Wives in the White House -- Reaction

Reserve Reading
Laura van Assendelft, Bernadette Nye, and Karen O'Connor

It doesn't surprise me that first ladies have had so much impact. In fact, I'm more surprised that that impact hasn't been previously studied. Who could have more impact then the person who whispers in the president's ear every morning and every night? It was interesting to read about how different women took advantage or shirked from the duties that first ladies were given. I particularly liked reading about women who technically did exactly what they were asked but did so much more within the area they were given, such as Dolly Madison.

The area that is deemed as the women's sphere has been viewed as less important or influential than men's, but I've always disagreed. What is more important than the home you live in? Sure morals and rights are great, and not unappreciated I'm sure, but what good are rights if you have no place to practice them, no family to return to? Some cultures view women as goddesses, since they can give, make or even take life (that is only through preganancy, miscarriage, and abortion of course). But in the United States women ahve always taken a backseat that other cultures think of as a throne.

Thankfully, women have been slowly climbing forward and pushing their husbands out of the way. Not to say that they push their husbands back, just over to make room. Jackie Kennedy, for example, didn't really tread into her husband's area but was very incluential where she practiced. When spouses work like that it means that they can cover even more ground than if they were always treading on each others feet. It will, of course, be interesting to see how Michelle Obama, who is already a contraversial figure, will affect the role of the first lady. Also, to see if the first female president will have previously been a first lady, such as Hillary Clinton. Only time will tell.