Wikipedia

Second lady

Second ladyandsecond gentlemanare honorary titles often used in reference to the spouse of avice president,or spouse of alieutenant governoror other second-ranked government official.[1][2]The title is styled afterfirst ladyorfirst gentleman,which are used to describe the spouse of a president or governor. In discussing both spouses, they may be referred to as the second couple, and if they have children, they are known collectively as the second family.

The expression "second lady in the land" has also been used to refer to the second-highest ranking female in amonarchy,[3][4]such as acrown princessif there is a queen.[5]

United States

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Spouse of the vice president

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Main article:Second ladies and gentlemen of the United States

The role of the second lady is unpaid and not formally defined.[6]The wife of the vice president of the United States was traditionally expected to serve as a hostess and appear at society functions.[7][8]As theOffice of the Vice Presidentitself gained power and influence, the spouse of the vice president also became more visible. Second LadyLady Bird Johnsonoften replaced First LadyJacqueline Kennedywhen she withdrew from public appearances.[9]Pat Nixon,wife of Vice PresidentRichard Nixon,was the first second spouse to add a great deal of substance to the role, traveling independently of the vice president and setting her own event schedule. historianKate Andersen Browerwrote, "she helped to define this nebulous role for an entire generation of women who would succeed her."[10]Subsequent second ladies also had their own issues which they advocated, such as education reform and literacy.[11][12]

Usage of title

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Writers includingWilliam Safireand Jeff McQuain have suggested that use of the term "second lady" to refer to the wife of the vice president of the United States did not become more commonplace until the 1980s.[13][14]However, in 2017,Washington Postcolumnist Philip Bump argued that use of the phrase "second lady" could be traced back as early as the 1860s, strengthening in popularity around 1892, and "spiking" around the turn of the 20th century, according to his research using theGoogle Ngram tool.[14]

In 1996,Tipper Gorewrote that the spouse of the vice president did not have an official title, and that people were often unsure about how to introduce her, saying: "Sometimes they call me the Second Lady. Sometimes they refer to me as the Second First Lady. Once I was even introduced as the Second Lady of Vice."[15]In 2008, when aFox Newshost remarked that callingLynne Cheneythe Second Lady of the United States was "weird", Cheney acknowledged, "Well, it is, a little, but it's ok."[16]The abbreviation for the Second Lady of the United States is SLOTUS.[1]

Second gentleman

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In 2021, Merriam-Webster added the term "second gentleman" to its dictionary, in light ofDoug Emhoffbecoming the first male spouse of an American vice president.[2]Emhoff, who followed Biden's example and started teaching entertainment law atGeorgetown Universityat the same time he assumed his ceremonial role asSecond Gentleman of the United States,has acknowledged the many generations of women who had served in the role "without much accolade", and vowed to continue building on "their legacy of progress".[2]The abbreviation for Second Gentleman of the United States is SGOTUS.[1][17]

Spouse of the lieutenant governor

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See also:Lieutenant governor (United States)

At the state level, second lady or second gentleman is used to refer to the spouse of thelieutenant governor.In political fiction, novelist and journalistJim Lehrerreferred to Jackie, wife of fictional Lieutenant Governor "One-Eyed Mack", as the Second Lady of Oklahoma from the late 1980s.[18][19]

In 2020, Second LadyGiselle FettermantoldCNNthat she prefers the titular acronym SLOP over the more "stuffy" title of Second Lady of Pennsylvania.[20]Andrew Rosati ofBloomberg Newssaid in 2022 that Fetterman, a formerundocumented immigrant to the U.S.from Brazil, has "transformed the ceremonial role of Second Lady of Pennsylvania...into a megaphone for the marginalized".[21]

Other countries

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Spouse of the vice president

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See also:Vice president § In government

In Brazil, the second lady (Segunda-dama do Brasil), is thewife of the vice presidentand resides with him atJaburu's Palace.[22]

In Colombia, the second lady or second gentleman is the equivalent of thespouse or partner of the vice president of Colombiawho, together with thevice president,resides in theVice Presidential House.

In Ghana, an emoluments committee set up in June 2019 recommended that thespouse of the vice presidentshould receive compensation equivalent to the salary of a cabinet minister-MP, along with the spouse of the president.[23]Although the recommendation was approved byParliamentin 2021, both the first lady and Second LadySamira Bawumiarejected the proposed payments and promised to refund the allowances they had been paid since 2017, following public backlash against the emoluments.[23]In opposing their monthly salaries, the Trades Union Congress acknowledged the role of the first and second ladies, particularly in supporting women's rights, children's rights, and other causes promoting social and economic development, but stressed that they were not assigned official duties according to theConstitution of Ghanaor other national laws.[23]

In Nigeria, former Second LadyTiti Abubakar,the wife of Vice PresidentAtiku Abubakar(1999–2007), used her role to combat human trafficking.[24]During her tenure, she founded WOTCLEF (Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation), and became the first civilian in Nigerian history to propose draft legislation.[24]

Other uses

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In the United Kingdom,Camilla Parker Bowleswas said to become the "second lady in the land", ranking second only toQueen Elizabeth II,upon marryingCharles, the Prince of Walesin 2005.[3]In 1958,The Timesnoted that the duties of an American second lady at home inWashington, D.C.,"have no exact counterpart in England".[25]

In France,Penelope Fillon,the British-born wife of former Prime MinisterFrançois Fillon,was nicknamed "France's second lady" in the media.[26]However,France Magazinereported in 2008 that Fillon was trying to play down the role, which had traditionally remained outside the limelight.[26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abc"The Story Behind 'First Lady': Always second to none".Merriam-Webster Dictionary.RetrievedDecember 20,2022.
  2. ^abcBennett, Kate (January 28, 2021)."Merriam-Webster adds 'second gentleman' to describe Doug Emhoff's role".CNN Wire.RetrievedDecember 15,2022– viaGale OneFile.
  3. ^abHamilton, Alan (February 12, 2005)."Former royal courtesan rises swiftly into inner circle; Royal Wedding".The Times.RetrievedDecember 20,2022– viaGale OneFile.
  4. ^Kay, Richard (November 2005)."The Queen and I".Australian Women's Weekly.RetrievedDecember 20,2022– viaEBSCOHost.
  5. ^"[Books of the Week] Queen Marie of Rumania: Her Life to 1914".The Times.London, England. October 19, 1934.RetrievedDecember 20,2022– via The Times Digital Archive.
  6. ^Gore, Tipper (1996).Picture This: A Visual Diary.New York: Broadway Books. p. 1.ISBN9780553067200.
  7. ^O'Brien, Cormac (2005).Secret Lives of the First Ladies: What your teachers never told you about the women of the White House.Philadelphia: Quirk Books. pp. 184, 238, 271.ISBN9781594740145.
  8. ^Shogan, Colleen."Second Spouses – Historical Development of an Official Role".The White House Historical Association.RetrievedDecember 20,2022.
  9. ^Troy, Gil (1997).Affairs of State: The Rise and Rejection of the Presidential Couple Since World War II.New York: Free Press. p. 120.ISBN0684828200.
  10. ^Brower, Kate Andersen (June 24, 2018)."Remembering Pat Nixon: A fearless first and second lady".The Hill.RetrievedAugust 6,2018.
  11. ^O'Brien, Cormac (2005).Secret Lives of the First Ladies: What your teachers never told you about the women of the White House.Philadelphia: Quirk Books. pp. 184, 238, 271.ISBN9781594740145.
  12. ^"Mrs. Lynne Cheney".whitehouse.gov.RetrievedOctober 13,2008– viaNational Archives.
  13. ^McQuain, Jeff (1999).Never Enough Words.New York: Random House. p. 14.ISBN0-679-45804-2.
  14. ^abBump, Philip (July 5, 2017)."'Second lady' has been in use for at least 127 years ".The Washington Post.RetrievedDecember 20,2022– viaGale OneFile.
  15. ^Gore, Tipper (1996).Picture This: A Visual Diary.New York: Broadway Books. p. 1.ISBN9780553067200.
  16. ^"[Transcript] Second Lady Lynne Cheney on Her New Book, Media's Treatment of Sarah Palin".Fox News Live.September 15, 2008.RetrievedDecember 16,2022.
  17. ^Shogan, Colleen."Second Spouses – Historical Development of an Official Role".The White House Historical Association.RetrievedDecember 20,2022.
  18. ^Lehrer, Jim (1989).Crown Oklahoma.New York: G. P. Putnam. p. 48.ISBN0-399-13434-4.
  19. ^Lehrer, Jim (1991).Lost and Found.New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. p. 12.ISBN0-399-13601-0.
  20. ^McLaughlin, Eliott C. (October 13, 2020)."Before racial slur, Pennsylvania's second lady was best known for her big heart".CNN.RetrievedDecember 20,2022.
  21. ^Rosati, Andrew (October 22, 2022)."Gisele Fetterman's history as undocumented immigrant inspires husband's policy".PennLive.Bloomberg News (TNS).RetrievedDecember 20,2022.
  22. ^"Modern and party-oriented, the Second Lady attracts fans on social networks and nicknames the dog Mourâo".Extra.January 8, 2019.RetrievedDecember 15,2022.
  23. ^abc"Salaries for First And Second Ladies: The Story So Far".Fly FM Ghana.July 17, 2021.RetrievedDecember 15,2022.
  24. ^abVanderhurst, Stacey (2022)."1. Crisis".Unmaking Migrants.Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press. pp. 18–49.doi:10.1515/9781501763540-003.ISBN9781501763540.
  25. ^"America's Second Lady".The Times.November 3, 1958.RetrievedDecember 20,2022– via The Times Digital Archive.
  26. ^abBoyd, Carolyn (March 2008)."The prime of her life".France Magazine.RetrievedDecember 15,2022.
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