Harvard Law graduate, accomplished professional, talented public speaker and super-mum, many, if not most, are as enamoured by her as they are her husband, but what kind of impression has Michelle Obama made as First Lady during her first 100 days...
There is no denying the continued popularity of US President Barack Obama, but the latest Gallup poll revealed that Michelle Obama actually had a higher favourable rating than her husband; 72% to 69%.
It’s not hard to see why. When Michelle Obama first appeared under the spotlight, many women around the world admired her dress-sense and were inspired by her ability, but most identified with her struggle to balance work and family life.
In fact, hers is a story that looks so familiar to women and working parents everywhere, that the President’s recent remarks “sometimes when she was with the girls she was worrying about work, and when she was at work she was worrying about the girls”, had every working parent in the land nodding their heads in agreement.
Such honesty was undoubtedly refreshing and appealing, but more importantly, it alluded to the type of role-model we could expect Michelle Obama to be during her years at the White House.
Many gave a sigh of relief; at last here is someone who can not only inspire us with her great achievements, but someone we can identify with, someone who is willing to admit the difficulties of having it all and doing it all.
Yet since the President was inaugurated on January 20th, this hugely appealing, hugely popular First Lady has taken only small and timid steps in her new role.
Sure, the feminist critique may well applaud her for celebrating the pay-equity law with a White House reception for women’s rights advocates; and no-one is denying, her moving address to the underprivileged London school girls on "love, strong values and a good education”, was the highlight of the G20 summit. Arguably though, the majority of her official engagements seem like dumbed-down media events; digging the White House garden, hugging the Queen, and launching the annual Easter egg hunt.
Even the new family dog made the front page of the Washington Post.
Is this the same Michelle Obama who graduated from Harvard Law School, taking a job on a staggering $300,000 a year and was responsible for making volunteering skyrocket at the University of Chicago Medical Centre? Indeed, her powers of persuasion are known to be so polished that this First Lady earned the nickname of the “closer” during the Presidential campaign, because she was particularly skilled at convincing undecided voters to sign pledge cards. Even the President, in an interview with Ebony magazine, once said: “if I ever ran against her I would be in trouble”.
For now, it seems she is more intent on gaining a fairer share of favourable headlines than fronting up women’s rights or encouraging Americans to sign up for National Service – apparently a top priority of hers. So why has Michelle Obama, such an opinionated and talented public speaker, decided to stay so quiet?
Perhaps the First Lady, aware of her own leverage doesn’t want to rock the boat on what has proved to be a winning formula for the Obamas. Indeed, during the primaries, Michelle Obama’s charisma and warmth came across in stark comparison to Hillary Clinton’s colder, more aggressive ambition. Instead of speaking out at the risk her impressive popularity, Michelle Obama is at the forefront of the Obama family, playing the traditional role of homebody perfectly. In the recently released photographs officially commemorating the President’s first 100 days, there are plenty of shots of the President cuddling up to the First Lady, rather than just being sat at a desk or in meetings actually doing the job.
Ultimately, it may well be advantageous for the First Lady to play a supporting role right now and that is certainly not harming the Obamas’ popularity. Yet the world has come such a long way in recognizing women’s rights and encouraging women with families to get back out into the work-place, rather than staying at home to pick up the husband’s socks – whether that husband is the President or not.
The First Lady could enhance her public perception and maintain her political capital, were she to take up pro-bono work in Washington D.C, a city which just ten years ago was named the homicide capital of the United States. She could chair a charity for families that fall below the poverty line or those that support single parents. Such influence could even be used internationally to draw attention to humanitarian issues such as violence against women and child poverty.
Cherie Blair wife of the British PM Tony Blair, was awarded the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill medal. The honour is bestowed upon those “who have made significant contributions to humanitarian efforts in their communities and/or around the world”. She managed her role as Prime Minister’s wife, career as a Barrister and raised four children, all at the same time.
America’s new First Lady has the potential to be the greatest disappointment of the Obama administration – or its greatest asset…