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Presidents' wives and First Ladies: On achieving eminence within a traditional gender role

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Abstract

Women sometimes attain distinction through their relationships with highly successful men. This association may entail some combination of several individual and dyadic processes. Possible processes were explored in the lives of 48 wives and First Ladies associated with 39 U.S. Presidents. Three primary dimensions of the women's performance were used to determine the connection between their eminence and that of the President. Although a reflected-glory effect was apparent in the unreciprocated influence of the President's reputation on his First Lady's reputation, the woman's reputation was independently determined by (a) her performance as the President's political colleague and (b) her success at establishing her own distinct personality. On the other hand, her reputation was not influenced by her expertise in fulfilling more traditional gender role responsibilities. Some biographical antecedents of the women's performance were also identified.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of California, 95616-8686, Davis, CA, USA

    Dean Keith Simonton

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  1. Dean Keith Simonton
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The following research assistants made this project possible: Bergen Achtel, Pamela Akins, Jill Allen, Gazelle Babaee, Paige Black, Nancy Bouffard, Pendra Boyd, Steve Castellón, David Clemons, Jennifer Cohen, Suzanne Dahnert, Ann del Forge, Stephanie Fisher, Fernanda Formel, John Gotelli, Janelle Gray, Kim Haralson, Erin Harrington, Miguel Herrera, Danny Herz, Michele Hill, Alexander Hughes, Elizabeth Judy, Jacques Koujoumajian, Anneliese Makely, Bettina Murphy, Monica Murray, Ryan Nguyen, Tereza Pena-Hibberd, Steven Sacks, Dan Samsky, Todd Sasano, Melissa Schneider, Brian Victor, and Henry Wong. I also thank Niels Waller for his advice and consultation.

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Simonton, D.K. Presidents' wives and First Ladies: On achieving eminence within a traditional gender role. Sex Roles 35, 309–336 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01664772

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