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First Ladies’ Meeting in Strasbourg: More than a Fashion Face-Off
April 6, 2009
The media wasted no time in pitting Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy against each other in a First Ladies’ Fashion Face-Off, as President Obama and the First Lady dazzle the crowds in Europe. While it is clear that haute couture and “flawless dressing” are passé, the discussion in Strasbourg between the sensible First Ladies to work collaboratively to fight against AIDS, and for women’s health was the real winner. Bruni-Sarkozy in December 2008 was named a goodwill ambassador to the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and roping Michele Obama into this effort is one smart move. Not only will this boost the Obama-Sarkozy camaraderie to tackle global economic issues but it may also catapult the White House onto the ramp, as it were, to mobilize its efforts in the fight against AIDS. While the U.S.’ signature AIDS program PEPFAR, launched and closely monitored by then President George W. Bush, is most certainly the lead financier of the global AIDS response (including its significant contributions to the Global Fund), the current Administration has been relatively silent about its direct involvement in PEPFAR as it transitions to its next phase. The Strasbourg discussions reveal that shimmer of hope that maybe Michelle Obama will get on that catwalk and make AIDS and other global health issues, including women’s health her business, in addition to the many other issues she is tackling with a lot of fashion and common sense. The HIV/AIDS Monitor at CGD eagerly awaits the (perhaps?) spring launch of this activity from the White House, especially as we prepare to launch our own analysis of gender and the HIV/AIDS response in Africa.
3 Responses to “First Ladies’ Meeting in Strasbourg: More than a Fashion Face-Off”
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April 6th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
The media wasted no time in pitting Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy against each other in a First Ladies’ Fashion Face-Off, as President Obama and the First Lady dazzle the crowds in Europe. While it is clear that haute couture and “flawless dressing” are passé, the discussion in Strasbourg between the sensible First Ladies to work collaboratively to fight AIDS and women’s health was the real winner.
April 7th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
What about First Lady attention to a global health scourge that’s still under-recognized, maternal mortality? Increased global attention to HIV/AIDS is great but this has been shown often to take focus and resources away from the needs of general healthcare systems. Maternal mortality, an enormous tragedy and cause of suffering to countless families around the world, can only be reduced through general strengthening of basic health systems–which also helps countries in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other threats to health.
April 8th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Speaking of gender and the HIV/AIDS response, why do I feel like we are seeing the perpetuation of stale gender roles here? You are right, this was more than a fashion face-off but it didn’t play that way on the morning news. Aren’t we past the time when it was the role of the women (or at least the spouse of the President) to care for the sick and destitute while the men handle the “hard” issues of foreign policy? I also welcome the work of the first ladies but this all feels a bit too much like global health has been handed off to the spouse charity club. This impression belittles the valuable work of Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Bruni-Sarkozy. Does it also suggest that global health is loosing recently gained ground on the international stage? I blame the media for reducing these role models to fashion accessories and wonder when we will wake up to the fact that there is no longer a divide between global health and foreign policy and that caring for the sick is not “women’s work.” Maybe Jet Li’s appointment as goodwill ambassador for the WHO will ‘strike’ a different cord.