Michelle Obama

Move over G.I. Joe: there’s a new kid in town, and her name is Michelle Obama. According to The Guardian, two Michelle Obama action figures are now on the market. (And, yes, of course, there’s a Barack one, too.) Michelle comes in two styles:  in the first, she dons a yellow dress similar to the one she wore during her visit to Europe during the G20 London Summit; in the second, she wears a black dress that mirrors the one she wore in her official portrait.

Okay, so let’s be realistic here.  The creation of a Michelle Obama action figure is not some sort of revolutionary move by the manufacturers, HeroBuilders.com.  Undoubtedly, they’re in it for the profit.  And, given that the same company also makes a Sarah Palin School Girl action figure, which I find strangely disturbing and sexist, we’re not talking about a company that’s trying to advance the feminist cause.

However, I do think the Michelle Obama action figures provide an interesting perspective on how America’s First Lady is being represented.  As their name suggests, action figures are about action.  They’re figures who do things; they possess a heroic capacity. In my mind, Michelle Obama has presented herself as a woman who acts. In particular, I was impressed by her recent development of a vegetable garden on the White House grounds, which proves how Obama is not only talking the sustainable living talk but is also setting an example for her daughters, American citizens, and the rest of the world.

It is quite heartening to see that a Michelle Obama action figure has been created, rather than a Michelle Obama Barbie doll (although I’m sure there’s one of those on the way, too).  I mean, what does Barbie do, anyway, other than ride around in her pink Corvette?  Go shopping? Change into cute outfits?

Also contrary to Barbie, the Michelle Obama action figure’s form is not a stereotypical, unreasonable representation of women’s bodies. She’s got the robust figure associated with action figures of either gender. And the lady’s got pipes, which, as we’ve previously noted here on Confabulous, makes the figure a somewhat accurate representation of Obama’s flesh-and-blood body.

So, while I don’t necessarily think we need to celebrate the commodification of Michelle Obama’s image, I do think that if she’s going to be packaged up and sold to the public, the action figure route is the way to go.  Barbie, eat your heart out.

Tagged as: Michelle Obama, the body

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