According to the Wall Street Journal, Laura Bush was wearing "a pink skirt-suit" when she rang the closing bell for the New York Stock Exchange today, marking the first time, ever, that a First Lady has rung the closing bell. The White House website says brightly that her visit was made to "symbolize the vital contribution that women bring to a growing global economy."

And what better way to symbolize women in economy, everywhere, than to wear pink?

The Journal pointed out that she pronounced the floor trading "interesting" after receiving a description of the NYSE's workings from Spear Leeds & Kellogg.

Laura Bush has certainly worked hard for women's rights in her time as First Lady, but has labored much of this second term deep in the shadow of her husband. She's visiting New York City by herself this week, attending a conference on global literacy, accepting an award, and talking at the Clinton Global Initiative. She'll also talk at the UN about Burma's humanitarian crisis.

The history-making step at the NYSE seems at once flamboyant and girlish, feminista and feminine. Why ring the bell now? Why wear pink? As a woman in business, I'm at once bemused and a little insulted at this would-be economic role model. Will anyone remember Laura's actions as a mark on the timeline for feminism, or women, or pink -- or is it just a trivia footnote that will be quickly forgotten by all but the most dedicated Bushophiles? What do you think?

Laura Bush rings closing bell in a triumph of pink originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 18 Sep 2006 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.