First Lady Michelle Obama has won over more female fans at an event in Washington by plainly stating that “women are smarter than men”.
While addressing the African Leaders Spousal Summit in the US capital on Wednesday, Ms Obama was frank when she tried to encourage the partners of African leaders to stand up for women’s rights around the world.
“We can’t waste this spotlight because time is short and change is needed. And women are smarter than men,” said Ms Obama.
Being a campaigner of social change the former lawyer boldly asserted that women’s rights should be forefront of pressing global issues – before climate change or disease.
“Men, leaders, women, until we value women and girls, we won’t tackle those other problems,” she said.
“Until we prioritise our girls and understand that they are important and that their education is as important as the education of our sons, then we will have lots of work to do.”
“You have to change attitudes before you can change behaviors,” Obama added.
As the mother of two daughters, Ms Obama expressed similar sentiments in an open letter for Seventeen magazine where she encouraged American girls to take their education seriously so they can join the fight to get other young girls educated too.
As the mother of daughters, Maila and Sasha, the First Lady and her husband have been openly passionate about their hope of teaching their girls to be responsible young women.
Growing up in the public eye has meant there have been some very sweet family moments happen right before our eyes.
Here are some of the best snaps from the Obama photo album.
US First Lady Michelle Obama and former First Lady Laura Bush host the ‘Investing in Our Future’ at the US – Africa Leaders Summit at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday.
Michelle Obama in 2004 with then candidate for the U.S. Senate Barack Obama and girls Sasha and Malia.
The Obama family celebrates it’s patriarchs political victory over Republican rival Alan Keyes on November 2, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois
First lady Michelle Obama, daughter Sasha Obama and U.S. President Barack Obama attend the Marine Barracks Evening Parade on June 27, 2014 in Washington, DC.
Malia Obama, Sasha Obama, US President Barack Obama, and First Lady Michelle Obama onstage at TNT Christmas in Washington 2013 at the National Building Museum in December 2013.
The First Family touchdown at Air Force One at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu for their holiday vacation in December 2013.
Michelle Obama took daughters Malia and Sasha on her state visit of China where they were greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan in Beijing.
US First Lady Michelle Obama walks with her daughters on the Great Wall of China.
First Lady Michelle Obama with her daughters Malia Obama and Sasha Obama visit Museum of Terracotta Warriors.
Michelle Obama hugs her daughters Sasha and Maila as they watch performers dance on the City Wall in Xian in China’s central Shaanxi province on their state visit of China in March.
Ms Obama told Vogue last year it has been challenging raising girls in the White House and hit back at claims she doesn’t socialise enough for a First Lady. “The stresses and the pressures of this job are so real that when you get a minute, you want to give that extra energy to your 14- and 11-year-old,” Obama told the magazine. “And if you’re out to dinner every night, you miss those moments where you can check-in and just figure them out when they’re ready to share with you.”
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