Do we need the term "First Lady"? Thoughts on Michelle Obama...
Michelle Obama’s trip to the G-20 summit is perhaps as publicized as her husband’s, though for different reasons; the main concern with her trip is “What is she wearing” (J. Crew) and “Who is she sitting next to at dinner?” (J.K. Rowling, among others
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Yes! This is something I wish people asked more often. I remember way back when Johnny Carson was still hosting, Dudley Moore was on the Tonight Show, and in his interview he said something very close to: it's as superficial to like someone for their intelligence as it is for their beauty.
He said is badly, and was boo'd by the audience - but he was right. People don't choose to be smart any more than they choose to be beautiful. It doesn't reflect on who they are as a human being.
My question is this: do you think Michelle can, or should, redefine what it means to be "First Lady"? I like the term "First Lady" - but then, I also like "First Gentleman" for a president's husband. It's a job in itself. I've read feminist criticisms of Michelle for quitting her job to further her husband's career - but again, I personally would expect the same of a female president's husband. It would seem almost disrespectful, in a way, for the spouse ( ... )
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And I would love to see a First Gentleman discussing menus, and Christmas lights, and things like that. There's nothing wrong with domesticity - it's necessary and good - and it'd be amazing to see the stigma taken away from the many men involved in those roles.
I look forward to seeing how she balances being a mother with staying true to her intellectual self.
This sentence is problematic to me. It implies a distinction where there is none - and THAT is part of the negative attitudes about motherhood to which I was referring. Loving her children and taking good care of them adds a dimension to a woman's personality; it shouldn't be seen as taking anything away from her. :)
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There's nothing wrong with domesticity - it's necessary and good - and it'd be amazing to see the stigma taken away from the many men involved in those roles.
I think you're absolutely right; I suppose my pessimism makes me despair because I don't think, in our current culture of masculinity and machoism, that it would happen anytime soon.
This sentence is problematic to me. It implies a distinction where there is none - and THAT is part of the negative attitudes about motherhood to which I was referring. Loving her children and taking good care of them adds a dimension to a woman's personality; it shouldn't be seen as taking anything away from her. :)I adore you for this sentence!! You are absolutely right!! Upon reflection, I suppose I mean that she's already given up her career in order to take care of her children while she and her husband campaigned, and now she has a "career" that she's publically stated she never ( ... )
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Chris Matthews...can be a real idiot sometimes.
You know, maybe that's why I reacted so strongly to his comments: I simply wasn't expecting them. I'm more of a Keith Olberman/Rachel Maddow fan, so it was more of a rarity for me to tune into Hardball. I had no prior experience with Matthews, so for me it was absolutely shocking to hear someone on MSNBC say these things.
What's also interesting about Carla Bruni is that she's EXTREMELY educated and highly respected by Europeans. Yes she is a model, one who speaks four languages, plays four instruments, was educated at a Swiss boarding school before begining to study architecture, only left that because she was offered more money in one year than she would have made in her lifetime ($7.5 million a year for over five years) and never even needed to work in the first place as she sits on a multi-million dollar fourtune from her fathers tire industry, and she writes all of her our music.
I don't like Sarah Palin at all, but I got so angry last fall, when people used ( ... )
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I don't think so--"First Husband" sounds worse. :-) Don't know if you watch 24, but this year there is a female President on the show, and her husband's called the "First Gentleman."
I think all the First Ladies have been strong, capable women, each in her own way. As to defining "First Lady," though--you have to be careful about that, because "First Lady" is not an elected position, it's one of acclamation. OTOH she probably has the most influence of any of the presidential advisors, so she wields significant power in her own right. I think the difference between Michelle Obama and past First Ladies, is that we can see that influence with President Obama, whereas it wasn't nearly as noticeable with other former First Ladies. Er, if that makes sense.
Edited because of open tags and itchy trigger fingers.
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Yet the definitions you give for "lady", i.e. superior social position, and refinement and gentle manner, are the same for "gentleman." I don't see a problem with either term. Would you prefer "gentlewoman" in place of "lady"?
I think it contributes to the heterosexual hierarchy
I'd have no problem referring to a same-sex partner of the President as "First Lady" or "First Gentleman." (If only because other terms, such as "First Spouse," "First Partner" or "First Consort" all have overtones of polygamy.)
It's pretty insulting for 21st century women to be shunted into such a rigid role.I'd say it's insulting to assume she must do it, yes. I agree, there absolutely has to be consistency. I don't think there's any particular law that says the Presidential spouse *has* to assume the role of official host, is there? Because what does a single President do? Or when the First Lady/Gentleman is unable to perform official ( ... )
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Yet the definitions you give for "lady", i.e. superior social position, and refinement and gentle manner, are the same for "gentleman."
You're right, but I suppose (for me) the difference is that gentlemen had the power; ladies were subservient. I guess that's why both terms (for me) evoke sexism.
(If only because other terms, such as "First Spouse," "First Partner" or "First Consort" all have overtones of polygamy.)
Hmm. I guess I have a problem with the spouse of the president being given ANY title. For example, in Ireland, the Prime Minister (Taoiseach)'s wife is just referred to as Mrs. Cowen. No title, because she is not an elected official; she has no public mandate, and makes absolutely no public or press appearances, and has no responsibilities, traditional or otherwise.
Her ability to continue a career while her husband is President though, is very much compromised, due to such things as potential conflict-of-interest. The First Lady (or ( ... )
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