Wives today - away from the shadows

Stepping out of the shadows
Some First Ladies are seeking their own place in the sun. Is Asia ready for this?

TODAY Weekend � February 10, 2007; Fawziah Selamat fawziah@mediacorp.com.sg

IT WAS a man who best described the traditional role of a Prime Minister's spouse. "Always present, never there" was how Mr Denis Thatcher summed up his status as Margaret Thatcher's significant other. Blending into the background and allowed to take centrestage only at charity events and ribbon-cutting ceremonies, these leaders' wives (sorry Denis, you're an exception) were expected to master the art of being invisible while never being absent from their husbands' side.
Then came Hillary Clinton, with her outspoken views on public policy, and Cherie Blair, the bright lawyer who is no shrinking violet.
The rules changed. Political watchers suddenly realised that, in drawing attention to themselves, these women even had the power to influence voters (so much so that Mrs Clinton is now making a run for office herself). The invisible spouse has become a political factor.
The trend was not so obvious in Asia until the world met Akie Abe, 44. The wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is young, glamourous and candid. She has her own blog and has written in a magazine about her struggle with infertility, a touchy subject in Japan. The former radio DJ struts around happily in designer jeans and chic monochrome suits. She even performs drinking duties in place of her teetotaller husband at social events.
All this might have been just a charming distraction, until political commentators noticed an unprecedented development. A series of blunders � which include planting party supporters to ask flattering questions about the premier's leadership and a verbally-incontinent cabinet colleague who called women "child-bearing machines" � have caused Mr Abe's popularity to slip to just 40 per cent.
But his wife's charm has cushioned the fall. Newsweek estimated that the good press that Mrs Abe has been getting may have boosted her husband's ratings by as much as 20 per cent. "Akie has Japan swooning," a local daily noted.
This has put a whole new spin to political wifery in Asia.
Until now, Asian leaders have stayed away from using their wives as a political weapon. Mrs Abe's impact could be a sign of things to come.
"We're seeing more and more politicians marrying their equals, which raises the probability of seeing more intelligent and articulate wives who might want to play a bigger role rather than just be seen as trophy wives," said the Institute of South-east Asian Studies' fellow Terence Chong.
In other words, these women will be seen, they will be heard. They will speak their minds about controversial issues and attract both, flak and acclaim. Inevitably, their own image will influence their husbands' political standing.
Are we ready for the change? "In Asia, you hardly ever see politicians' wives in the public eye. They're still expected to fade into the background and they're not expected to play any important roles," said Dr Saroja Dorairajoo, a sociologist at the National University of Singapore. Some may point to Philippines' Corazon Aquino, Sri Lanka's Sirimavo Bandaranaike and India's Sonia Gandhi � all politicians' wives who went on to command political power.
This, however, is misleading, said Dr Saroja. "Those women acquired power when their husbands died. Their credibility comes from showing that they can be as strong as the male figures they're replacing. Sadly, their power was based on sympathy gained from the tragedies that struck their families rather than merit," she added. "But as politician's wives, such a show of strength and power would not have been acceptable." Imelda Marcos and Tien Suharto � two politicians' wives known to wield great influence � hardly endeared themselves to their people, said Dr Saroja.
On the other hand, Ms Wu Shu-Chen, the embattled wife of Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian, illustrates both aspects of the tightrope that politicians' wives have to walk. In 1985, she was run over by a farm vehicle during a political tour with her husband and childhood sweetheart, Mr Chen. It left her wheelchair-bound � but her bravery eventually helped his race to the top. "I am not the kind of person who hides and sheds tears in the dark," she said. But once Mr Chen was in power, Ms Wu continued to stay involved with his political life. She has now been indicted for doctoring his national security account and threatens to drag him down.
So, what makes a wife an asset rather than a deadweight for a politician?
The key, said Dr Chong, would be to complement the husband's role without competing with him, or overshadowing him.
When the Malaysian Premiership was a toss-up between Mr Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Mr Najib Razak, the spotlight fell on their wives, too. Ms Endon Mahmood, the soft-spoken spouse of Mr Abdullah, preferred to stay in the shadows, soothing tempers her husband may have ruffled. In contrast, Ms Rosmah Mansor had a higher profile and was seen as a constant advisor to her husband. Political observers said that the traditionalists were more comfortable with Ms Endon and she was deeply mourned when she passed on.
But politicians' wives like her are becoming more rare as women find their place in the sun.
So, what's a modern, educated woman to do when her husband starts climbing up the political ladder?
Ms Abe said that she recently discussed this with Ms Laura Bush. "She told me: 'Just keep doing what you are already doing. Just do what you've been interested in'." So she doesn't advise him on policy matters, but tells him what she has seen. She knows that her high profile will attract criticism, but she takes that in her stride. "I wasn't elected to this job, so I have to take criticism into account," she told Newsweek. But she will not crawl back into the shadows, because that is simply not her style.
She shows him respect but spells out her own position.
Do not expect her to walk three steps behind him.
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There is very brief mention of Mrs Laura Bush, but actually she is another key example of a politician's wife who helps boost the husband's image and standing, even though she does not stridently campaigns.
It is the soft power :)