Michelle Obama's Mom-In-Chief Image Is a Cave to Politics and Stereotypes

In my last post I talked about how Michelle has free will and there is absolutely nothing wrong with her being unapologetic about making her two daughters who are 7 and 10 her top priority while in the White House. They are now the First Children and it is important that they have someone to guide them and help them have a positive transition during this crazy time in their lives. When I look at Michelle I can still see a driven, smart, intelligent woman with confidence, and the confidence to make her own decisions. She is the First Lady of the United States for goodness sake. It’s not like she’s going to or has been sitting on her behind the whole time baking cookies and knitting booties for her kids. She has been really out there and has done quite a lot in a small amount of time from what I have seen. When these four to eight years are up and she chooses to go back to work it’s not like her employers are going to think she “fell off” and can’t do her job anymore. I am a young woman in her early twenties attending college and I would like to attend Law School once I get my undergrad degree. I would also consider myself a moderate Democrat. My mother worked and continues to work a full time job, but she has always said and made me feel that I was her top priority over any job or career. I love her for that and I think every child deserves that. I get the sense that Michelle also did this when she was vice president of the University of Chicago Hospital. Obviously it is possible for a woman to both have a career and care for her children, but is it really so horrible if she chooses to focus on her children for some time first? She has only been in the White House for what…4 months and already she is being criticized for not projecting the image of a career woman over nurturing her children. If Michelle wanted to make policy while in the white house the way Hilary did, that’s fine with me but like I said before, Michelle has made it clear many times in the past that she is not interested in politics the way her husband is. She went to Harvard Law and decided to use he intelligence and skills to help others in a more communal rather than political way and there is nothing wrong with that. Sara of CA and Bonnie, I don't know exactly how old you guys are or specifically what generation you come from, but I am getting the sense that you both coming from a generation of feminist’s or at least adhere to and ideology of feminism that I personally call “Old School Feminism”. This is the type of feminism that tries to over compensate and criticize women who choose to stay home with their children and imply that they are somehow selling themselves short because of their choice. Isn’t feminism about choice? Shouldn’t there be some sort of balance? And to Sara, I think stay at home dad’s are a great thing, but my point is that everyone should have a choice. Bonnie you are doing nothing for empowering women, especially young women like myself, who are trying to navigate life and balance working toward a career with having a family. I feel like you are implying that I should be ashamed of myself if I choose to do what Michelle did and but a job on hold to care for my kids?

Ari of NY 3:21PM May 12, 2009

Gee fred - who are you talking about? None of the comments here are telling Michelle Obama what to do. They are supporting her in HER choice. It is Bonnie Erbe, the Democrat, who is telling Michelle Obama what to do. Consider listening to others with an open mind. That way, you're more likely to hear what they are actually saying.

L of IL 2:08PM May 12, 2009

The woman is, after all, the stay at home but her home in The White House. Mind your own business and stop telling others how they are supposed to live their lives...You want to stay home? do so. But don;'t tell those fine ladies in politics they should stay at home...that is the nonsense of the GOP, and we know where they are today.

fred lapides of CT 8:03AM May 12, 2009

The fact that Michelle is unapologetic about being a mother to her two children above all else speaks volumes about the type of woman she is. You are completely disregarding the fact that her daughters are under the age of 11 and are suddenly thrust into the lime light not just on the national stage but on the world stage whether they like it or not.The children should always come first. If I were in her position I would also commit myself to helping my children adjust. On the campaign trail she often discussed how she was the boss when it came to how she would use her time campaigning for Barack because she wanted to be there for her daughters as much as possible. You can try to say that Obama's adviser are the ones that controlled her image all you want, but if you really took the time to listen to her before she became first lady and after you would see that this woman is no silent betty homemaker. Michelle has also state several times that she is not into politics the same way that Barack is. She is into community service and public outreach which is why she quit her job at a law firm years ago to work in the Mayors office and eventually became vice president of the University of Chicago. Michelle is a Princeton undergrad and Harvard Law School graduate. She does not have anything to prove by trying to advance her career during her time in the white house. Every first lady has a different approach to their role and this is her's. Hillary wanted to use her platform as first lady to advance health care reform and even had her own office in the West Wing, but guess what?, Michelle is not doing that because does not want to become a politician. She is not Hillary Clinton and that is o.k.

Ari of NY 11:38PM May 11, 2009