The XX Factor

We’re Talking About: First Lady Travels, Tech-Savvy Moms, and Ads for Women

- Some say Michelle Obama ’s mid-recession trip to Spain makes her a “modern-day Marie Antoinette,” but the first lady’s bold, jetsetting style also offers a message of empowerment for young women . [ The Daily Beast ]

- The Taliban responded to Time ’s feature on Afghani women by citing stats on U.S. rape and sexual abuse. [ Mother Jones , Time ]

- Tech-savvy moms see the upside in the effects of new media . [ The New York Times ]

- What message is rapper Eminem trying to send about domestic violence in his new music video ? [ The Atlantic ]

- Vodka brands reach out to women in lady-geared ad campaigns . [ The New York Times ]

Photograph by Cristina Quicler/AFP.