<p>Interesting column by one of my old friends, veteran journalist Linda Jones. I’d love to know your take on this subject. </p>
<p>"Michelle Obama wears her hair in flips and bobs reminiscent of Kennedy First Lady Jackie O and of June Cleaver, the 60s suburban housewife of Leave It to Beaver fame.</p>
<p>In her own role as potential First Lady, Michelle Obamas hair is politically correct.</p>
<p>America expects the wife of Barack Obama, the man who wants to be president, to project an image of sophistication and near perfection. That image includes having hair that doesnt make waves.</p>
<p>As potentially half of the public face of America, Ms. Obama in locks or cornrows would be a bit too in your face, even with her Harvard degree and her attorney status, says Arizona State University English Professor Neal A. Lester, who studies African-American literature and culture and has written about black hair issues.</p>
<p>Mainstream America considers styles that reflect the European aesthetic more acceptable and less likely to offend. Hairstyles with African roots dont get the same respect. To say someone has a nappy head is considered an insult, and the word nappy, which merely describes the kinky texture of hair, is practically considered a profanity. In polite circles, the word is euphemistically referred to as natural…</p>
<p>When you think of the last dozen First Ladies, they all had very conservative, professional hair styles. Close cropped natural hair on Michele Obama wouldn’t raise an eyebrow. But cornrows would. They’d be the equivalent of Laura Bush letting her hair go gray & wearing it in a long braid down her back, hippy style. Remember Barbara Bush taking heat for wearing her natural white hair, rather than heading to the hari salon for a youthful look? And Hillary’s lack of interest in her hair (and appearance) was not viewed favorably. The press obsession sent her on a series of hair style changes covered carefully by reporters. Good grief. What a waste of ink.</p>
<p>Americans just expect a well groomed First Lady. Michele & Cindy are both very attractive & I can’t imagine the media finding fault with their appearance. But of course, someone will.</p>
<p>I didn’t read the entire article but just the quotes. I think too much is being read into her hairdo. I think there is an assumption that her hairdo is to be politically correct or to have a certain image. You know, she just might like this kind of hair style! There are many African American women who straighten their hair or wear it in this way. In terms of styles of her generation and of women who attended Princeton or went into law, I think her style is in keeping with what is fashionable in those environments. I’m Caucasian and my hair is very wavy likely due to my cultural heritage and I blow dry it straight because I like it that way and not anything to do with my culture. Michele may just like her hair that way too. A lot of women don’t like the hair they have and want to wear it differently…women with silken straight locks long for curls and women with frizzy wavy hair want to wear it straight. Michele may be like any other woman in this way! Who says she wanted to wear it in cornrows but wears it in a bob to be politically correct? She may hate cornrows and be dying for a straight smooth hair style! I think it is a big assumption that Michele is wearing her hair this way so that she looks proper as a potential first lady. I’d love to see photos of her hairdos from years back before her husband was a potential presidential candidate. Has she changed it much? </p>
<p>On top of all that, the analysis of Hilary’s hairdos (and clothes) and now Michele’s, is so sexist because we don’t hear much about what the male candidates wear or their hairdos (except the cost of John Edward’s haircuts, LOL).</p>
<p>I think the subject came up because the New Yorker cover pictured her with an Afro. Personally I like the look of braids and locks, I think it would be fun if she felt she could be a little freer with her hair if she wants to be. I prefer a more natural look.</p>
<p>Hair is a funny thing, it’s hard to know how much of the way we wear our hair is what society expects of us (based on class, jobs etc) and what really is personal preference. </p>
<p>I’ve grown mine long and mostly wear it in a ponytail, but think I might go back to my more professional short hair cut.</p>
<p>What exactly is the “European aesthetic?” I know plenty of people who are of European extraction with kinky hair, wild hair, coarse hair, unruly hair. Any of them heading to a corporate environment have tamed their locks. Presidents & First Ladies have done the same.</p>
<p>Plenty of black people keep natural syyles becasue they don’t want to bother with chemicals & upkeep hassles. Just as I spent years getting perms to have my poker straight hair look like Soozie’s. Alas, I was not blessed with a head full of curls. Too much work to keep it up, so I’ve resigned myself to having straight hair.</p>
<p>Are you suggesting that cornrows, a braid down the back, or natural white hair are not well-groomed? Or simply that mainstream America doesn’t perceive them as such?</p>
<p>I just assumed that Michelle, like many black women, has preferred her hairstyle for quite some time, not in preparation for a presidential campaign. I think it reflects more the prevalent style, rather than anything calculated or political. </p>
<p>A short, neat, cropped natural was popular among professional black women in the West (for example) from the late '70’s into the 80’s. With the ascent of women of many colors into the fashion industry (Tara Banks, Naomi Campbell, etc), maintream beauty pageants, entertainment, etc., it became more the norm for black women to straighten & wave their hair.</p>
<p>I.m.o. too many columnists & political commentators read too much into everything, analyzing minute behaviors & appearances, & looking for signs & symbols. (Not enough to do?) Hmmm.</p>
<p>Edit: I’m glad that northeastmom qutoed the conclusion which seems to differ from the tone of the rest. I should have read that myself. Still, as SS said, why the waste of ink?</p>
<p>In fact it was in reference to Mrs. Madison that the term “First Lady” was first coined. It was applied to Martha Washington and Abigail Adams only after the fact.</p>
<p>I think (speaking solely as a middle-aged white male here) that the First Lady’s hairstyle will be acceptable to most Americans if it is reasonably modest. So, I think even an Afro would be OK, as long as it’s not that big. I agree that cornrows would probably be a bit much, as would the four-foot long hippie braid. I also think that this is something that will not really matter to men very much in the first place.</p>
Good point. I think perhaps they are not “corporate” enough. Or “polished” enough. I certainly don’t want to advance the idea that simple, low maintenance hairstyles are a sign of poor grooming.</p>
<p>I think Ms. Obama is a beautiful woman with an amazing figure, but I just can’t stand her hairstyle. I wish she had something a little freer and more natural. It’s too helmetish.</p>
<p>One of the most popular hair looks for black women in the public eye these days seems to be something straightened, or semi-straightened and often colored (Beyonce, Tyra Banks, Oprah). They certainly don’t present like women who are trying to “look white” as in the bad old days. </p>
<p>My impression is that the hair thing and its significance–that is, natural vs straight–is more of an issue to African Americans than to most whites. I’ve never heard a white person refer to a black person’s hair as “nappy.” I don’t even know what qualifies. I do recall black characters in movies and books saying that someone needed a haircut because their head was getting “nappy.”</p>
<p>I agree with all who say that the obsession with the appearance of First Ladies is sexist and excessive. That said, what people in general seem to expect is that First Ladies will conform to a “ladylike” image: in other words, obviously trying to look “attractive,” obviously “groomed.” Not projecting strong sexuality, independence, artsiness, hippyness, or anything else that might be threatening to anyone. Conformism.</p>
<p>Since Michelle Obama has been in the professional world all of her adult life, she has a look that conforms to those expectations. I think that she is deliberately courting the Jackie Kennedy comparison for political reasons. During the primaries, I saw plenty of stuff praising her for her looks and style and putting down HRC for hers. (Why I don’t know, because I think that HRC is an attractive woman.)</p>
<p>As someone said, Laura Bush could hardly let her hair go gray and grow it into a long ponytail down her back</p>
<p>I happen to like strong women. Nothing more attractive. But attractiveness, what you wear, the hair style only appeals to those who care. I am looking for a partner to the POTUS who can balance a Man; Much as a Man can temper a woman (oxymoronic).</p>
<p>Somewhat off the subject, but having read the article, I couldn’t help wishing that Barbara Jordan was available to be the first black AND the first female presidential candidate. Sigh.</p>
<p>I LIKE the photoshopped version of Michelle Obama with natural hair shown in NSM’s link. She looks beautiful…like she stepped out of Vogue. Why would anyone think that hairstyle was not professional and polished? (Plus…I spent the better part of my youth with perm rods in my straight hair trying to get that look.) I do not like her flippy 'do, nor do I like McCain’s French twist. Both are too controlled for me.</p>
<p>I blame the media. They focus waaay too much on this stuff and obviously think every prominent female needs to look like a news anchor.</p>