Michelle Obama Repudiates Divorce Gossip, Embraces Independence
Michelle Obama has spoken out against the divorce rumors surrounding her and Barack Obama, laying the gossip to rest and confirming her desire for independence.
Michelle discussed the rumors and needing to make her own decisions recently in an interview for Sophia Bush’s “Work in Progress” podcast.
According to Michelle, the gossip was due to other people not being able to understand that she, being a grown woman, could decide for herself. “They couldn’t even imagine that I was making a decision on my own, so they had to think that my husband and I are getting divorced. That this couldn’t possibly be a grown woman just making a set of decisions on herself,” she stated.
Michelle indicated that she would rather have control over how and where she would like to spend her free time, whether with or without whom she prefers, for how many hours she plans to stay there, and with or without if she desires to travel. “Who do I want to have lunch with? How long do I want to stay somewhere? Do I want to see the world? If a girlfriend calls and asks let’s go there, I can say yes,” she said.
The fact that the previous First Lady commented on this underscores the difficulty faced by women when they make decisions for themselves without judgment or scrutiny by others.
Michelle’s ability to put herself first and demand his attention as a priority is a strong commentary on female strength and autonomy.
Michelle and Barack Obama’s marriage has been under the spotlight for decades, and the couple first met in 1988 when Barack became a member of a law firm in Chicago. Despite all the speculation and rumors, the Obamas remain one of the most beloved and respected couples in American politics.
