1980s and 21st century

In the 1980s, feminism had entered a new phase. This was the decade of power dressing and big hair, with high heels and smart suits. An impressive, powerful image was portrayed by advertising and the media; an independent, high achieving environment.

http://www.fashion-era.com/1980s_lifestyle_and_fashion.htm#
The following description from the above website illustrates this point:-
Women Dress For Success
Image of women
The Perfect Suit for the Corporate Ladder
The aim of female devotees was to rise the corporate ladder. John Molloy promoted the idea that the simple tailored wool suit in neutral navy or slate blue grey, worn with non sexual blouses, imitated uniform of rank, which by design was authoritative.
From research he did with specific social groupings, he maintained that inferiors and clients accepted the word of a female dressed in a suit with better grace than if she were wearing a fashion outfit in an exotic fashion colour that highlighted her sexual allure. In other words sober dressing enabled a women to be taken seriously like a suited man might be and helped her shine in the workplace enough to get promotion rapidly. This led to the concept of power dressing and its influence on all forms of fashion when the shoulder pad dominated every female top garment, from power suits to knitwear, to T-shirts to bed attire.

http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade80.html
This website explains the changes in family life in this era, with more divorces and unmarrieds living together and more single parent families. The two earner family was becoming more common and women earned more college degrees and had fewer children.

In the world of work, the above image shows Barbara Berkman, who in 1982, became the first woman New York firefighter, marking a particular shift in an area where women were seen as being totally unsuitable for a job which appeared to require strength and bravery. She successfully sued the New York City Fire Department for gender discrimination.
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/takingtheheat/film.html

Attitudes changed slowly so that by the first decade of the 21st century, many more women were accepted into jobs that were previously considered strictly for men.

21st century
Michelle Obama is very much a woman of the 21st century. She has succeeded as a professional and has combined this with being a wife and mother, and now, a First Lady. The following are comments from three different perspectives.

To see Michelle Obama, the great-great-granddaughter of slaves, up close is to finally see America up close [June 1]. Until her arrival, most Americans did not know the White House and Capitol were built by slaves. For those who contributed so much to our nation, the time has arrived for their progeny, the Michelles and Baracks, to receive their just due.
Helen H. Gentry, DETROIT
Why are we unable to build up one woman, without comparing her to others? Comparing Michelle's style with Hillary Clinton's style of sending emissaries to key policy meetings does a disservice to both. Both embrace their roles fully. Calling some First Lady traditions "baggage" diminishes the important work that previous First Ladies have done. Collectively, the First Ladies have made a difference for their country. Perhaps it is time for us to appreciate them for what they are — many different women, all of them remarkable.
Irma Eloff, PRETORIA
Unfortunately, your portrait of Michelle Obama was no more illuminating than the Afro-haired, fist-bumping "Angry Black Woman" that characterized her during the campaign. Brand Obama is what we saw, but we are no closer to understanding the kind of woman who dresses up to plant a vegetable garden or buys $540 Lanvin sneakers and wears them to a food bank. This is a good snapshot of how meticulously Brand Obama is executed but we are going to have to wait for an article that reveals the real Meaning of Michelle. Part of me actually prefers the Afro-haired, angry black woman.
C. Stewart, LONDON
The above three opinions, written in 2009, are comments about a 21st Century First Lady, Michelle Obama, written from different perspectives. They come from Detroit, Pretoria and London. Views of her impact vary:-
The first celebrates the fact that a woman who has slave ancestry is now resident in the White House which was built by slaves and considers she and Barack are receiving their just dues in the light of how much black people have contributed to the nation. This however emphasises race rather than gender..
The second from Pretoria, suggests we shouldn’t compare Michelle to anyone else, such as Hilary Clinton. The writer feels that first ladies should be appreciated for what they have contributed over the years and that calling them “baggage” does them a great disservice. Irma Eloff calls them, many different women, all remarkable.
The final offering is from a contributor in London. They wonder what is the real Michelle? They note she had the image during her husband’s presidential campaign of an “Afro-haired angry black woman”, an image the writer prefers to a wearer of expensive designer clothes, even when performing duties where it might be seen to be inappropriate.
Two of the three contributors are women; the third we don’t know.
I think Michelle might not be seen as a realistic role model for ordinary women on middle or low wages, but she is at least a sign of change. Although she will have much more help with home and family than the average person, she does at least symbolise the need and desire of many women to achieve a home/work balance.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1904072,00.html#ixzz1E1ap3IXw

Jill Glazier