Students should become involved in politics and pursue issues that are important to them despite possible racial or gender obstacles, Lindy Li ’12 argued in a panel discussion with Undergraduate Student Government president Ella Cheng ’16 on Tuesday.
Cheng is a former staff writer for The Daily Princetonian.
Li, who was class president during her four years at the University, is running for the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania’s 7thCongressional district. If successful, she will be the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.
When Cheng asked about the challenges associated with gender when running for office, Li said that sometimes women are perceived as aggressive when they are only speaking affirmatively. She added that women, unlike men, sometimes need an extra word of encouragement to pursue their passions.
“Let’s encourage our women,” Li said."What’s the worst that can happen to you, honestly? Someone says no? You lose an election? So many people lose elections. It’s going to be okay."
An audience member asked both Cheng and Li to comment on their experiences with race and gender due to their identities as Asian-American women. Cheng noted that for her, being Asian-American felt like more of a barrier during her campaign and election because she had few female Asian-American role models in politics.
Both Cheng and Li said that they are grateful to their parents for supporting them during the campaigning process.
Li added, however, that she wants to establish herself in the media as more than a young female minority. She explained that when she does interviews, what she really wants to talk about are actual issues such as college affordability or climate change, but the media has focused on her as a young female minority because it wants clickbait.
“If you read any articles about me, it’s always about how I’m 24, and ‘oh, she’s young, she’s female and she’s a first generation immigrant, and how she’s going to be the youngest woman;’ I myself have never said that. I myself have never said I want to be the youngest woman elected,” Li said. “And that’s a narrative that I’m trying to shift.”
She added that while running for office she was shocked by the level of animosity she got from people who did not know her, noting the comments after an interview she did with the ‘Prince’ –"I think they said, 'She makes Ted Cruz look humble."
Li encouraged the University students in the audience to become involved in politics and pursue the issues that are important to them.
“You have to work harder than everybody else out there. I’m obviously not the smartest person, but I’m fearless, and I have courage, and I’m pouring my heart and soul into this campaign,” Li said. She added that students ought to “do what sets your soul on fire.”
In speaking about herself and her own life, Li said that she believes that she was put on this earth to serve and to give, and that she feels that this is what she is supposed to do. She noted that she worked at Morgan Stanley after graduating from the University but felt unhappy and wanted to work in the public sector.
“I’ve finally found a work that isn’t work to me,” she said.
She added that her political career began with USG at the University.
“It all started in Frist 204,” Li said.
Li said her plans for the next year include raising $2 million, and she noted that her campaign has already raised $300,000. She also mentioned that HBO has reached out to her about following her campaign on a TV show.
Li said her most immediate goal for the future, however, is to continue working hard on her campaign.
“I’d love for this to be your time,” she said."If there’s anything I can do or anything I can say to help you, or any actions I can take — I just want you to know that I seek to be the most accessible public servant we have."
The discussion took place in the Whig Hall Senate Chamber at 4:30 p.m. The event was sponsored by USG, American Whig-Cliosophic Society, Princeton College Democrats and Princeton Women’s Mentorship Program.
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