Why can’t a woman be president of the United States?

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the last woman standing in this year’s Democratic presidential nomination process, dropped out Thursday.

And that means a man once again – as they have done for 244 years – will rule this nation where equality is valued and where girls are taught that they can do anything they want.

Hillary Clinton in 2016 proved the notion that girls can do anything is just a fantasy made up by men and women who say one thing but do something else at the ballot box.

Why do we lie to girls? They can't win

Men and women are simply lying to their girls. They tell them to dream big because the sky is the limit but turn around and snub the women dreaming big, like Elizabeth Warren and five others who sought the Democratic nomination.

It’s time to tell our girls the truth. They can dream big but shouldn’t expect to realize those dreams. They can try to do anything but shouldn’t expect to get the top job.

Telling our girls that trying is good enough is killing their dreams. Cheering that Hillary Clinton almost pulled it off is shameful. Cheering Warren’s fight to the end is worthless.

Cheering Amy Klobuchar, Kamala Harris, Tulsi Gabbard (technically still in the race but gaining no traction), Marianne Williamson and Kirsten Gillibrand for daring to dream to be president but not supporting them is rubbish.

These are accomplished women who could do the job just like any man, or better.

Other countries aren't as sexist

The United States has a lot to learn from Latin American countries where women have had no problems getting elected president.

Just consider all these women who are or have been presidents in Latin America:

Dilma Rousseff of Brazil.

Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica.

Christina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina.

Michelle Bachelet of Chile.

Mireya Moscoso of Panama.

Rosalía Arteaga of Ecuador.

Violeta Chamorro of Nicaragua.

Lidia Gueiler Tejada of Bolivia.

Isabel Peron of Argentina.

Tell me again why a woman can't be president of the United States? Sexism seems to be the most logical explanation. But sexism in this case isn’t just men voting against women. It’s a lot more complex than just a war between the sexes.

America isn't ready for a woman

Women have outvoted men by nearly 10 million ballots in the last two presidential elections, the Atlantic reported. That means women alone could have chosen a woman president – if they had all voted for a woman.

That clearly wasn't the case then, and it certainly doesn’t appear to be that way in 2020. It appears women and men voting in this year’s Democratic primaries are looking at candidates best equipped to excite a broad spectrum of the electorate to defeat Donald Trump.

But couldn’t any of the six women who sought the nomination do just that? The question brings us back to square one.

America simply isn’t ready for a woman.

Getting as far as Elizabeth Warren isn't good enough. And almost winning the presidency, as Hillary Clinton did in 2016, isn't good enough.

Elvia Díaz is an editorial columnist for The Republic and azcentral. Reach her at 602-444-8606 or elvia.diaz@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter, @elviadiaz1.