personal lives rather than their policy positions. And no matter what side of the aisle women seek to represent, from Hillary Clinton to Sarah Palin, no woman has been immune to this disproportionate and inappropriate scrutiny.

Yet, time and again, women have proven that when given the chance to govern based on their merits, they excel. Harris now has the opportunity to do the same on the national stage.

Americans Deserve Substance

As we move into this election season, I urge voters and media alike to examine Harris’s campaign through the lens of her accomplishments and policy proposals. Let’s challenge ourselves to move beyond outdated notions of “likeability” and instead engage in meaningful debates about the future of our nation. By supporting qualified candidates like Harris based on their merits, we move closer to a government that truly reflects the diversity of our nation.

We can have a world where a woman’s path to the presidency isn’t paved with double standards and outdated perceptions, but that shift requires active effort from all of us. Kamala Harris can win in November if we collectively choose to focus on substance over style. As voters, we have the power to shape this narrative and ensure that the most qualified candidate—regardless of gender—emerges victorious.