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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Buff State chapter.

For so many years laws have prevented women and minorities from taking on an active role in society. It was just expected of women to get married and have children. While minorities were just seen as secondary citizens compared to their counterparts. Then as time continued the laws changed, minorities were recognized as citizens but women were still struggling to reach the same legal standing as men. We’ve come so far from those times but still I feel there is still a stigma for women in the public. Often times I would especially see women in the political world as being in the background of their significant other. Personally whenever I see the women of political figures I just think that they’re just their significant others’ ‘little helper’ because you never see them do anything outside of the political agenda or speak about what they’re personally passionate about.

            Which brings me to the President Obama’s interview with PBS, I’m not sure how many of you out there watched it but in the interview President Obama states that “if you were to ask Michelle [Obama] if we should go to war? The answer would be no.” My initial reaction was oh no President Obama had actually admitted to having different opinions than his wife. Normally politicians never reveal that they and their spouse have differing views on something, even when they are going through marital problems. I’m guessing because they don’t want the public to have a negative perception of them. Then after the initial shock wore off I thought how amazing is that First Lady, Michelle Obama has a different opinion than her husband and it’s not some big secret. Then I had to really look at who said what and realized it’s even more respectable and inspiring that President Obama was the one to reveal it. He stated this difference in opinions so casually like people weren’t going to think anything of his statement, but personally his comments have made me look at him in a different light.

            The ease at which he revealed his and his wife’s differing opinions has showed me truly how far we’ve come as a society. To have the president of the United States of America to say such things makes me believe that women, specifically the spouses of politicians, will be asked to speak more on their political views rather than just be the background for their significant others like how they are now.  Who knows maybe with more exposure on the women in the political world, young women can relate and be more engaged in politics and we might actually have laws that are created by a more diverse group of individuals in congress.

 

(Image retrieved from: http://media.photobucket.com/user/Katiana33_3/media/michelle-barack-obama-670.jpg.html)

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 Brittany Windham is a Senior at Buffalo State College in Buffalo, NY. She is studying Fashion Design with a concentration in Apparel Design. She is a New York City native with a love for the arts and anything that allows her to express her creativity. She is a published poet and a member of the Chi Alpha Epsilon Honors Society. She has worked alongside artist, designers, and students in New York City to promote environmental awareness through art with her participation in Digital Day Camp through the Eyebeam team. She is currently a member of the Orange Crush team on her campus and she one day aspires to have her own online store which recycles and reuses old accessories and clothing to create new ones.