The Daily Circuit

How Michelle Obama divides feminists

10:06 AM, February 19, 2013

LISTEN

Michelle Obama is a polarizing figure among feminists.

A recent Washington Post article examines why some feminists believe the popular first lady has let them down.

In 2008, when Obama announced her intention to be "mom-in-chief," many feminists decried her decision to give up her career and said she had been victimized by her husband's choices. She was regarded as one of the women feminist Linda Hirshman described as "letting down the team."

But most black feminists and writers had a different view. Let the sister get settled, they said. Give her a minute to do a head count. And if she wanted to focus on motherhood, for black women that was more than fine. It was arguably revolutionary, because black women were long denied the right -- or lacked the means -- to simply care for their own.

As she begins another four years in the White House, the nation's feminists are divided about the "work" Obama has done, and the work they'd like to see her do.

Tamara Winfrey Harris, senior editor at Racialicious and contributor to Clutch Magazine, will join The Daily Circuit on Tuesday, Feb. 19.

Also on the show: Koritha Mitchell, associate professor of English at The Ohio State University; and Leslie Morgan Steiner, author of Mommy Wars and blogger for Modern Mom and Mommy Tracked.

comments powered by Disqus
Listen Now

MPR News Radio

Hourly Newscast
On Air The World

The Daily Circuit Blog

Politics & Government:

Could Julie Rosen challenge Dayton? Roundtable members think so

“Think about how hard it would be for Dayton to run against a moderate, Republican woman. Yikes.” Read more

Science:

Science Night Minnesota

Tens of thousands of people around the world have said they want to go to Mars, even if it means they will never return to Earth. Dozens of them were in the crowd Tuesday night at the Fitzgerald Theater for Science Night Minnesota — Mission to Mars. Read about Science Night.