Michelle Obama got candid when discussing the “lean in” philosophy, saying colorfully that a work-life balance isn’t always doable: “that shit doesn’t work all the time,” she said Saturday before hastily apologizing for her language.
According to a New York Magazine report, Obama got passionate when expounding upon lasting gender roles within marriages and the impossible expectations on women to always perfectly balance mothering and career success.
“That whole ‘so you can have it all.’ Nope, not at the same time,” Obama said at a Brooklyn stop on her book tour. “That’s a lie. And it’s not always enough to lean in, because that shit doesn’t work all the time.”
Per New York Magazine, she quickly apologized, saying that she “forgot where she was” as the crowd erupted appreciatively at her word choice.
“Lean in” is a philosophy espoused by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg about identifying and pushing back against societal biases that hamper women personally and professionally.
And that, right there, is why we all love (or should love) Michelle Obama.
She’s just one of those people who I seem to have an endless capacity to love even more than I did before. Shit like this is why.
Wow - a real person. Excuse me, I am a little disoriented.
I love Michelle, and the fact that she uses the language as it was meant to be used (using a word I first heard, no doubt in early infancy, from my distinguished father, a professor of literature) makes me all the more enthusiastic about her greatness, but no doubt fans of the Slovenian nude porno model will find it unladylike.
She’s right about that “lean in” shit. Works for super rich people with lots of paid caregivers and other elite amenities, but in the real world not so much. So tired of Sheryl Sandberg and even more bored when anyone uses the words “lean” and “in” in that sequence. Love that Michelle Obama.