ABSTRACT
Although “media interest in the spouses of presidents and presidential hopefuls is as old as the presidency itself” (Shoop, 2010, p. 808), studies comparing first ladies in two or more countries are still rare in communication studies. To fill this gap, this chapter sought to undertake a cross-cultural comparative study on first ladies in media portrayal in China and the United States. Grounded in the theoretical concept of framing, this study examined the coverage of the two high-profiled women, Liyuan Peng, who is the “first” First Lady in China, and Michelle Obama, who is the “first black” First Lady in the States through a quantitative content analysis of articles in prominent newspapers published in China and in the United States after they became first ladies. This chapter revealed what messages have been potentially communicated and what stories have been told to the public about the appropriate role of the first ladies and perhaps the role of women in the two different societies and cultures. What may impact the perpetuation or breaking down of gender stereotypes to a domestic and international audience was discussed.
