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the mommification of michelle obama #2

November 21, 2008 7:26 am by eastcoastmomwes... in
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(by east coast mom) 

Haven't read the article, but did see the interview on 60 Minutes where she talked about this. The question put to her was about what kind of impact she wants to have as the 1st lady, what kinds of causes she wants to adopt. Her response was something about how women no longer have to choose one or the other (work or kids) but can do both well at the same time, and that her first concern is to make sure the kids make it through the transition. Of course, the question was also proceeded by noting her big degrees and high powered positions... When I first heard the interview I wondered about her statement that women can do both things well at the same time, I have to admit... Yes, women can have both (kids and career) but isn't someone else raising the kids if the career is powerful enough? Your husband was staying home when your kids were tiny and you were working. Not to belittle the mother's interaction w/ the kids when she has it, and not to say she doesn't have an impact on her kids' lives, but if the Obamas really want to be sure the kids are making the transition to the White House without too much trauma, then of course someone is going to have to be paying close attention to them and attending to them as they struggle (which they are bound to--). That person doesn't have to be mom--it could be another relative or a hired caregiver, but they've chosen for it to be Michelle. I agree with you that it doesn't seem there's another choice for her, really--how could she not? it is interesting that they used the words "ambitious and engaged" and you're *absolutely* right about the semantics: that's just shoddy word choice. Being a full-time mom, one *has* to be very ambitious (because it's really trying and difficult and kids' needs are absolutely bottomless--the ambition to take on that!) and to do it well one has to be engaged; that's sort of the nature of the job. I hope the media don't play down her choice or water down her past career successes in light of her role as mom. 

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Blondell Reynolds Brown
Blondell Reynolds Brown 5 pts

 RESOLUTION Authorizing City Council’s Committee on Commerce and Economic Development and Special Committee on Gender Parity to hold joint public hearings to explore initiatives that can be developed in the workplace that foster balance in the lives of working families and to make recommendations to the City and other local employers.              WHEREAS, Increasingly, both parents in a family are required to work in order to provide the basic necessities for themselves and their children; and             WHEREAS, In the Philadelphia region, in 2006, sixty-four (64) percent of women with a child under one year of age were in the workforce[1] ( http://www.blogher.com/#_ftn1 ); and              WHEREAS, Work schedules and responsibilities inevitably diminish the amount of time parents are able to spend with their children and devote to other domestic responsibilities and often force them to choose between their jobs and their family; and              WHEREAS, Many employers have developed “family-friendly” programs, such as flexible work schedules, job sharing, a compressed workweek, telecommuting, paid parental leave to care for a newborn or newly adopted child, time off for children’s illnesses and doctor’s appointments and on-site child care; and              WHEREAS, Working Mother Magazine has highlighted the one hundred (100) best companies providing flexible family friendly programs to their employees;[2] ( http://www.blogher.com/#_ftn2 ) and              WHEREAS, Our new First Lady, Michelle Obama, as a working parent, understands the stress that is placed upon families where both parents work and has pledged to become an advocate for improving work-family balance; and             WHEREAS, Following Michelle Obama’s leadership, Council desires to examine and promote ways to encourage work-family balance locally; now therefore, be it             RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council hereby authorizes City Council’s Committee on Commerce and Economic Development and Special Committee on Gender Parity to hold joint public hearings to explore initiatives that can be developed in the workplace that foster balance in the lives of working families and to make recommendations to the City and other local employers.  Blondell Reynolds BrownCouncilwoman At-Large                 January 27, 2009

[1] ( http://www.blogher.com/#_ftnref1 ) WOMEN’S WAY.  A Change of Pace: Accelerating Women’s Progress. 2008 http://womensway.org/media-change-of-pace.asp ( http://womensway.org/media-change-of-pace.asp_ ). [2] ( http://www.blogher.com/#_ftnref2 ) Holt, Karen, Good for the Gander, Working Mother (October, 2008), vol. 31, N0.7 p.90.

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