In a recent interview with the popular Humans of New York blog, Hillary Clinton addressed the sexism she has experienced throughout her career, mentioning that she was pressured to forfeit her place at the Harvard Law admissions examination so that a man could have it.

What began as a conversation about equality soon turned into misogynistic vitriol in the comments section, with statements such as:

“It’s pretty pathetic to see all the people here that are voting with their vaginas instead of with their brains.”

“She’s rich enough to buy her way into any position.”

“I have to ask you guys if you are for Clinton just because she’s a woman?”

A chorus of fatuous commenters assumed Hillary lacks the qualifications to be president simply because she is a woman. The fact is, Hillary Clinton has hard-earned credentials, but God forbid she talk about those.

Women are socially aware of how our success makes others feel, so we downplay our achievements. We apologize. We clown around with self-deprecating humor to put others at ease. We don’t want to be called arrogant or bossy.

We don’t want to be perceived as a bitch.

Yet when a man speaks proudly of his career accomplishments, we congratulate him. Don’t believe me? Consider the following hypothetical conversation:

(Larry): “How is work going, Tom?”

(Tom): “It’s going well! I’ve just been promoted to a partner, which will help me reach my goal of becoming district attorney before I’m 40.”

Tom is a hero–a real go-getter. But what happens if we replace the word “Tom” with the word “Tina”?

Tina would be perceived as a self-aggrandizing braggart. People would wonder who is watching Tina’s kids while she’s at the office and if she is really able to strike a work/life balance.

Being an accomplished career woman myself, I have been repeatedly insulted by those who make assumptions about me simply because I lack a Y chromosome. Here are some actual remarks I have received and how I wanted to answer italics:

“It is so nice that you’re able to get some time away from the kids after being at home all day. It’s important for moms to get out of the house, too.” Actually, I don’t stay at home with my kids. I work at a prestigious university.

“How great that you have a job! What kind of secretary are you?” I am not a secretary. I am a senior-level manager with three degrees and fifteen years of work experience.

“What will you do for work once you relocate for your husband’s job?” We are relocating for MY job, you chauvinistic wanker.

Of course I responded graciously to those people because I possess social intelligence, but that didn’t make the assumptions any less hurtful. So when I read sexist accusations about Hillary Clinton, it strikes a nerve.

Hillary went to Wellesley and Yale Law School. She worked as a partner in a prestigious law firm before using her legal expertise to chair several political committees. After 25 years of political experience, she became a state senator, then the US Secretary of State, and now the aptly nominated Democratic presidential candidate.

And after all of that, do you know what idiots like to criticize about her?

Her pants suits.

Her hairstyle.

Her romantic life.

Reader, I’ll leave you with this challenge: Dislike Hillary for her political leanings if you’re so inclined–disagree with her view of socialized medicine, or her international policies, or where she lands on the state versus federal government power continuum–but please don’t demoralize half of society by picking on Hillary Clinton’s femininity.

You look like a fool when you do that.

Of course, I’d never say that to your face.

I wouldn’t want to come across as a bitch, after all.