Former First Lady Michelle Obama sparked a new debate about gender and leadership when she said the United States is still not ready to elect a woman to the Oval Office. Michelle Obama said this while promoting her new book, The Look, at a Nov. 5 event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
‘We’re not ready’
Speaking to actor Tracee Ellis Ross during the event — later posted on Michelle Obama’s YouTube channel — the former first lady said the 2024 election proved the country remains resistant to female leadership.
“As we saw in the last election, unfortunately we are not ready,” said Michelle Obama (61).
“That’s why I’m like, don’t even look at me for jogging because you’re all lying. You’re not ready for a woman. You’re not.”
A critique of male resistance to female leadership
Asked if her experience in the White House opened the door to a woman president, Michelle Obama said many men still refuse to accept female authority.
“You know, we have a lot of growing up to do,” she said. “Unfortunately, there are still a lot of men who don’t feel like they can be led by a woman, and we’ve seen that.
Support for Kamala Harris in 2024
Michelle Obama has endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris in her ultimately unsuccessful 2024 presidential bid against Donald Trump. Last year, she urged voters to support Harris and warned that Trump posed a threat to the country.
About “The Look”
Obama’s new book, “The Look,” which she co-wrote with her longtime stylist, explores fashion, identity and the pressures placed on women in public life. It features photos from her years in the spotlight and essays about her election as the first black woman to serve as first lady.
“‘The Look’ is about more than fashion. It’s about confidence. It’s about identity. It’s about the power of authenticity,” Michelle Obama said.
“I hope this book will spark conversation and reflection about how we see ourselves—and how our society defines beauty.”
She also addresses the questioning of women in politics, noting that they are often judged on looks rather than leadership skills.
Michelle Obama served as First Lady from 2009 to 2017 alongside her husband, former President Barack Obama, and remains one of the most influential and widely admired political figures in the country.
