The Feminist movement has been very interesting to watch during the latest political season. They seem to want women to succeed, but only if that “success” exactly matches their definition. They weren’t happy at all, for instance, when Sarah Palin, a pro-life supporter, rose to prominence. She didn’t fit with what they want women to look like, so they lampooned her, despite the glaring fact that she is a successful woman.
Feminists are doing something similar now to Michelle Obama. She has made it clear that she will focus in large part on her role as a mother when her family enters the White House. This is commendable, and probably necessary for their two young girls.
Feminists, however, see things differently. As Al Mohler writes on his blog today, they are accusing her of “letting down the team” by wasting her very high level of education by choosing to put her children above her career. Fascinating.
Michelle Obama is, to say the least, well educated. To many feminists, all the gains for women represented by Michelle Obama’s Princeton and Harvard education are wiped out by her intention to be, in effect, a stay-at-home mom. In their eyes, she has already let down her team…
…As the paper explains, “To the chagrin of Democratic feminists who had hoped she would become the first presidential spouse to manage an independent career at the White House, Michelle has declared herself “mom-in-chief” and apparently turned her back on the $300,000 salary she earned as a hospital administrator”…
…The entire controversy is illuminating. The eruption of the “mommy wars” is virtually inevitable whenever a woman in the public’s eye makes a similar choice. Whether the words are used or not, the accusation is that such a woman is “letting down the team.”
In that light, Michelle Obama’s choice — and her candor — are truly encouraging. She has almost instantly served as a witness to the importance of motherhood and the honor of rearing children. In so doing, she served the nation — as well as her children — well…
…Many of us have had, now have, and will almost surely in the future have significant disagreements with Michelle Obama over issues of public policy and our basic vision for the nation. Nevertheless, with respect to her elevation of motherhood and the priority of children as an honored choice, she deserves our appreciation and support — and our prayers.
