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This, from Dayo Olapade, seems a useful point:
For those questioning Barack Obama's appeal to women voters, or his prioritization of "women's issues," from health to abuse to choice, I think it's wise to note that despite the dreams from his father, Obama's domestic existence has been dominated by females since birth--in every direction. A single mother raised him, and he, in turn is raising two young girls. Horizontally, of course there is Michelle (whose role as a 'strong woman' compass is getting quite the airing this week) and his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, a teacher in Hawaii.Like with all attempts to divine future actions from biographical sketches, there's no real way to evaluate the impact this abundance of feminine influence has had on Obama. But it's definitely interesting. Though I have to say, his life story is getting a bit implausible: The biracial child of a Kenyan bureaucrat and a Hawaiian student who was raised by a single mother on multiple continents? Exactly how many narratives can one guy possess?
