Ms. Magazine Posits Obama as Super-Feminist

Ms. Magazine, the publication founded by Gloria Steinem, is releasing a special inaugural issue with somewhat provocative cover. Its photo-shopped image portrays Barack Obama in an iconic Superman pose: heeding a distress call and pulling open his starched white shirt to reveal a secret identity. In this version of the comic-book send-up, the somewhat misleading layer of business attire conceals not a blue and red leotard, but a black t-shirt that reads, "This is what Feminism looks like".

In its letter from the editor, Ms. explains its thinking behind the cover that has already rankled many disgruntled Pumas:

When the chair of the Feminist board, Peg Yorkin, and I met with Barack Obama, he immediately offered, "I am a feminist." And better yet, he ran on the strongest platform for women's rights of any major party in American history.

Still, the image of Obama as Feminism's standard bearer has not sat well with some, like the Tennessee Guerilla Women, who, on their blog, write:

This is what a feminist looks like? File this under: Does Feminism Even Need Woman?

That last point seems to overstate the case Ms. is making. If Obama turns out to be more of a feminist that previous commanders-in-chief, then that's good news for women in general. The magazine is not suggesting that women need no longer apply to fight for their own cause. Rather, it is simply looking at a pragmatic approach for furthering women's rights, and, in Obama it sees an ally, whether or not he defeated Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary.

But what's your take on the cover?