We’ve posted before about how women are held disproportionately responsible for making holidays happen. In our imaginations, and all-too-often in real life, the majority of the cleaning, the decorating, the cooking, the gift buying, and the card sending is done by women.
Last year Jeremiah J. sent in a twist on this theme: a CBS report on the First Ladies’ intimate involvement in the decorating of the White House for the holidays. Accordingly to the guest, they are the “commander of chief of Christmas, and they all really care.” Embedding is disabled (watch the video here).
The segment is also a really great example of how women get associated with trivial things. In addition to that stunning line, “commander of chief of Christmas,” the guest explains: “they all have their signature style… it’s really a lot of fun.” Fun, yes, but not by any means important. At the end of the video, the guest is asked if she wrote the book on First Lady involvement with decorating because she wanted ideas for how to decorate her own home. A good sport, the woman replies yes.
This year the White House highlighted Michelle Obama’s role in managing the decorating of the 54 Christmas trees that currently dot the residence. The story specifies that Ms. Obama had help — 85 volunteers — but also that they were there to help her, specifically, with her job: “…none of this would be possible if not for the volunteers… and Mrs. Obama thanked them in her remarks this afternoon.”
See also: 12 Mums Make the Workload Light, Christmas is Women’s Work, and Holding Women Responsible for the Holidays.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 12
Eleanorkr — December 22, 2012
Work associated with the feminine domain IS important work. This post seems a little sexist to me?
Mr. S — December 23, 2012
In my own anecdotal experience, women seem much more likely to care about traditions like these. I would be fine to not mail Christmas cards or hang ornaments on a tree, but my wife and the other women in my family would be saddened if that happened.
On a side note, my wedding was the same way. I think the key element is the enthusiasm for these traditions, which is generally more prevalent in women that it is in men.
Basiorana — December 23, 2012
The primary role of the first spouse is to maintain the household of the President and serve as a host/ess to the White House. It was not until very recently that the first spouse also took on a role of a political activist, and quite honestly it's always been more like how Miss America or a Hollywood celebrity takes on political activism than how an elected official does. That said, the role of host/ess is actually not something to scoff at-- it is such a large job that we really do need someone doing it, and if there is no spouse availiable some other family member of the President steps up. The White House is a symbol of the US that we present to visiting dignitaries and it's superficial appearance is actually very relevant. There is a lot of message hidden in the decoration of the White House for Christmas, and Mrs. Obama has to carefully craft her decoration scheme to portray just the right image of America (Christian, but secular at the same time; wealthy and powerful but not compensating for something, etc etc)
That said, the First Spouse should be paid.