What are good questions to ask Michelle Obama?

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2026-09-05 20:05

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My questions might be different from some people's, because I am a social historian and have written about media coverage of First Ladies. I would ask her how she felt about giving up her career and becoming a "traditional" First Lady. On the one hand, we encourage young women to study, get degrees, and have careers; yet if that young woman marries a presidential candidate, we expect her to be a stay-at-home wife and mom and focus on volunteer work, even if she had a successful professional career. I am not criticizing stay-at-home moms, nor am I criticizing volunteer work. I just find it puzzling that in 2013, we are still treating the wife of the president as if it's the 1890s. Of course, presidential wives say the right thing-- they say they are happy to give up their career. But I wonder if Michelle could ever see a time when a First Lady could also hold a paying job and not be subjected to criticism.

Another question I would ask her is whether she felt any pressure from being the first black First Lady-- how did she deal with the high expectations many people in the minority community had of her? Was she concerned or worried about saying the wrong thing and letting people down? And while all candidates learn to deal with the brutal nature of politics, did she (as a candidate's wife) find it difficult to handle some of the hateful things people said, including criticisms directed at her? And finally, I would ask whether she thinks being First Lady has changed her in any way.

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