Michelle Obama was the first to ever grace the cover of "O" magazine with Oprah Winfrey. © The Oprah Magazine 2009
By: Beth Burnston
First lady Michelle Obama has not wasted any time trying to acclimate to the White House.
She is not redecorating the dish room or hosting lavish parties.
She is hard at work being a mother and trying to help the United States.
Primarily, just as she has said since the election process started, Obama is Malia and Sasha’s mom. The talk of putting her daughters first is now action as Obama has done everything in her power – including leaving a highly publicized and important trip to Europe early – simply to be with her daughters before they started a new week at school.
“I think it’s important for any family to put their kids first,” said Dr. Rory McElwee assistant professor of psychology at Rowan University. “One of my old professors used to say that children have to know that at least two people – whether it is their parents or not – think they are the most important thing in the world. I would say that both Michelle and Barack have really shown their daughters that they are number one in their lives and that they still can do their real jobs. All of these things are especially important during a time of transition. Barack and Michelle have to be there for them to ask how their new school is and to ask them if they have any problems with their new lives.”
The first lady is also trying to fulfill her campaign promises. Throughout the election, she advocated more help for military families throughout the country.
In mid-March, Obama made her first solo trip as first lady to Fort Bragg Military base in North Carolina to talk with over 20 military family members and five volunteers who try to help the families. The Obama administration already has plans to improve housing, expand childcare, increase military pay and provide more counseling for both people in the military and their families.
“As my husband, the president, said, ‘Service doesn’t end with the person wearing the uniform,’” Obama said in a speech at Fort Bragg. “Military family members have their own special courage and strength. I have met husbands and wives keeping the family on track while their wives and husbands are deployed or on duty. I’ve met grandparents, aunts and uncles, sisters and brothers who take care of children while single moms or dads are away. Our soldiers and their families have done their duty. They do it without complaint. And we, as a grateful nation must do ours, and do everything in our power to honor them by supporting them. Military families carry a very heavy burden and as a nation, we need to find ways to lighten their load.”
Somehow, Obama has also found time to be on the cover of practically every magazine from “Vogue” to “People” to sharing the cover of “O” with Oprah Winfrey for the first time in the magazine’s history. Her clothing choices are the lead story on “Entertainment Tonight” almost as much as her husband’s acts as president lead the nightly news.
“I see Mrs. Obama’s media attention as a positive thing because she is seen as her own person and not just the first lady,” said Brianne Rabouin, a junior communication studies and women’s studies major at Rowan. “She is not defined by her marriage and relationship to Barack. Michelle sets a great example for American women. The focus on her sculpted biceps show that she makes time for herself and her life does not revolve around her kids, husband and other demands and responsibilities. Without her good looks, she would most likely receive less attention and more of a focus would be on what she does rather than how she looks doing it. But either way I do not think it matters because she is a positive and strong portrayal of an American woman and I would much rather see Michelle Obama on the cover of magazines than Paris Hilton or Britney Spears.”
The underlying theme in every area of Obama’s first three months in the White House is how important it is for Americans – especially American women – to see such a strong, confident first lady. Obama is not just a role model, she is an example that the United States is becoming a more balanced society.
“I think it has always been important for young women to see strong first ladies, and Michelle Obama would surely remind you that she isn’t the first,” said Dr. Joy Cypher, a communication studies professor at Rowan. “Seeing that being a spouse can take a variety of forms is important, not just for women, but for families as a whole. When first wives are as educated and professionally active as their husbands, this exemplifies that gender roles can reflect an egalitarian ideology. The fact is, the presidency can be seen as reflecting the social choices made in every family, not just offering an example for others to follow.”
