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Dana's post on the oddly retrograde introduction Obama's transition site provides for Michelle Obama is right on the money. As Dana says, "The president-elect's bio is built around a story of pulling himself up by his bootstraps and forging a public service career. Michelle's bio, on the other hand, leads with the comforting news that she puts her children first -- no Hillary-style meddling in politics for this first lady! It defines Michelle Obama primarily by her personal relationship to others." She quotes:
When people ask Michelle Obama to describe herself, she doesn't hesitate. First and foremost, she is Malia and Sasha's mom.But before she was a mother - or a wife, lawyer, or public servant - she was Fraser and Marian Robinson's daughter.Not exactly a massive step forward for gender equity. Michelle Obama is a Harvard educated lawyer, a skilled campaigner, and an unalloyed professional success. Like her husband, Barack Obama, she is also a parent, and was once a child. There's no reason for her accomplishments to be in a different order than his.
