Being a Feminist Is Important to the President of the United States
In June this year at the White House Summit on the United State of Women, Barack Obama declared that he is indeed a feminist. He also gave a speech at the D.N.C. endorsing Hillary Clinton as the first female president of the United States – and he wrote an essay for the women’s magazine Glamour about being a feminist.
It Is an Extraordinary Time to be a Woman
The battle for equality has had many triumphs in the past few years and according to Obama, things can only get better. He claims that because of the massive judicial and other changes that have happened, especially in the past eight years, women have now entered into an extraordinary time. While he is tremendously optimistic about the future of equal rights, Obama also believes that the achievements made thus far should not be downplayed.
Unique Challenges Helped Shape Obama’s Feminism
Being raised by a single mother who worked her entire life to empower women, a grandmother whose career suffered because of gender bias and a wife who successfully manages to balance work and family, Obama believes he is uniquely aware of the challenges faced by women. He claims that being the father of two daughters has made him even more conscious of gender stereotyping and bias – and the need for society to change these perceptions.
It Is Important to be a Feminist
Barack and Michelle Obama have raised their daughters Malia and Sasha not to be silent when they feel unfairly judged because of their gender, or when they notice double standards – even when it happens to somebody else. Obama says that they have turned out to be wise and socially aware young women. He believes that it is important for them to know that their father is a feminist, because that is what they now expect from all the men in their lives.
