Obama Brand: Women's Progression

On March 8th, President Obama alongside First Lady Michelle Obama, noted the progress women have made in the United States and also the obstacles they continue to face. Although the White house event was meant to mark the progression of women through the time at present, it also served as an unpleasant reminder to women of the struggles they continue to face in our society. By dedicating a day to tracking the progression of women, our nation is also marking the lack of progression of women. In other words, if they are progressing, what is their progression being compared to? The status of men, of course, which implies women in America are not regarded as fairly as men are. Obama admitted, "we must also face squarely the reality of the present -- a reality marked by unfairness, marked by hardship for too many women in America." President Obama shared various statistics that clearly displayed the inequalities between the sexes in America. Women earn only 77 percent of what men earn; one in four women becoming victims of domestic violence; women making up more than half of the U.S. population while occupying only 17 percent of the seats in Congress. The President's reality of the present diminished his attempt to mark the progression of women in our society, leaving Americans wondering if Obama's intentions were truthfully to note the obstacles that still stand in their way.

First Lady Michelle Obama, happily waves at her audience. President Obama, however, seems unconvinced. His thoughts on marking the progression of women consist of one overarching dilemna; there will are many obstacles women face.