In a recent Newsweek article, the author wrote about our new First Lady and how her character will shape the images of both President Obama and the country as a whole. At a second glance, though, this observation about Michelle Obama carries with it a strongly gendered and racial image. The Newsweek author mentioned several noteworthy points about Michelle which Americans are looking to as an example. Her Princeton and Harvard Law education, according to the author, will challenge existing stereotypes about black women and black culture, because her assertiveness and confidence can show that it’s possible to be a strong, black woman without carrying the negative stereotype of “B***hiness” that goes along with female strength. A quote from a voter in the article talked about how it was a change to see “dark” women like Michelle Obama visible and valued in the media; even the media age we live in now, “lightness” seems to be associated more with beauty (think Halle Berry and Beyoncé Knowles). It was also interesting that the author of the article pointed out the changes in Michelle over the course of the campaign. At the beginning, she was labeled as being too forward and loud, and criticized for making innocent jokes about Barack; she restrained both of these natural characteristics in order to help her husband gain support and become more visible as a presidential candidate. Recently, she was on “The View”, and her image was one of an adoring wife and mother, complete with a subdued dress and pearls, just before the election. The interpretation in the media of this change has been that she was trying to “soften” her image, making her role in her family more traditionally feminine. It is also interesting that in the case of female candidates or wives of candidates, their image is observed almost totally through their dress – colors, details, designers and choice of clothing on a female in politics send a message about what kind of administration will run the White House. How interesting that even at this defining moment in our nation’s history, the election of the first Black president, politics are still influenced by the image of the wife and family as representations of the “man of the house” himself…
3 comments:
he fact that Michelle Obama is America's first African American first women is a huge accomplishment. She now paints a new image of a black woman. She has gone to two Ivy League schools and is assertive but has a great sense of humor as well. She is well spoken, vocal and confident. What makes her stand out to me the most is the fact that Michelle is a dark skinned black women, and we don't see many dark sinned black women in the media. Most of the black women shown in movies, television shows, and news shows are light skinned black women who share a close resemblance to white women. As a dark skinned black women myself, I see her as an inspiration. Michelle has also inspired celebrities such as Tyra Banks. On a cover of a magazine, Tyra dresses up like Michelle Obama in the White House. And this was before Obama was even elected. Even Michelle's fashion has had an effect on not only black women, but white women too because her clothes are fashionable and affordable. Now that we have our first black women as a first lady many young black girls can imagine themselves as a first women of the America, and believe it could actually happen.
I agree completely! Although the presidential election is centered around politics, it is important to note that the picture the family portrays to society is taken into consideration. The fact that MIchelle Obama went to Harvard shows that she is both confident and intelligent. Besides being America's first African American first lady, Michelle is breaking societal barriers for all women of all color. She is showing that one can have time for family, but can also do what he loves most. It is very interesting that the clothes that women in the election wear are looked at very closely.
I think it was very interesting the way in which you presented her change and I agree that she changed her image significantly during the elections. She was very vocal and visible in the begining of the campaign, taking a nontraditional approach to the first lady. It's rare that the wife of a presidential nominee is in the news for anything beyond a fundraiser for a special interest group. She was on record saying her husband being nominated for the Democrats is the first time she can say she was proud of her country. This reflected poorly on Barack and she slowly fell back into the traditional roles, white pearls and all.
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