Michelle Obama was asked on Wednesday why it's important to speak up in her position and her jovial answer to a group of African first spouses highlighted many men have come to realize over time: Women are smarter than men as a whole.
"Women are smarter than men," Obama quipped to a chorus of laughs at the African Leaders Spousal Summit in Washington. "And the men can't complain because you're outnumbered today."
The event, co-sponsored by the Bush Institute, brought together first spouses throughout Africa who are in Washington for the U.S. Africa Leaders Summit.
Former First Lady Laura Bush joined Obama on-stage and fielded questions from journalist Cokie Roberts. This is the second time Obama and Bush have appeared on stage together. The two also joined forces last year in Tanzania at the African First Ladies Summit.
Obama and Bush discussed women's rights issues from around the world, saying those problems must be addressed before other major issues – like climate change, disease and famine – are addressed.
"Men, leaders, women, until we value women and girls, we won't tackle those other problems," Obama said. "Until we prioritize our girls and understand that they are important and that their education is as important as the education of our sons, then we will have lots of work to do."
Bush echoed that sentiment. "Only countries where all people are involved can be successful," she said.
"When we look around the world and see countries where half of the population is marginalized or left out, then we usually see countries that are failing," Bush added.
President George W. Bush has been praised by Democrats and Republicans alike for his considerable focus on the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa. The Bushes have continued that effort since leaving office and expanded it to include health screenings for women. The former president was also in the audience on Wednesday, saying he was joining because he's a "spouse."
With just over two years left of her time in the White House, Obama was asked what she wants to leave behind while also looking at opportunities for the future.
"There is nothing wrong with thinking about legacy and what we want to leave for the world," Obama said. "I don't think we should be afraid as women to have those conversations. It's too soon for me to do it now but the time will come and I will embrace that."
In the meantime, Obama said, the fight for women's rights and especially girls continues.
"We have to fight for our girls," Obama concluded. "There should never be a girl in this world who has to fear getting educated. That should be something that is intolerable to us.
据美国有线新闻网（CNN）报道，在华盛顿举行的非洲领导人配偶峰会上，米歇尔称：“女性比男性聪明。”米歇尔这一玩笑似的言论引起了阵阵笑声。“而且男人们无从抱怨，因为如今的趋势是女多男少。”
在非洲多国的第一配偶们随元首参加华盛顿美非领导人峰会之际，她们也受邀参加了这场非洲第一夫人峰会。布什研究所是此活动的联办方之一。
美国前第一夫人罗拉·布什（Laura Bush)与米歇尔同台，并即席回答了美国著名记者科基·罗伯茨(Cokie Roberts)的一连串问题。这也是两位第一夫人的第二次同台。两人首次同台是在2013年于坦桑尼亚举办的非洲第一夫人峰会上。
米歇尔和罗拉共同讨论了全球的女权议题，并表示应给予女权问题足够重视，先妥善处理这一问题，才能谈如何解决气候变化、疾病、饥荒等其他问题。
“各位先生女士、领导政要们，要想解决其他重大问题，女性首先得得到尊重。”米歇尔说，“如果我们能优先考虑女性问题，并且意识到女孩和她们的受教育权利与男孩一样重要，那么，我们才有望解决其他问题。”
罗拉也呼应这番号召：“人人平等的国家才能走向成功。”
“那些有一半以上的人们被忽视或边缘化的国家，往往会走向衰落。”罗拉补充道。
前任美国总统乔治·布什在解决非洲艾滋病问题中给予了极大重视，受到了国内民主党和共和党的一致好评。即使已经卸任的布什政府仍不遗余力，并增添了女性的健康体检，使更多女性受益。布什也出现在当天的观众席中，笑称他以“配偶”的身份与会。
米歇尔距离卸任第一夫人还有两年多。她被问及在仅剩的两年里，在为未来寻找新契机的同时，想把什么延续下去。
“其实思考要为世界留下什么并没错，”她回答，“我不觉得作为女性，我们就必须回避这类问题。对我而言，现在谈这些问题甚早，但是那天终究会来，我也会以平常心去接受。”
米歇尔还说，女权运动尤其是保护女孩的权益将薪火相传。
“我们必须为女孩的权益而奋斗，”米歇尔总结道，“任何一个女孩都不应为了接受教育而担惊受怕。我们不应容忍这样的事情发生。”