Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama

Michelle Obama, 2013.

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017, being married to former president Barack Obama.

Raised on the South Side of Chicago, Obama is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. In her early legal career, she worked at the law firm Sidley Austin where she met Barack Obama. She subsequently worked in nonprofits and as the associate dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago as well as the vice president for Community and External Affairs of the University of Chicago Medical Center. Michelle married Barack in 1992, and together they have two daughters.

Obama campaigned for her husband's presidential bid throughout 2007 and 2008, delivering a keynote address at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. She has subsequently delivered acclaimed speeches at the 2012, 2016, and 2020 conventions. As first lady, Obama served as a role model for women and worked as an advocate for poverty awareness, education, nutrition, physical activity, and healthy eating. She supported American designers and was considered a fashion icon. Obama was the first African-American woman to serve as first lady.

During her husband's presidency Obama made a series of misandric comments.

After her husband's presidency, Obama's influence has remained high. In 2020, she topped Gallup's poll of the most admired woman in America for the third year running.

Quotes

In 2014 Obama said:

So we can’t waste this spotlight. It is temporary and life is short, and change is needed. And women are smarter than men.

At a 2016 conference, asked what men can do, Obama replied:

Be better.

In Chicago, November 2019, Obama stated:

Are we protecting our men too much, so that they feel a little entitled, a little self-righteous?

At an October 2024 rally for Kamala Haris, Obama said:

"To the women listening: We have every right to demand the men in our lives do better by us. We have to use our voices to make these choices clear to the men that we love. Our lives are worth more than their anger and disappointment, and we are more than just baby-making vessels."

See Also

• Barak Obama

External Links

• Michelle Obama stating "women are smarter than men"