Book contents
- The Cambridge Companion to US First Ladies
- Cambridge Companions to History
- The Cambridge Companion to US First Ladies
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- The First Ladies Podcast Episodes
- Notes on Contributors
- Chronology of US First Ladies
- 1 Introduction
- 2 US First Ladies
- 3 Neither Wives nor Companions
- 4 First Ladies in Wartime
- 5 First Ladies and International Diplomacy
- 6 First Ladies, Slavery, and Civil Rights
- 7 First Ladies as Social Advocates
- 8 First Ladies, Suffrage, and the Equal Rights Amendment
- 9 Examining the Impact of Gender Norms on First Ladies’ Speeches
- 10 First Ladies as Trendsetters
- 11 First Ladies’ Strategic Use of Electronic Media
- 12 First Ladies in Film
- 13 Mourners in Chief
- 14 Legacy, Memorialization, and Public Memory of First Ladies
- Further Reading
- Index
7 - First Ladies as Social Advocates
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 January 2025
- The Cambridge Companion to US First Ladies
- Cambridge Companions to History
- The Cambridge Companion to US First Ladies
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- The First Ladies Podcast Episodes
- Notes on Contributors
- Chronology of US First Ladies
- 1 Introduction
- 2 US First Ladies
- 3 Neither Wives nor Companions
- 4 First Ladies in Wartime
- 5 First Ladies and International Diplomacy
- 6 First Ladies, Slavery, and Civil Rights
- 7 First Ladies as Social Advocates
- 8 First Ladies, Suffrage, and the Equal Rights Amendment
- 9 Examining the Impact of Gender Norms on First Ladies’ Speeches
- 10 First Ladies as Trendsetters
- 11 First Ladies’ Strategic Use of Electronic Media
- 12 First Ladies in Film
- 13 Mourners in Chief
- 14 Legacy, Memorialization, and Public Memory of First Ladies
- Further Reading
- Index
Summary
The first ladies of the United States are often not thought about as activists. But in fact, many used their political position strategically to advocate for important reforms that benefited minorities and other underrepresented groups. Their activism from the White House helped social and political causes in different eras. Their unsung work contributed to their administration’s public profile and legacy. It also aided larger social justice campaigns going on throughout US history. This chapter explores the frequently unsung efforts of US first ladies in the realm of social advocacy to shed greater light on the significant work done by these women. It challenges the notion that first ladies were simply ornaments or companions for their husbands and highlights the actions that they took to create change.
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- The Cambridge Companion to US First Ladies , pp. 155 - 185Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025