When we think of a First Lady, dignified American icons of an earlier age tend to come to mind.  Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Onassis, even Coretta Scott King have this honor, when we extend the title to include the wives of influential leaders that have left their mark on the modern world.  These women worked alongside their husbands and pioneered unprecedented social and educational initiatives.  International Women’s Day, which first began in 1911, was celebrated on March 8th this year.  In just two years, the Global Centennial of the day, which in China, Russia and other nations is a national holiday, will fall within the Obama administration.  President Barack Obama has made great strides in incorporating women’s issues into his administrative initiatives, as well as into his cabinet.  Three of fifteen members are women, including former First Lady and previous presidential opponent, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.  Current First Lady Michelle Obama has stepped up to the plate and is revolutionizing the title.  Her March cover of Vogue and countless media coverage of her fashion styles may seem trivial to some, but it is part of a complete package, that includes ardent charity work, and a focused role in being a mother to her two daughters. 

This year, International Women’s Day honored seven women from across the world with the Women of Courage award.  The women were credited with fighting inequality and discrimination in their respective countries, representing Afghanistan, Guatemala, Iraq, Malaysia Niger, Russia and Uzbekistan.  U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were the welcoming committee for the ceremony, having blazed an amazing trail for powerful women in the United States.  Mrs. Obama spoke about the challenge of raising the status of women and girls, highlighting the fact that activism sometimes has a farther reach than government initiatives.  The women being honored were instrumental in changing not only their own circumstances, but also those of women and men worldwide. 

Three important lessons to be learned from this event are: one, as women we must stand up for ourselves; two, we must stand up for each other; and three, we must stand up for justice for all.  One such award recipient was Ambiga Sreenevasan, president of the Malaysian Bar Council.  She is one of many women that have risked life and livelihood to advocate for democracy and human rights in seven countries that are known for their weak record in these areas, especially for women.  One of this year’s themes was aimed at women and men united to end violence against women and girls.  This theme is poignant, considering recent tabloid headlines chronicling the romantic meltdown of a young superstar couple, Chris Brown and Rihanna. 

Obama and Clinton have their work cut out for them, as leading ladies of the most influential democratic country in the world.  With recent news reports about the Pope’s upcoming tour of Africa amid incendiary comments against condoms role in AIDS prevention, a strong front is needed to publicly speak out against ideas such as these that threaten women and girls everywhere.  Another interesting aspect of the First Lady’s position is how she chooses to reach out to other First Ladies, and form a sense of solidarity for justice, transparency and diplomacy.  This is an important job; how a country treats its first lady is indicative of the state of women’s rights and overall social affairs in that nation.  If Mrs. Obama and Secretary of State Clinton can develop a relevant and substantial dialogue with smaller developing nations through their first ladies, great advances could be possible in these countries.  An example of this strive for greater collaboration and sisterhood among women leaders can be seen in the case of former first lady of Guyana, a small English-speaking nation in South America.  After almost nine years of marriage, Varshnie Singh divorced from her husband, the President Bharrat Jagdeo in 2007.  Ms. Singh was born and raised in England, and enjoyed a professional career as an economist before leaving her country to be Jagdeo’s wife.  Guyana, a previous colony of England, has been roiled in economic and social distress since the 1980s.  Although the country enjoys a rich cultural heritage and ethnic diversity, it still struggles with lack of sufficient international investment and corrupt political leadership.  This has been compounded by a steady stream of emigration of the most promising members of society for better work and living opportunities, away from the corruption and systematic violence that follows it.  Needless to say, there is a lot of work to do in the social development areas, and women’s issues have not taken a center stage in Guyana. 

Ms. Singh’s ordeal might have gone unnoticed by a larger international audience, were it not for the fact of how publicly humiliating it has become.  She took her pleas for dignity of her former position after being barred from the home she shared with her husband, and forbidden to have access to a diplomatic passport, her clother and belongings, and a means to have an income while residing in Guyana.  Ms. Singh claimed, in a public letter, that she was locked out of the couple’s bedroom two weeks after their marriage in 1998, and had endured a controlling loveless union.  Her charity work- which involves raising money to send sick children overseas for much needed medical care- has undoubtedly suffered from her inability to maintain respect or resources from her previous position.  It is a sad state of affairs, that the specifics of her marriage and divorce were made so public, with the president allegedly having her forcibly escorted from their viewing box at a sports event, and stating that there was no constitutional or statutory position of First Lady in Guyana.  The issue is, however, that even if Ms. Singh was not legally obliged to maintain certain priviliges and access after her divorce, there is no sense behind her being treated like an abandoned child, disowned and disregarded.  There is a certain amount of honor and respect that is due, which is exactly what International Women’s Day has sought to illuminate.  Varshnie Singh’s case could have been any woman in Guyana, even the world, and in many ways, she has fared better than other women who still find themselves stripped of property rights, social dignity and their livelihood for contesting their marriages.  Here is a golden opportunity for Madam Secretary Clinton and First Lady Obama to reach out and support leading women who struggle through adversity to lift up others.

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