First Lady Michelle Obama graces the cover of Ladies Home Journal's September 2012 issue, and inside both her and her husband sit down for a chat about women, leadership, their daughters, and what the President loves most about his wife.
Here's part of the interview:
On how can we get more women to be leaders:
Michelle: ”We have to start with them while they’re young and instill in girls a sense of confidence. That’s why sports are so important. They teach you how to compete - how to fall down and get back up. And there are organizations like the Girl Scouts: They nurture self-confidence and give girls the chance to practice being in charge. We've got to give young women the opportunities to be leaders.”
Barack: ”It’s easier for boys to imagine themselves being President. They see themselves as being in charge. Girls are socialized to think about other people more. I want Malia and Sasha to feel confident about expressing their opinions. And if they’re good at something I want them to have the confidence to step up and shine. I don’t want them to lose their empathy and stop thinking about other people, because that’s an important part of leadership, too. But I don’t want them to be wallflowers.”
Michelle: ”We talk about this a lot, obviously. But it’s not just about what we want for our girls…we also think about the girls who grew up like we grew up: in working-class neighborhoods where they didn’t have sports programs. Or in a single-parent home. They need to be encouraged, too. Choices and options shouldn’t be limited to…”
Barack: ”…folks of a certain income bracket.”
For the full interview, pick up a copy of the magazine at your local newstand.
