General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Hillary became "unlikable" when she became successful in her own right. It's all about sexism. [View all]pnwmom
(108,977 posts)But quibbling about this is ignoring the main point. She is considered unlikable now because since then she's become Senator and Secretary of State; and a vast body of research shows that, for women but not for men, being powerful and successful means being considered unlikable.
http://news.gallup.com/poll/21370/laura-bush-approval-ratings-among-best-first-ladies.aspx
For example, Hillary Rodham Clinton averaged a 64% approval rating while she was first lady, ranging from a low of 54% in January 1995, to a high of 80% in February 1999.
Other first ladies' approval ratings tended to be in the 50% range; these lower ratings were due in part to the fact that many Americans did not have opinions of first ladies when asked to rate them. Nancy Reagan had a 53% approval rating in May 1988, with 31% disapproving and 16% having no opinion. In April 1987, and December 1981, her approval ratings were 58% and 57%, respectively. Rosalynn Carter had a 59% approval rating the one time she was rated in August 1979. Pat Nixon had a 54% approval rating in a June 1969, poll. Gallup also asked about Eleanor Roosevelt twice during Franklin Roosevelt's administration. She received a 67% approval rating in 1938, and a 68% rating in 1940.