Why Is Everyone So Obsessed With Michelle’s Arms?
Posted by: Wendy Atterberry
Filed in:
news
11:00AM, Monday March 9th 2009
Over the weekend, New York Times’ columnist Maureen Dowd wrote an Op-Ed piece in which she made the ridiculous claim: “Let’s face it: The only bracing symbol of American strength right now is the image of Michelle Obama’s sculpted biceps.” Her remark was mostly in response to the recent hoopla over our First Lady’s arms after she dared to bare ‘em at her husband’s address to Congress late last month.
An article on The Daily Beast opined about Mrs. Obama’s trademark sleeveless style: “Someone should tell Michelle to mix up her wardrobe and cover up from time to time.” Echoing the sentiment, a friend of Maureen Dowd’s remarked: “She’s made her point. Now she should put away Thunder and Lightning.” Okay, look, the woman has great arms, I get it, but “thunder and lightning”? Really?! The “only bracing symbol of American strength”?
Come on, they’re arms, people, not angel wings. What’s with the obsession, the mythologizing, the objectifying? The woman works out and it shows — why shouldn’t she wear clothes that show off her assets? And why do those assets suddenly have to be some sort of symbol of American strength? “Her arms,” M.Do wrote in the Times, “and her complete confidence in her skin, are a reminder that Americans can do anything if they put their minds to it.” No, Maureen, her arms are a reminder that warm weather is coming and it’s time to do a few push-ups.
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Amelia
wrote on March 9 2009 @ 11:06 am: [report]
Seriously. All I want to know is WHAT DOES SHE DO?! Pilates? Push-ups? I mean, I do yoga, uh, fairly regularly and they have a long way to go before they look like that. Anyway, continue to show ‘em off Michelle! DC gets HOT in the summer anyway.
sunrise
wrote on March 9 2009 @ 11:36 am: [report]
You’re so right! You know, I think they just don’t know what to do with a First Lady who’s not all matronly, with short hair and a pantsuit. She’s sexy AND strong, and it scares ‘em.
cattgirl813
wrote on March 9 2009 @ 12:18 pm: [report]
People have their knickers in a twist over Michelle baring arms? Really? Too many people have too much time on their hands.
Alison Wonderland
wrote on March 9 2009 @ 12:36 pm: [report]
Amelia- Sasha is only 7, maybe she’s still in her ‘I like to be picked up sometimes phase’? That would keep a gal buff…
HitOrMissJudy
wrote on March 9 2009 @ 01:43 pm: [report]
If my arms looked like that I’d wear sleeveless 24/7—even in the winter. As they stand, I’d sooner bare my ass than my arms and my ass ain’t so pretty either.
lalaland
wrote on March 9 2009 @ 01:51 pm: [report]
I think we should just appreciate the fact that we have an attractive and fashion forward first lady again and let her show off her toned arms in peace!! (I know I’m jealous!)
fallenangel915
wrote on March 9 2009 @ 04:17 pm: [report]
People are worried about the wrong damned thing. It’s not like she is showing her ass on national television (or breast, God forbid)! It sounds like these people have a stick the size of Michelle’s arms up their arses. Go, Michelle, strut your stuff, honey!
juliePS
wrote on March 12 2009 @ 08:06 am: [report]
but see, this is exactly why I love her—because she’s a total babe and doesn’t have to pretend she’s not in order to get people to take her seriously. I mean, man, if I were like seven feet tall with legs up to heaven like she is, I’d just wear miniskirts all the time.
avapierce
wrote on March 12 2009 @ 04:24 pm: [report]
I’m in total agreement! Some people seem to have a silly definition of what it means to be First Lady - old, quiet with little to no opinion about anything(often with a medicated glare in her eyes) and matronly. Michelle is none of those things, and instead of focusing on her intelligence, successful career or something more relevant to the state of our nation, the media’s all in a snit about the woman’s bare arms. And they wonder why our country is in such a state?! Misplaced priorities, perhaps? She’s youthful, glamorous and fit. What the hell is the problem? France was in less of a state about their First Lady and she used to pose nude.