Comments on: Illustrating the media’s Obsession with Michelle Obama’s Clothes and Body

By: Kyra Morris

Kyra Morris — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:38:00 +0000

That’s actually 1. true that they perceived to be “part” of women’s sex appealy parts- i have no idea where the study is… 2. OLD SCHOOL. It’s a big violation to uncover the arms in a gendered “professional” (conservative) environment. In those environments, keeping up with fashion outside of formal events is also thought of as something of a transgression, even when it’s more age appropriate for the wearer. 3. The arms thing is that most are really weird about actual physical fitness and strength in women. I mean EFFING NUTS. We both know it’s not like she’s cut, but any visible strength at all is looked upon as an anomaly in women.
I think it’s due to white female health being depicted solely as thinness (weakness) and it being held as the standard for “femininity” across the board.

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 18:39:08 +0000

Interesting–I was reading a bunch of posts about the fetishes in the US and abroad with the black female body–particularly, the butt. In the Daily Show’s satire, during the fashion show, they decided that the transparent part of the dress was to be the ass. Hm….

By: Mary McGuire

Mary McGuire — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:07:45 +0000

I hope this comment shows up. I have commented before and I cannot see it here. This obsession with Michelle’s clothes is typical of the media, it’s as if the only important thing about a woman is how she looks or what she is wearing. I thought feminism was supposed address that type of blindness. Then I have to ask the question; who dictates what the media focus on? Are they leading the way or are we inadvertently pushing them by our interest. When I say we I mean society not necessarily you or I. lol

By: Sociological Images » What We’ve Been Up To Behind Your Back (April 2009)

Fri, 01 May 2009 18:53:50 +0000

[...] the obsession with Michelle Obama’s clothes. Andrea G. sent in the link and we added it to our collection of examples of this obsession. We also added a picture of the cover of a new book: Michelle Style: Celebrating the First Lady [...]

By: The Sexification of Michelle Obama - Whatever Is Right

The Sexification of Michelle Obama - Whatever Is Right — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:08:14 +0000

[...] as ridiculous as the media’s obsession with Michelle touching the queen, her taste in clothes, and those enviable arms of [...]

By: Megan

Megan — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:09:28 +0000

The obsession with Michelle Obama’s arms is especially disturbing. It’s “inappropriate” to wear sleeveless dresses? When did the upper arms become a sex organ?

By: Sabriel

Sabriel — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:03:06 +0000

The other day I saw an internet advertisement that was aimed at women, and it looked just like those diet advertisements with before and after pictures of a stomach, only instead it was before and after pictures of an arm.

It said “Get arms like Michelle Obama!”

I thought it was really funny. I guess women are supposed to have big arms now, huh? Another thing to worry about.

By: ld

ld — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:57:06 +0000

the video(s) aren’t showing up for me.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:06:25 +0000

Thanks for posting these. It seems like every time I hear about Michelle Obama on the news, it’s followed by something about her fashion sense!

(P.S. It looks like you posted the second clip twice…)

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:55:32 +0000

I have been following the media hype surrounding Michelle Obama's body for a while - most recently I read a post regarding the obsession here as well as the Slate XX blog and Feministing. Thanks for these clips! So frustrating and informative at the same time.