But don’t think I’m being dismissive. Quite the opposite; you’re quite right. In the final analysis, we’re all small things. Perhaps the First Lady is a little less small, and that’s pretty good!

Well the reason I wanted to jump off the soapbox was because I merely wanted to honor and applaud a woman who I see doing great things for females across the globe, not just within our country.

Hopefully many more will do the same or make themselves known. Maybe it’ll encourage some to stand up, or escape. I know there are a lot of people out there making a difference and trying to help- but sometimes it takes someone with more visibility to get others to come out of hiding.

I was touched by the remarks I’ve read by others across the globe. Here in America we’ve come a long way baby- more to go (self sabotage unfortunately) but so many others could use decent examples of what they can accomplish and validations of who they are. I’m fortunate I wasn’t born across the ocean where girls and women are beaten, stoned and or killed for showing their face, speaking up etc. No choice of who they marry, how they spend their life, being bought and sold like cattle.

Yes, it’s just a First Lady- a woman who happens to be married to our elected official; but in the eyes of those girls- apparently she’s a silver lining.

But men are questioned and quite often torn down for the very qualities you’re talking about. When I am criticized harshly — by men, generally speaking — it is for being too strong, too aggressive, and for not being weak and submissive the way (I guess) they expect other men in my position to be.

I’m sure you’re right that it’s a much bigger problem for women.

It would also make it much easier if women supported each other more than always tearing down the ones who do succeed. Very rare are they applauded without speculation as to *how* they’re successful or even attractive- or forbid “both” without it being by superficial means. Why aren’t men questioned as much?

I’m not going to hop on the soapbox. My apologies.

Dress this way, don’t dress that way. You’re asking to be raped for looking like that or not saying this… your hair color is preventing you from being taken seriously, you’re showing too much leg, you aren’t showing enough… you’re too smart, you’re too dumb. You’re smart- so you’re going to scare away mates… but you’re only valued by who wants you. You’re level headed which means you’re an ice queen, you’re crying- you’re a drama queen… You’re an embarrassment for not being intelligent but (etc). You’re a gold digger, you’re a whore, you’re a prude- Yes, men are subjected to being judged as well… but you’ve always had examples of heads of the house hold. Men were always the presidents, CEO’s, soldiers, doctors etc. You didn’t need to look any where, everyone was already there and had been for centuries in those roles.

I didn’t have a lot of females to see as examples of Head of Household- except men or distressed females who were abandoned by their spouses and typically a wreck. I had no women to look at who supported their family or were the pillar of strength. Hence being my own role model. Perhaps it was the era or area. No clue.

Of course, I’ve given thought to who might be good role models for other people.