First ladies of the USA as advocates for women's rights

Authors

  • Vasyl` Stus Donetsk National University

Abstract

Today, the figure of the First Lady is an integral part of the US political culture. The wife of the US president has special duties which are not enshrined in the national law, but were established by American society and considered to be obligatory. Domestically, the First Lady is an ―example‖ for a female audience, the embodiment of the values and moral principles of American society, she reflects the public perceptions of the ―ideal woman‘s image‖ of her time period. At the same time, the First Lady is also a representative of American women and an advocate for women`s rights. The president‘s wife may influence the domestic gender policy and decision-making process. That is why the First Lady is analyzed in terms of her contribution to the empowerment of women.

References

Annual Report to Congress on White House Office Personnel // Executive Office Of The President. 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wpcontent/uploads/2020/06/July-1-2020-Report-FINAL.pdf

Borrelli M. Smoothing the Peaceful Transfer of Democratic Power: The Office of the First Lady / M. Borrelli, K. Tenpas, L. Wright // James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. 2017. Retrieved from: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/media/files/files/82670cff/BI-pub-WHTPFirstLady013117.pdf

First Lady Biography: Betty Ford // National First Ladies` Library. Retrieved from: http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=39

Gonnella-Platts N. A Role Without A Rulebook: The Influence and Leadership of Global First Ladies / N. Gonnella-Platts, K. Fritz. Dallas: The George W. Bush Institute, 2017. 44 p.

Grinhaus D. America‘s First Ladies: A Catalyst for Change in Female Leadership, Power and Influence or a Reinforcement of Gender Norms in American Society? / Deborah Kim Grinhaus // Union College. 2015. Retrieved from: https://digitalworks.union.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1316&context=theses

Isabella Hagner // The Theodore Roosevelt Center. Retrieved from: https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Learn-About-TR/TR-Encyclopedia/Familyand-Friends/Isabella-Hagner.aspx

Jacqueline Kennedy in the White House // John F. Kennedy. Presidential library and archive. Retrieved from: https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-inhistory/jacqueline-kennedy-in-the-white-house

Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, 31 March – 5 April 1776 // Massachusetts Historical Society. Retrieved from: https://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/archive/doc?id=L17760331aa

Steichen E. Eleanor Roosevelt / Edward Steichen // History. 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.history.com/topics/first-ladies/eleanor-roosevelt section_3

Kuptz K. The Political Role of the First Lady in the Twentieth Century / Kirsten Kuptz. Munich: GRIN Verlag, 2004. 30 с.

Downloads

Published

2022-02-21

Issue

Section

I. Political sciences, international relations, historical studies and archaeology