The Role of the First Lady in the US
The role of the First Spouse entails significant responsibility and requires a deep understanding of the country’s social processes. Laura Bush and Michelle Obama are examples of presidential wives who strive to make a difference and bring meaningful change. Although they were concerned with diverse public issues, both had a strong desire to work to improve the nation for various groups and the whole nation.
The Role in the White House Affairs
Laura Bush
Laura Bush notes that she was interested in working in the field of historical heritage preservation. She underlines that she introduced herself on her first morning at the White House and expressed the desire to protect national artifacts and landmarks. Although Laura sought a broader focus, her top priority was the White House. She notes that the place has historical value, preserving many examples of American craft and art.
Many artifacts also preserve American history and represent the legacy of the predecessors. Laura expresses her admiration for the historical decisions and events in the White House. She was also interested in developing the educational system through innovation and improving access to knowledge.
Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama was also concerned about the work inside the White House. However, she was more preoccupied with modernizing it, making the place more open to different groups of people. She wanted to improve inclusiveness, particularly the representation of African Americans in the White House and at the national level.
Michelle also started to develop a garden at the White House to grow food for their family and staff. This initiative was meant to draw public attention to the nutrition problem. As the First Lady, she strived to raise awareness of healthy lifestyles among disadvantaged populations, improve access to healthcare, and develop health education programs.
Perspectives on Privilege and Inequality
Laura Bush
Laura Bush offers essential insights regarding gender and class differences. In particular, she notes that as the First Lady, she was expected to spend extensive amounts on designer outfits, hair, and makeup. In this regard, Laura underlines that she was trying to be rational and wear her outfits as often as possible. This fact highlights how much a politician needs to look presentable and meet expectations. However, it only applies to women who must follow beauty and fashion standards.
Laura also notes that her family paid for most of their expenses on their own, which is not required of the President. She mentions that the costs of White House maintenance are incredibly high. This highlights class differences that exist in society and are widely expected. It is typical for politicians to spend enormous sums on their daily activities while many people in the country struggle economically. Therefore, Laura tried to reduce her use of her privileged position. She was concerned about the dominance of capitalism in the nation.
Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama offers essential insights regarding gender and race, as her family is representative of African Americans. She remembers one of the first speeches her husband gave and notes that people seemed to expect Barack’s failure as President. This gives an idea of the attitude of members of high political circles toward African Americans. Although her husband was a Democrat and highlighted critical public issues that the government needed to solve, he was not accepted because of his race.
Furthermore, Michelle describes the episode in which she discusses uncomfortable shoes with Queen Elizabeth. This is an example of gender disparities, as women have to experience discomfort to look nice. She also talks about her visit to the school for African American girls. In this regard, she admits that the students of this institution will always need to work harder than the rest because of their gender, race, and economic status. Therefore, Michelle Obama was concerned with the position of women of color in society.