Two “First Ladys” discuss how to exert influence at the summit in Tanzania, Tanzania

As the first lady, Michel Obama has been appearing in Africa for public welfare work in recent years.

"It's a bit like a prison, but it's a very comfortable prison. There's nothing to complain about." This is the US President's wife, Michel Obama, who half-jokingly as a first lady when she visited Tanzania at the beginning of this month. The feelings are described. At the time, Michelle was attending a two-day summit with former US First Lady Lola Bush to promote economic empowerment for women across Africa. However, this “prison body commentary” that has not been drafted is clearly the focus of the media. Although this has shifted the summit to some extent, the meeting that was joined by many African First Ladys is indeed worthy of the world's attention – what kind of common interest has brought them together?

Did not convene policy makers, government officials, or invited Obama or George Bush himself, this summit in Tanzania was chosen to lead the two world-impacting leaders to lead Discuss the plight of African women today. The conference, called "Africa's First Lady Summit", was initiated by the George W. Bush Foundation and hopes that the participation of the role of "First Lady" can incite social change. After all, their voice and strength can be more Effectively cross traditional continents and borders.

In fact, such a meeting is likely to make the original issue only "walking through the scenes." After all, political decisions are in the hands of their husbands. The "first lady" is often relatively "soft". Agenda. At first glance, such an agenda will inevitably make people feel limited. But maybe the facts are not what you imagined. As Lola and Michelle said, although not in the position they were appointed, the First Lady was able to exert tremendous influence in an unusual way. "Little ladybug Jensen once realized that because of her husband's presidential status, she also owns a high platform. And she chose to take advantage of this." Lola encouraged all participants to take action.

No one is ready for you

"Nothing is ready-made, there is nothing to prepare for this role in advance." Michelle admitted that in the position of the First Lady, "there are many factors that have caused restrictions."

“What puzzles me is that people really listen to the words of the First Lady,” Lola recalls. Of course, as any first lady, there will be a long way to get knowledge in front, even if it is like Lola, you must know that after being married to the Bush family, the old Bush is still in office, she has I have been able to observe and learn the skills of leaders for quite some time.

At the meeting, Lola recalled a moment that was meaningful to her. When she went shopping with her daughter, she met a cashier at a cosmetics store to thank her for her talk about women in Afghanistan in a radio address. "That was the first time I really felt that people really listened to me." Lola said, "I also felt the 'one side of the high platform' that little ladybug Jensen said."

How to get the media to focus correctly

Both of the two ladies believe that some seemingly trivial things may steal the exposure of the original important issues, but they must not let these lace news disrupt their mission.

At the beginning of this year, at the inauguration ceremony of her husband's second term, President Obama's Qi Liuhai attracted the attention of the media. "Who thought it would be like this? I didn't expect it." Michelle's answer was very cautious about the media's unexpected concerns. “People may be concerned about our shoes and hairstyles, but we must put our image in front of important issues.” She believes, “There will be a day when they will look away from your hairstyle and start paying attention. The issue behind us."

"In the United States, people value a person's image very much." Lola added, "This issue is flooding the entire United States. People should pay more attention to what a person is doing and what kind of education they are receiving, not their looks."

How to treat your own power

Michelle said: "I often make jokes that what we are doing may be the best job in the world. Unlike our husbands, we must keep a clear response to the crisis and deal with them every minute. They take them every day. The grand agenda goes into the office to deal with real-world problems. But on the other hand, what we do is what we are passionate about, and I think every first lady has to keep these issues in mind. Have the opportunity to state your enthusiasm and plan your own strategy for each problem, which is what you care most about."

Women need to speak

"I hope that every first lady can make her own voice, show her attitude, let the public know the problem you care about, because they are watching and listening to you." Lola stressed, "If you can If you think that something important is important, you can benefit your country."

“It is important for us to ensure that more and more women are able to make their voices and strengths,” adds Michelle. “Because we know that as women, we are not complicated, but we also have depth. We are profound, flexible, and enlighten the people of the world. If our voice can be placed on the table, then the whole world will be better."