Why All Women Should Love Michelle Obama

No matter whom you supported in the election, all women will benefit from Michelle Obama's presence in the White House. Here's how -- excuse me while I gush a little.

1. She's a good mother. Whether you're single, married, a parent, or never plan to be, the image of a strong, responsible mother -- one who also manages to maintain a demanding career of her own and support her husband's -- is a wonderful example for all women. Not only does she prioritize her daughters over everything else -- getting to soccer games, ballet recitals, and birthday parties, election or not -- she also constantly advocates the importance of responsible parenting for all children. To paraphrase Gandhi, a society can best be judged by the way it treats its children.
2. She's smarter than you. If you went to Princeton and Harvard, fine, maybe you're almost as smart as Michelle Obama. But most of us, even the super-educated elite, can learn a thing or two from this woman who came from humble beginnings on the South Side of Chicago to excel at the country's top institutions, with the goal of helping others. She, like her husband, left a high-paying legal career to work for social issues helping children, women and minorities. Community organizing, it seems, isn't just a perfectly adequate qualification -- it's the new PhD.



3. She's a realistic fashion icon. Jackie Kennedy employed a personal designer. Nancy Reagan wore only custom-tailored suits. Michelle Obama shops the J. Crew catalogue. Her wardrobe of sheath dresses, twin sets, kitten heels, and minimal jewelry ranges from the everyday affordable (Gap, H&M) to the mid-range luxury (Narciso Rodriguez, Maria Pinto), making it totally accessible to the modern American woman. And it's not just what she wears, but how she wears it. Obama is hardly Jackie O-thin, but she confidently flaunts her real-woman curves in silhouettes that are both sexy and sophisticated, proving that femininity can also be feminist. And she's never been spotted in a pair of stuffy, uncomfortable pantyhose. Here's hoping she'll be the one to kill that archaic trend once and for all.
4. Yes, she is a feminist. During the election, Obama was often criticized as "anti-feminist" for being overly affectionate and playful with her husband, for quitting her high-powered job when the Obama campaign kicked into high gear, and for insisting she'll take a back seat in the White House, focusing on raising her daughters rather than rabble-rousing Congress. And as far as I'm concerned, these are the kinds of arguments that kill feminism, which should be about celebrating women's progress. It's not a race to see who can be the toughest gal in the old-boy's club without regard to the very-real juggling act all women -- especially mothers -- must perform. Michelle's dedication to her husband is admirable (can we please stop perpetuating the stereotype that feminists hate men?); her responsibility as a mother essential (see #1); and as for her taking a "back seat," we're not convinced. Do you really think this Princeton/Harvard alum with her own track record as a community leader (as well as top-level executive) will not wield some kind of power in the White House? She's an extremely strong influence on her husband. She held a Harvard Law degree before he did. She mentored him when he joined Chicago law firm Sidley Austin, and she encouraged him to be a community organizer. Barack Obama listens when Michelle Obama speaks, and that's a pretty sweet deal for women.
5. She is a black woman. Why does race matter? Because women are still a minority of sorts themselves, so a black woman represents two historically oppressed groups. When the Obama administration takes up issues like education, health care, and a fair-and-balanced workforce, Michelle Obama will be the force advocating for every group of women in the country, and she won't be the only one. She has a history of employing an entirely female staff of aides and advisers. Some might consider such hiring practices exclusionary. We think it shows she has confidence in the intelligence and strength of women to get things done. And let's not underestimate the power of image. Her simple presence in the White House -- a descendant of slaves will be hosting White House dinners! -- is an extremely powerful image for our country, and for the world. Now I know why the Secret Service gave her the code name "Renaissance."

Heather Wood Rudúlph is co-founder and editor of SirensMag.com. To see original article, click here.

Follow Heather Wood Rudúlph on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SirensMag

Comments

[shanara]

Great article! Love her and I know she'll do amazing things. She's a great example for all women regardless of race.

[395spoons]

Excellent! I was a fan already.

[USAFree1]

I come from a long line of feminists; my grandmother had a copy of a Margaret Sanger book hidden away in a steamer trunk that I found after she died. She was a wife, mother, teacher and finally a town postmaster. She was born in the 1800s. My mom was also a feminist in her own way. I was part of the bra burning crowd myself and never, ever thought of myself as an appendage to a man. All that said, I really thought that feminism would bring the femine world view to this man's world and make changes for the better. Maybe our nurturing, compassionate, finding a third way is part of being socialized, but I think not. The world would be a better place if, instead of us trying to be like men, we made men and the man's world more like us. I think Michelle Obama knows this and looking and listening to her proves it to me.

[midwesthousewife]

How about men and women find and develop their feminine and masculine sides fully and bring them both into this world? And making sure the world honors both sides of human nature as equally important, each with strengths to offer. Fully developed human beings celebrating what they are rather than tilting the world one way or the other.

[KNadine]

Heather Rudulph, I'm a fan of yours now. Excellent post! I too think all women should love Michelle, oops, First Lady-elect Michelle Obama. Looks like she can do it all!!

[Deparis]

What a First Lady! She rocks!

[roshni]

I love Michelle Obama. She is comfortable in her own skin and an inclusive person. And, yes, she is a wonderful wife and mother.

[wheelnut53]

Among other things she is one of the main reasons I voted for Barack, no way she's going to let him mess up and be quiet about it. I saw the influence she has on him .

[Nofuzzydreams]

She went to Princeton. I have no doubt she is very, very smart. But the way elite schools seek out good black students also discriminates against other groups for example Asians. I have to wonder how many equally or more qualified Asians did not get the seat that Michelle got. The fact that elite schools give preference to Blacks and discriminate against Asians is well known. In fact, Harvard's student newsletter even had an article in 2007 justifying why the school should admit other ethnic groups by bending the criteria as more and more Asians qualify under their criteria. As a result Harvard has only 16% Asians compared to many other elite schools where Asian population is 25% or higher. There is a popular theory on how elite schools enforce a quota system - if you are Black, a certain percentage is added to you SAT score, if you are white it is left alone and if you are Asian, a certain percentage is subtracted.

[ZimboChick]

and that makes sense to you?

[kkg58]

OMG -- you have got to be kidding me.

[ShephDJ]

This is plain wrong. I can say from my personal experience as a white female from a lower middle class background that ivy league schools seek to find representatives from all demographic categories. They do not favor any particular group when doing this. On the other hand, the upper class white graduates of private high schools in New England might actually have cause for complaint because it could happen that their particular demographic gets limited in order to make space for all the others. Have you considered the possibility that the 16% figure for Asians--if there is any truth to it--just represents the fact that more qualified Asian students have more money to spend on higher education, but at ivy league schools, there are more scholarships available for those with financial need, thus allowing other qualified minorities more opportunities to attend? That's just a thought. One really can't jump to easy conclusions about these matters.

[rockyersocksoff]

You're bit*hing about the possibility of Michelle " I'm actually gonna study hard" Obama getting into an Ivy based on her race, but NOT about an anti-intellectual stain like Dubya getting in on a friggin' LEGACY?

[Bashley]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I get so tired of hearing people saying the Obamas got into their institutions of choice because of race. Barack even transferred halfway through undergrad to go to Columbia, so he had to put in some work at one college first. They act like these two sat on their hands to let things come to them. I guarantee anyone who thinks affirmative action is how someone got to where they were really sit down and talk to a minority co-worker. I work in an industry where many people don't have degrees, and I'm very fortunate to have my job. The same rules that allow the white men to get their positions don't apply to us females, especially the non-white females. I am the only black woman here w/out a degree because I just went back to school. No one ever questions my white co-workers who have equal/less experience in performing our jobs how they go to where they are, but when we meet other offices, the black and Latino women are always asked where did we work before this, did we go to school, etc.

Everyone has to put in work to get to where they want to be. Affirmative action doesn't guarantee me an open door, but it does guarantee that someone will look at my qualifications just as they would of a white individual with comparable qualifications.

[vazquez7]

Why is it that people like you assume if a black person goes to a prestigious school, it must be because of affirmative action? Do you not realize there are many intelligent black people in this society? it is sad because you folks just automatically assume. What damn difference does it make anyway? At Michelle's age, if she went to school in southern public schools chances are good she started out in a segregated school. In case you have no knowledge of segregated schools in the south, many were inferior to average white schools. Hand me down books with many markings and outdated desk from white schools were the standard. It galls me how so many whites in this society just automatically make so many assumptions.

[ccmd]

"Community organizing, it seems, isn't just a perfectly adequate qualification -- it's the new PhD."

brilliant beyond brilliant point. it inspires us youngsters to build a life of giving back. charity is the new black.

[ZimboChick]

You forgot to say that she stayed true to herself the whole time! I was so crossing my fingers that she didnt wake up one day with a Beyonce wig! She is such a natural beauty and she has shown a lot of black women to love themselves AS THEY ARE. Some of you may not be aware but there is this notion among black females (and males - hello young berg) that dark equates ugly. I do not know where it comes from but some people actually believe lighter skinned people are better. Just saw some on Tyra last night and felt sorry for the poor creatures. Back to my story - Michelle is all sorts of authentic and I have her back!

[stella33]

She, along with the whole family, is a breath of fresh air. They have this undeniable love and repect for each other. I can't wait to welcome them as neighbors in DC!

[ladylike]

LADIES wear pantyhose or stockings, they do not go barelegged. Period.

[just4shiggles]

That old rule is out the window these days. Pantyhose and stockings are no longer the rule thank goodness!

[ZimboChick]

21st century is already here. Here is the memo. She has no cellulite to hide

[roshni]

Obsolete, much?

[kaitorak]

You must be a Catholic school principal. They are the only people I know who still believe this.

[calamityjyl]

What are you saying? Are you suggesting that Michelle Obama is not a "lady"? You are outdated and ridiculous. I think maybe your pantyhose might just be too tight...

[Avembe]

she's incredibly smart!!!have you heard her speeches?the way she handles the stage without any text, any prompter..­..She's amazing!!!!

[Kristen777]

Whatdaya mean "should"? I think she's a big hit!

[Deparis]

I'm with you. You go girl!

[felixxx999]

After Obama made his speech after winning on election night, his and Biden's family took the stage. After a few minutes, you can see Obama mouth "OK. That's enough". The group walked to the back of the stage and exited leaving Obama in center stage waving and thanking voters silently over a deafening crowd. Michelle went to the back of the stage with the rest but didn't exit. She turned and watched her husband and waited patiently for him. After he finished, he turned to his smiling wife and walked toward her outstreched hand and they walked off stage together. The scene had me blubbering like it was the happiest day of my life.

(It moved me much more than the college-aged kids going crazy even though they really have no true grasp of the enormity of the day. It's like with the Red Sox won the world series in 2004 and a bunch of 22-year-olds went around Beantown tipping over cars and celebrating like it was New Years. They really had no idea what that win meant to the older fans that suffered.)

[ZimboChick]

lol neat