First Lady as a Part-time Job

An unprecedented decision was made and Chow Mei-ching carries it out as if it is the most natural thing to do. She went back to her work as the head of legal department, Mega International Commercial Bank, after her husband Ma Ying-jeou was elected as the president of Taiwan in March 2008.

A typical wife of a Taiwanese politician is a helper to attract women's vote, a celebrity to generate publicity in soft news, a back-up if the guy gets jailed and fails to run the campaign, a hit man when the guy wants to attack his political enemy without dirtying his own hands, and Mother Teresa when the guy is troubled by extra-marital affairs. What's special about Chow Mei-ching is that she does none of the above.

Ma Ying-jeou has been in politics for all his life and has been the media darling since the early 90s, but Chow Mei-ching was absent in the media coverage until 2002. She turned down all the interviews, and the comments she made about Ma was hardly favorable: "undoubtedly he works hard; but he also has good looks and good luck and that helps a lot." "It seems that every woman in Taiwan idolizes Ma but he manages to marry someone who doesn't."

In the presidential campaign Chow couldn't avoid the media as much as she used to. In the final days of the campaign she stumped for Ma and kept low-profile: she said "thank you" to whatever questions the journalists raised. Yet she was portrayed by most media as sincere and modest for the fact that she shook hands with Ma's supporters and did 90-degree bow.

After Ma was elected as mayor of Taipei, Chow Mei-ching spent time finding a parking space every morning as a citizen, although as a spouse she has the right to get a parking permit. Now Ma is the president-elect and Chow chooses to live her life as a professional woman. Some people express their concern about the conflict of interest Chow might encounter, but Chow argues that she provides legal advise to the bank and there is no benefit involved.

According to the poll of Apple Daily, the newspaper with the second biggest readership in Taiwan, Chow's choice to continue her career is supported by 55.58% of the respondents, and the survey conducted by the United Daily confirms this trend with the supporting rate of 48%. It shows that women and the youngsters demonstrate stronger support. Even among those who voted against Ma, it is the majority opinion that Chow can keep her job if she wants.

Chow seals her marriage in the private arena and acts as if she doesn't remember having a husband with political power. She rejects to share what her husband has. By doing that, she makes a powerful statement that she is an individual who can not be reduced and belittled to a "wife", someone defined by her marital status. When she requests the public not to address her as "first lady" or "Madam Ma", it is an independent woman talking.

What Chow doesn't remember is what Hillary Clinton couldn't forget when she was first lady. Clinton used that opportunity to exercise the influence on policies despite the fact that it goes against the democratic principle of accountability. If the health care policy works, can we promote Hillary Clinton? When it failed, could we demote her? As first lady her influence on politics derived mainly and solely from her husband and that makes her the appendage, the second sex.

Hillary Clinton proves her capability and competence by running and winning the campaign as a senator. Her ambition in politics was interpreted as unconventional or even subversive, but as far as I am concerned, her achievement is shadowed by the compromises she made and the shortcut she took as first lady. A first lady later runs for presidency is no legend; a woman taking first lady as a part-time job, is the legend.

Relevant articles:
All the President's women
Chow Mei-ching: the career-minded first lady
Taiwan's prospective first lady sets an example

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