In a historic inauguration, the United States of America gained its first “second gentleman” on January 20th, 2021. Douglas Emhoff, successful lawyer and husband of Kamala Harris, stood proudly next to his wife as she took her oath as vice president in a regal, monochromatic ensemble. While Harris boasted a deep shade of purple, Emhoff stood by her side in a simple jet black mask and suit. This same trend was observed in the outfits of the Clintons and the Obamas as they arrived at the inaugural ceremony that morning. While Bill and Barack wore similar black suits, their wives sported varying shades of purple, a color which signified both power and unity between Democrats and Republicans. These intentional wardrobe choices--ones that signal bold messaging on behalf of Harris, Clinton, and Obama, as their husbands take comparatively neutral roles--seem fitting for an era of increased political autonomy for women.
Indeed, Harris’s victory has been met with a host of praise for her achievement as the first female, black, and asian vice president of the United States. However, as we reflect on her historical accomplishment, we would be remiss to ignore the unique circumstances of our very first “second gentleman.” What will Emhoff do in a role conventionally marked by women, and therefore typically characterized by fancy outfits, gracious smiles, and hostess duties? Will the public scrutinize his fashion choices like it did to Karen Pence in 2018? Will it question his masculinity in the same way that conspiracy theorists doubted Michelle Obama’s femininity, spreading misinformation about her gender identity? Will we expect him to diminish his own career accomplishments, as a condescending op-ed challenged Dr. Jill Biden to remove the title “Dr.” from before her name? Likely not, because we have a long history of imposing diminutive standards onto women in politics that do not transfer smoothly onto men. Thus, as we welcome our new second gentleman into office, we ought to reflect on the conventional duties performed by presidential and vice-presidential spouses--who have, until just this year, been exclusively women. Throughout their years in office, the first and second ladies of the United States have slowly elevated their positions to encompass expanding political breadth, garnering increased respect among civilians. Though these women still face instances of unbalanced social criticism, the evolution of their offices marks a slow wave of transformation in the United States: one that has, at long last, led to our ability to swap political roles between men and women.
When the office of “second lady” first became a reality, it remained an extremely limited position. Throughout the first half of the twentieth-century, its unitary role was to serve as the “unofficial convener” of the Red Cross Senate Wives, which involved leading lunches attended by the wives of U.S. senators. The official title of “first lady” existed before that of second lady and encompassed comparatively public duties, but its focus remained largely on issues of style, family life, and serving as a hostess. Martha Washington was expected to preside over “drawing room” receptions and greet her husband’s visitors, and Dolley Madison and Mary Todd Lincoln were the source of public attention and scrutiny regarding their wardrobe choices. This vested interest in first-lady-fashion pervades modern politics, as inaugural ball gowns are still the source of news headlines in the twenty-first century. Michelle Obama’s style became the subject of multiple fashion articles, including pieces by Harper’s Bazaar, Insider, and InStyle, while separate outlets positively reported on Barack Obama’s “productivity secret” of always wearing the same outfit. Melania Trump was likewise the recipient of public fixation regarding her clothes, with articles by magazines such as Town&Country documenting her “style evolution” over the course of the Trump presidency.
Although the role of first lady has historically included a focus on fashion, the women occupying this title have expanded its duties throughout the years. Eleanor Roosevelt was known for influencing the president with her liberal agenda, and Betty Ford encouraged her husband to appoint the first female justice to the Supreme Court. While Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush occupied the more conventional roles of wife and entertainer, they were soon followed by Hillary Clinton, who championed her own political career and went on to become Secretary of State. Michelle Obama was no stranger to the professional world, as she graduated from Harvard law in 1988 and practiced in both the corporate and public service realms before her husband’s terms as president. While in office, she supported military families, volunteered in her local community, and promoted health initiatives across the nation. As for the role of second lady, Dr. Lynne Cheney and Dr. Jill Biden continued their personal work occupations throughout their husbands’ time in office, breaking the typical convention of only serving as a hostess. Over the years, several first and second ladies pushed the boundaries of what it meant to serve in these positions, and to what extent they were allowed to profess their own political opinions and career experience. If not for the work of numerous women throughout the past several centuries, the role of political spouse would not have evolved to what it is today: a position that allows for its occupants to participate in meaningful advocacy, and to further their individual careers throughout their time in the public spotlight.
In January of 2021, Emhoff visited the National Library of Congress in preparation for his role as the first second gentleman. In a publicity video released by the Biden Inaugural Committee, he viewed a variety of artifacts from previous inaugurations. He beamed in a tweet, “I’m so incredibly honored and humbled to be the first @SecondGentleman of the United States. As we countdown to Inauguration Day, I’ve been doing my homework--and looking to the past for inspiration.” Indeed, as Emhoff settles into his duty as our nation’s first second gentleman, he would do well to remember the history of his newfound position. While the women in his place have been previously scrutinized for their style of dress, expected to remain uncontroversial, and coaxed into muting their own career aspirations, Emhoff occupies a decidedly less encumbered position. As he pioneers this role as our nation’s second gentleman, may his position continuously remind us to deconstruct the unequal limitations that we place on those in the political spotlight.
Sources
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