2008 ▷
Michelle Obama
Expanding the American Dream
Michelle Obama spent 2008 campaigning for her
husband Barack, experiencing a level of scrutiny that was
undeniably linked to her race and would persist for years
to come. That August, she delivered a stirring address at
the Democratic National Convention in which she talked
about the “improbable journey” from her working-class
Chicago upbringing to that very stage. Speaking of her
young daughters, she shared that “their future—and all our
children’s future —is my stake in this election.”
After her husband won, she gracefully stepped into the
role of First Lady as the first black woman to do so. Focused
on social issues like education and healthy living, she was
deeply committed to the well-being of our nation and to the
future of its people, especially its children. Her charisma,
confidence and openness created an approachable air to
the White House. Though her days as First Lady are over,
her influence hasn’t waned. Her lived experience sends the
message that through kindness, diligence, intelligence and
honesty, you can effectively change the world. If she can do
it, you can do it too. —Zazie BeetzBeetz is an actor◁ 2007
Lilly Ledbetter
Standing up for fair pay
Like millions of women, Lilly Ledbetter worked a
demanding job to support her family. And, like millions of
women, she was underpaid for it. In 1979, a Goodyear tire
factory in Alabama hired her as an overnight supervisor,
making her one of the first female managers at the plant. But
after 19 years with the company, she received an anonymous
tip: while she was earning $3,727 per month, men with
her same title were making thousands more. After filing
a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission in 1998, Ledbetter was awarded more than
$3.5 million in damages. But the tire giant appealed, and the
verdict was reversed.
In a 2007 decision, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that
Ledbetter had to report discrimination within 180 days of
when the prejudiced salary decision was made— impossible
to do if you’re unaware of the discrepancy. Justice Ruth Bader
Ginsburg wrote a strongly worded dissent, and Congress
listened, passing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009.
Now, the 180-day statute of limitations resets with each
new paycheck an employee claims reflects discrimination—
essential in a society where women are paid an average of 82¢
for every dollar earned by men. ÑAbby Vesoulis88 SIRLEAF: JUSTIN SUTCLIFFE—EYEVINE/REDUX; LEDBETTER: FANNY CARRIER—AFP/GETTY IMAGES; OBAMA: SHAWN THEW—EPA/SHUTTERSTOCK