Doug Emhoffhopes hisunprecedented roleas second gentleman of the United States shows other men that emotionally supporting their loved ones doesn’t negate their masculinity.
In an exclusive clip from Emhoff’s upcoming interview with CNN, the longtime lawyer speaks about trying to break down gender stigmas in his supporting role to Vice PresidentKamala Harris.
“There’s this toxicity, this masculine idea of what a man is that’s out there that is just not correct,” Emhoff tells anchor Dana Bash. “And that’s something that you really see when you’re doing this [job].”
Emhoff notes that not all men would feel comfortable in his position, leaving his career behind to support his wife full-time and carry outthe duties of a world leader’s spouse. He hopes to “push back” on the notion that being married to a woman with a bigger job than yourself somehow makes you less tough.
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff reads The Very Hungry Caterpillar to Massachusetts preschoolers.Steven Senne/AP/Shutterstock
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He adds: “So we’re kind of mixing up this concept that if somehow a man shows kindness or empathy or consideration for others, that’s somehow not masculine and that is just not okay. That’s just not true.”
“One thing I noticed over the years in doing a slew of interviews with successful women is that for them to excel in all ways, their partners need to be ok with living in their professional shadow,” Bash tells PEOPLE. “Sometimes men say they’re okay with that — but then when the woman gets all the attention it’s ego crushing. Doug Emhoff and I talked about that — the kind of conversation that doesn’t happen enough but must for women to have true equality.”
Elsewhere in the new sit-down interview, which takes place in thesecond family’s residenceat the Naval Observatory, Emhoff opens up about leaving his career as a successful lawyer to move to Washington, and breaking a number of barriersalongside his wifeas the first male spouse of a vice president — andthe first of Jewish faith. He also talks to Bash about his relationship with Harris and bringing herinto his children’s lives.
CNN will its full interview, titledBeing…The Second Gentleman, on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 8pm E.T.
source: people.com
