Michelle Obama Slights Working Women

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You are l00 percent right in your analysis of the traditional line taken by Mrs Obama, a direct conradiction of her career as a corporate lawyer. For every woman who becomes a lawyer and then opts out, all the cliches about the pointlessness of educating women seem too true. Adlai Stevenson told women that they needed education to be good mothers and wives. He'd be impressed...if thsi were l955.

lauren of CA 1:25AM March 16, 2009

If Michelle Obama slights working women by making a commitment to be a mother, then you slight working mothers by assuming a woman is valuable only if her work is outside the realm of the home and is paid a salary.
What does the woman WANT to work at - if she wants to work at home to nurture and be a role model and teacher for her children, other women should be supporting the ways and means she needs to do that. That is the ultimate feminism - women supporting other women to make their own best choice. Not just to do what you think they should do to make salaries equitable in the workplace, eschewing family responsibility as less honorable than your professional career.
Where is the salary for the working mother at home and why won't feminists work and fight for that right? So is "Women's Liberation" only a liberation from the stove and apron-strings, or is it the true meaning of liberation - a freedom from being held to one model by an oppressive overpowering force. That actually sounds like what you are saying. Maybe we need a new name, "Liberation," period. Then we may all aspire to the movement without slighting anybody else who aspires to it? What a bunch of junk thinking! The Women's Liberation and/or feminist movement did something great for women - gave them the power to choose what kind of work they wanted to do. Now that some of us women are choosing to work with our families at home, why shouldn't we expect to get paid for it? What would a manager expect to get paid for directing activities, building moral character, instilling values, educating, protecting, feeding and cleaning one to four employees at work for 18-22 years, and then staying on as an on-call consultant for the next 10 years? And how much would he have in his investment portfolio or pension fund by then? How about you? Now there's a goal for the feminist movement to work on!
Michelle as a mother is a perfect role model for me as will be her work and commitment to community service and other causes she champions as First Lady.

Working Divorced & Remarried Mom, child of a Working Divorced Mom of IA 11:45PM January 21, 2009

I am glad she will be a full time mother and homemaker. That is a wonderful job millions of women do everyday. Her husband will need her for support and her kids need her. That is a huge JOB. Reality check MOST women want to be with their families full time taking care of them. What is so sad is all the children who are away from their parents from 7 to about 6 everyday leaving them a grand total of maybe 2 to 3 hours a day with them. How sad 10 th 15 hours weekday family time. Doesn't sound like much af a family? And lets be real those 2 to 3 hours isn't really time together but time preparing for the next day. What about marriage? When both are working and then coming home exahausted trying to household chores, make dinner and take care of kids it can be overwhelming and exhausting. A lot emotional needs are neglected due to stress and being tired. Fighting and resentment blossom. Life is short. I think Michelle might help many families get off this nightmare of two working families.

amy of FL 7:34AM December 14, 2008

I am a 40 year old married career woman. Both my husband and my husband and I work 40 plus hours a week. We have two small children whom I'd love to spend more time with but because it cost a fortune to live comfortably in a safe neighborhood while providing my children with cultural, spiritual and physical enrichment opportunities I have to work. My career path is not one ameinable to part-time. I have struggled with wanting to stay home from the first time my oldest dtr was in daycare 10 hours on one day.
If my husband's position was such that my children were thrust into a spotlight and my husband was going to be under considerable stress - I would no doubt chose my family over my career at least for the time I deem my family needs me more. Being an intellegent and passionate woman, I would have causes that I lend my skills and intellegence but there is something totally different (and for me highly honorable) between maintaining a paid career and working on projects of my choosing that I can work on in conjunction to caring for my family.
These type of post are what cause many women to shy away from the word feminist despite having goals and beliefs in line with many feminist ideals.

Shonda of CA 1:40AM November 13, 2008

I am not afraid of labels- mine are Full time Paediatrician, Full time mother of 3, Feminist...
This is the real world. She was the primary breadwinner when that was appropriate for the family, now she chooses not to work outside the home, because the family feel that is right for them now. How does that slight working women?

KP 6:29PM November 12, 2008

Can somebody spare us the idiocy of Bonnie Erbe?
Thanks,
Saea

Sarah of DC 6:12PM November 12, 2008

If this is the most sensible school of thought you have, looks like you need a "real job."

sanguine of CA 3:46PM November 12, 2008

Stop whining! Your opinion page sounds like the kid that lost and can't accept the fact. What other profound opinions can you find! This opinion is not worth the time to respond in length.

Sharon Boyd of CA 11:23AM November 12, 2008

Michelle Obama will be working all the time she is in the White House. Who ever criticized Mrs. Kennedy for protecting her children? Who would not want another adult on hand that truly loves the girls when trips and meetings and state functions take both parents away?
Also, when are we women going to stop criticizing other women and their choices. If we are truly liberated we can accept other women's decisions about their lives.
President-elect Obama has always been surrounded by strong, working women. Working women have the entire families support.
Stop belittling a warm, compassionate, intelligent woman and be proud that she, a professional, represents all of us throughout the world.

Maureen from Iowa of IA 11:47PM November 10, 2008

Bonnie - you ARE criticizing Michelle's decision to be the rock for her family. She, like many military spouses, will be there for her children while her husband is off around the world tending to matters of state. Her children will have been torn from the home that they knew and put into a totally new and different situation like so many military kids are every year. Michelle will be the only part of their life that is stable and normal. Please do not downplay the sacrifice that she is making. It is not a slight to working women. She is not belittling her career. She is doing what is best for her family by being there for them. Her girls will only be young once. My mother was there for my family when my father was in Saudi Arabia, in training, and on 2 tours in Vietnam. Our mom was our home, as we moved every 2 years. You go, Michelle! Be the best "mom in chief" ever!

Army Brat of OR 11:27PM November 10, 2008