Not Exactly Your Married Middle-Class Woman from the Burbs with School Age Children and a Mini-Van

WASHINGTON – MARCH 05: U.S. first lady Michelle Obama (C) and US Soccer Foundation President and CEO Ed Foster-Simeon (R) participate with local school kids in a youth soccer clinic March 5, 2010 in Washington, DC. The clinic is to promote the national fight against childhood obesity and in support for the first lady’s “Let’s Move!” campaign that encourage children to get 60 minutes of active play each day. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

After listening to a great panel this evening at the Obama Phenomenon conference entitled “Michelle Obama, the First Family, and Postfeminist, Postracial Familialism” with Professors Bonnie Dow, Kirt Wilson and Susan Zaeske, this wire photo caught my eye.

A good part of Bonnie’s talk had to do with how Michelle Obama has been idealized in the traditional, white-owned media in terms and roles esteemed by white culture.

I don’t know how much or whether the White House had this in mind — Michelle attending this workout to raise awareness about childhood obesity and to promote exercise — but I can’t look at the picture (perhaps, as a result of the panel) without instantly thinking: “soccer mom.”