It’s time to rethink the role of First Lady | Irina Karamanos Adrian | Ted Talks Daily

Intro

In this episode of Ted Talks Daily, former first lady of Chile, Irina Karamanos Adrian, discusses the challenges and opportunities of being a first lady while embracing feminism. She shares her experiences and insights into the evolving role of first ladies in Chile and how they have been able to create positive change through projects and foundations.

Main Takeaways

The Role of First Ladies in Chile

• Former first ladies in Chile have created foundations and projects because the role is not regulated.
• First ladies in Chile have progressively gained more functions and are anchored in the state.
• First ladies in Chile have created foundations for childhood education, recycling computers, empowering women, and more.
• The role of first lady in Chile includes protocol and an office in the presidential palace.

Transformation of the Figure of First Ladies

• Former Chilean first lady, Claudia Pascual, aimed to transform the figure of first ladies by tackling democratic illegitimacy and gender bias imaginary.
• Pascual created a ministry for women inequality and decided who would be the president of the foundation for childhood education.
• Pascual wanted to tackle gender stereotypes and the expectation for women in power to have both male and female qualities.
• Women accompanying presidents are still seen as assets, but Pascual believes this is antiquated and marriage should be kept out of the presidential must-taps.
• Pascual’s goal was to make change and take away power from a position that is a result of affection and not of democratic process, and she believes that making changes in governmental institutions can make people feel more reflected in the instrument of democracies.

Summary

The Role of First Ladies in Chile

Former first ladies in Chile have taken advantage of the unregulated nature of the role to create foundations and projects that address various social issues. They have gained more functions over time and are now an integral part of the state, with responsibilities that include protocol and an office in the presidential palace. Through their foundations, they have made significant contributions to childhood education, computer recycling, and women’s empowerment.

Transformation of the Figure of First Ladies

Claudia Pascual, a former Chilean first lady, sought to redefine the role of first ladies by challenging the perception of democratic illegitimacy and gender bias. She established a ministry for women’s inequality and had a say in appointing the president of the foundation for childhood education. Pascual aimed to break gender stereotypes and eliminate the expectation for women in power to embody both male and female qualities. She believed that the notion of first ladies being assets to presidents is outdated and that marriage should not influence political decisions. Pascual’s ultimate goal was to shift power away from a position based on personal affection and towards a more democratic process, making governmental institutions more representative of the people they serve.

Conclusion

Through the experiences of Irina Karamanos Adrian and Claudia Pascual, we gain insight into the evolving role of first ladies in Chile. They have shown that being a first lady and a feminist are not mutually exclusive, and that the position can be used as a platform for creating positive change. By challenging traditional norms and expectations, they have paved the way for future first ladies to make a lasting impact on society.