Invited on the set of the American show Revolt on December 15, 2022, Michelle Obama spoke about her relationship with Barack Obama. She told the audience that she went through a complicated period in her marriage, going so far as to no longer support the former President of the United States.
As US President and First Lady for two terms, Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have continually embodied the image of a couple as powerful as they are glamorous. Parents to two daughters, Malia and Sasha, the couple have never hidden their marital happiness. On their wedding anniversary last October, the politician even indulged in a tender declaration to Michelle, who he met 30 years ago.
Is the relationship as drama-free as it seems?
Although their public image is a drama-free relationship, the former presidential couple has not always had such a smooth home life. As the lawyer stated in her book The Light We Carry, her marriage has experienced some rocky patches. When she was a guest on the US show Revolt the former First Lady once again spoke about these ups and downs experienced with Barack Obama, admitting to having had difficulty supporting her loved one for a while.
An unequal mental load
On the set of the show, Michelle did not mince her words about her relationship, stating that she ‘could not support [her] husband for ten years.’ A disagreement whose cause would essentially be due to an unequal distribution of domestic tasks. ‘Marriage isn't 50/50. Sometimes it's 70/30, sometimes it's 60/40…’ she said as she recalls a period where her husband focused on his success and hobbies, while their daughters were still little.
‘Oh you have time to go play golf? How do you manage to be at the gym all this time? As we try to build our careers, we also start to worry who does what,’ notes Michelle Obama, recounting how she began to count her husband's comings and goings, comparing them to the efforts she made to take care of their children. She also recently spoke about her father's disability and the problems that can arise in a couple who have recently become parents. ‘You turn against each other,’ she commented. This shows that the mental load does not even spare powerful women.
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