Michelle Obama: Wonder Woman

As if there hasn't been enough written about Michelle Obama's arms please allow me to be the one-millionth writer, blogger, journalist, pundit to weigh in with an opinion (like just about every florist, dentist, minister, accountant and any other human being living in America, including my mom.)

One of the things that has struck me most about the
coverage of "Sleevegate" is how no one seems to have really delved into what I consider to be the fashion elephant in the room in any discussion of Michelle Obama's wardrobe choices: namely that she's not only tall and muscular, but she's a tall, muscular, brown-skinned black woman. I bring this up only because being a tall, brown-skinned (although not that muscular) black woman myself I've found that it does matter.

I'm sure that there are already a few of you now rolling your eyes and saying skeptically "what does Michelle Obama's style have to do with race?" but please just bear with me for a moment.

Here's the thing. For black women working to succeed in the corporate world or the world of politics (in which the critics can be even tougher) there are a few realities we must contend with that many of our racial counterparts rarely do; the most significant being what I like to call the intimidation fashion factor.

What is that exactly?

The intimidation fashion factor can most easily be explained by asking all of you to answer the following question: How many of you would feel comfortable if you walked into your office tomorrow and every black woman there was wearing her hair in an afro? What about dreadlocks? If you answered that question honestly the fact is you would probably be surprised and many in your office -- including perhaps your boss -- might feel downright uncomfortable. Though they might hesitate to say so outright, there would likely be concern about what message such an image might send and what clients or customers may think (unless of course your clientèle or customer base is primarily African-American).

Just two years ago an editor at a major fashion magazine labeled afros a fashion "don't," (though the fallout from the incident is said to have cost her job.) But while there may have been fallout the reality is that most black women striving to succeed in the mainstream workforce do feel compelled to go to great lengths not to wear our hair natural, i.e. in all its fro glory. Instead we endure the inconvenient and often painful process known as relaxing (or what we like to call "getting a perm.") I say "we" because I endure it too, and from what I can tell so does our First Lady, and one day so will the First daughters.

So I ask you to consider for a moment, how well do you think Michelle Obama would have fared on the campaign trail had she been rocking an au-natural hairstyle, a la the infamous New Yorker cover (and I don't mean the latest one.)

See there is something about blackness that remains inherently intimidating for some. This is why for so much of the campaign the Obama team was bending over backwards to convince heartland voters that Michelle Obama was really a Brady-bunch-watching-all-American mom, just like them. For many voters that image just didn't compute with the tall, chiseled, brown-skinned woman with all those fancy degrees. In their eyes if you looked up intimidating in the dictionary you would see Michelle Obama's face with a capital "I."

Which brings me back to the arms. For all of those obsessed with sleevegate I ask you to consider the First Lady's fashion options. Aside from the fact that she really does have great arms, consider this: How warmly do you really think the president's 5 foot 11 inch, brown-skinned, Ivy-league, power-lawyer wife would have been received had she spent most of the last two years on the campaign trail, and now in the White House, wearing Hillary Clinton power pants suits? Or even Laura Bush suits, for that matter, on a regular basis?

The fact is that dressed up as her alter ego "Michelle Obama: Legal Eagle/Corporate Wonder Woman" she probably would have scared a lot more voters -- and media critics -- than she ever has with her arms (ahem, David Brooks). And I doubt that she would be receiving the media equivalent of a valentine from the likes of CNN's Jack Cafferty.

In her classic Jackie O sleeveless sheath dresses I think the First Lady has found a way to combine power and femininity, AND to convey strength without intimidating the hell out of much of white America -- a balancing act so impressive she could teach tightrope walkers in the circus a thing or two.

And in doing so, she's given those of us in her sisterhood of the traveling perms, an extra reason to smile.

www.keligoff.com

 

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Comments

[CosmicChaos]

I hope that more women (no matter their skin color) feel more comfortable with wearing their hair more natural to their body's style.

One Latina friend of mine has the most beautiful natural Red tight cascading curls. If she leaves her hair alone it looks gorgeous.

[whitspur]

Wow -- there must be something wrong with me -- because it never even occurred to me to THINK about Michelle Obama's muscular arms until the media brought it up. And then my only thought was, "Really? People think about this stuff?" Now I've added, "Really? We're still talking about this nonsense? What's wrong with us?"

[ChicagoSuz]

If I had Michelle Obama's sculpted arms, I'd walk around sleeveless - even in winter, even here in Chicago! LOL

I think bringing racism into this discussion minimizes everything she & President Obama are trying to do, in terms of getting past all that. If she started wearing an Afro, my first thought would be, "Michelle's going retro," because that style hasn't been as trendy as it once was. She's the First Lady of the free world & she can wear her hair any way she damn pleases. I happen to think her look now is very flattering to her face. I also think her great beauty comes from the inside & can't help but pour out onto the outside.

Anything else going on has more to do with you, Keli, than with Michelle or the rest of us. Once you're as comfortable in your own skin as Michelle is, these things will no longer be an issue for you.

[7granny]

This is probably going to raise some hackles but the truth is all through the ages the majority of women have worn their hair, clothes & make-up to please men. Until all women are comfortable in their own skin & men will look past the outside appearance then that will continue to be the case. My opinion is if you look good in a style & you feel good wearing the style then do it. Don't let anyone convince you that you have to conform to society's idea of fashion. This should apply no matter what your gender, nationality or color.

[MAragon]

You know? I bet Michelle Obama could rock it good if she had an afro. She's got a talent for looking good in what she wears and how she presents herself.

[jackson1015]

Early on in the campaign she kept being referred to as an "angry Black woman," so I can only imagine the flack she would have received for wearing natural hair. She's smart, educated, self-assured, confident, comfortable in her own (brown) skin, physically toned and fit (plus, clearly put on a pedestal by the President of the United States!)....all of that is flat-out intimidating to some people. And to put an Afro on top of all that? Pu-leeze, it would make Sleevegate look like a Sunday school picnic...

[bmack83]

In a Huff Post related blog by bonnie fuller 'Why Wimpy David Brooks Insulted Michelle Obama's Biceps!' i made some comments about michelle obama being compared to various white women in western culture with no mention or comparison of her to a fellow african american woman. i found it to be subtle but not so subtle racism on the part of whoever's idea it was to include the fist lady juxtapose to four fictional/­nonfiction­al white heroins. please see my comments posted on bonnie fuller's 'Why Wimpy David Brooks Insulted Michelle Obama's Biceps!'

[mamagordo]

I'm a 61 year old white woman, and a fan of Michelle Obama. I pondered your question, trying to be honest with myself. I'd have no problem with all the black women in my workplace showing up with 'fros, dreadlocks, or any hairstyle traditionally associated with black women. I'd be amazed if they all changed their hairstyles overnight, but I'd be just as surprised if all the white women at work changed theirs overnight. Still, I get your point. Some whites are intimidated by blacks in certain situations. This happened 25 years ago: I was home alone, the doorbell rang, I answered. Standing on my porch was a respectable looking young black woman selling cosmetics. I politely declined, and she hesitated as she went to leave. She turned back and shyly asked if she could use my bathroom. Ignoring the alarms sounding in my brain about "stranger danger" I invited her in and motioned to the bathroom. But this dear woman's intuition was also on high alert, and saying nothing, she laid her purse on the coffee table before heading into my bathroom. Neither of us uttered a word as we made this pact : " You trust me enough to let me into your house, so I'm trusting you enough to leave my purse with you." I felt a stab of shame. I don't know what my reaction would have been if she'd been white. I think it would've been the same, but I'll never know.

[Retrofuturistic]

Someone said that "... a change in hair style is a reflection of a change in attitude."

It would be better for all women to be themselves instead of being slaves to cultural imperatives. Anyone who can set that example should be admired.

[Maplebird]

Personally, I'd love to see the First Lady wear her hair natural - but only if SHE wants to wear it that way.
I am a very (very) pale gal with fine, straight brown hair. Until a few years ago, I spent thousands per year to perm, highlight/colour my hair. I've had my scalp, face, neck and ears burnt by chemicals, heat lamps and curling irons. One perm made me look like a poodle, and one dye job turned my hair orange. And then I spent hundreds trying to find a fake tan that didn't make my skin break out or turn orange.
But then I realized that I can't look like a golden goddess because that's not how I'm built. My hair looks best when left alone (women now ask where I get my colour and how I get my hair so straight!!). My skin will never be anything but pale, but I've grown to love it.
True style means working with your best features, which is part of why I admire Michelle Obama. This brilliant woman knows what works for her. So if she goes straight or curly, great - as long as it's what she wants. But regardless of her look, I will watch her work with interest. The class she shows transcends style and puts her into the icon-in-the-making category, in my view. A true role model for women of all shapes, sizes, colours and ages.

[astridalailama]

that would be awesome if michelle sported an afro!

[Jyl Ion]

Thank you!

[Beka13]

She would ROCK!!!!!

[AuntPie]

Provocative article. I am a 59-year old Caucasian woman who has always lived in the South. I have been a supporter of Barack Obama since before he even announced his candidacy, and was absolutely ecstatic when he got elected. I am extremely impressed by Michelle's intelligence and poise, and love to follow her fashions as well. I am thrilled that she is our First Lady. I consider myself to be open-minded when it comes to race, but after reading your article, maybe I am 'not so much'. I had given thought -- admittedly not much -- about why Michelle straightens her hair, but you are right on the money. I have to confess that if Michelle showed up today with an Afro, I would be taken aback, and that is so unfair. Thanks for causing me to look at this from a different viewpoint. And thanks to Michelle for inspiring me to take up strength training in hopes that my arms may one day look half as good as hers!

[ronisue28]

The suggestion that someone or something other than a black woman, herself, compels her to relax her hair is disturbing and disingenuous. I am a six-foot tall black woman, and I am a lawyer. I have worn my hair natural, ten of them in "dreadlocks," for 15 of my 20-year career as a lawyer. I grew up with relaxed hair, and I made an affirmative decision to wear it natural, just as many of my black sisters, including the First Lady have decided to relax theirs. Maybe the First Lady's decision was based on how she would be accepted as a political figure or a professional woman, but it was her decision. While I do understand that there is real pressure to appear conventional to get ahead in the professional world, I made the decision about how to present myself as a six-foot tall, brown-skinned, successful lawyer. I do not condone uninvited attention to black women's hair or dress or physiques, regardless of whether the attention is positive or negative. And, I know from experience that a certain image IS expected in the professional world. I simply want to make clear that black women have a choice; and like Michelle Obama in her very stylish sleeveless dresses, black women should embrace that choice.