You often hear people say, “Behind every great man there is a great woman.” In Barack Obama’s case, this is true. His wife, Michelle Obama is not only the potential First Lady, but a mother, wife, and lawyer. Educated at Princeton and Harvard Law School, Michelle has proven herself to be both intellectual and hard-working. (To put this in perspective, Cindy McCain went to University of Southern California, where she was a cheerleader).
Michelle also puts her family first, claiming to be a mother to her two daughters primarily, and a wife and then working woman second. So why is a woman who seems to be able to do it all (with style and grace, too) under such attack? Shouldn’t we, as a society, be praising Michelle for being a “Super Woman,” rather than calling her “angry,” “radical” and “unpatriotic”?
I can’t help but attribute the rampant attacks on Michelle’s character to issues of race and gender. If Michelle were white (like Cindy McCain, and every other First Lady in United States history), would she be painted as an “angry black woman”? No. If Michelle were a man, would we be criticizing her for having strong opinions and being outspoken? Hell no.
When Michelle Obama is attacked by the media or by individual citizens, I believe they are overlooking her achievements and integrity and focusing on appearances: she is a black woman. As such, she has neither the privilege of being white nor the privilege of being a man.
I think this great article by the Washington Post entitled “Black. Female. Accomplished. Attacked.” sums up a lot of what I’m trying to get across here far more eloquently. I urge you to take a few minutes to read it over:
“Sad to say, but what Obama has undergone, though it’s on a national stage and on a much more prominent scale, is nothing new to professional African American women. We endure this type of labeling all the time. We’re endlessly familiar with the problem Michelle Obama is confronting — being looked at, as black women, through a different lens from our white counterparts, who are portrayed as kinder, gentler souls who somehow deserve to be loved and valued more than we do. So many of us are hoping that Michelle — as an elegant and elusive combination of successful career woman, supportive wife and loving mother — can change that.”
If you watched Michelle’s slot on The View, or read her interviews in magazines such as OK and Ebony, you’d see not a radical angry woman, but a thoughtful, reasonable person who, in my mind, epitomizes what a First Lady should be. Hillary Clinton revolutionized the role of the First Lady, taking it out of the world of cocktail parties, fundraisers and stylish support of one’s husband and into the modern, post-Second Wave feminist society. Hillary took an active role in politics and eventually gained so much experience and exhibited so much drive that she became a Senator in her own right. Cindy McCain, conversely, represents a return to the “traditional role” of First Lady – like Laura and Barbara Bush (and the rest), these women exist to look pretty and serene next to their charismatic, powerful husbands. They serve as a reminder that the President is a family man who the American people can trust. However, in a world where women are able to be President or Vice President (or at least come close to it), why shouldn’t the First Lady be powerful, intelligent and outspoken?
I hope Barack Obama becomes our next President, not just because of his policies and work ethic, but because he has the entire package: a great family to support him and a wife who can hold her own in the social and political aspects of the job.
For further reading about Michelle Obama, here are some articles & links:–> Politico: Michelle Obama Thesis Was on Racial Divide
–> Michelle Obama Watch
–> Meet the Obamas
What do you think of Michelle Obama? Even if you disagree with her husband’s politics, do you think she is an inspirational woman? I’d love to hear all your comments, but be warned: personal attacks on Michelle Obama will not be tolerated.
Photo Credits Found Here.
