When a human being collides as recklessly with the English language as often as Donald Trump — and runs a presidential campaign characterised by a disdain for civility — then it’s inevitable his more inflammatory remarks will come back to haunt him.

And so it was that placards brandishing a few of the newly minted US president’s regrettably infamous utterances were defiantly on display as protesters took to the streets for the Women’s March on Washington over the weekend.

But where were the signs critiquing the other key figure who symbolises why America was not ready to elect its first female commander in chief? Why, amid an outpouring of post-inauguration anger at Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton at the polls last November, was there not a single placard to be seen holding Michelle Obama to account? Where were the chants denouncing the submissive and regressive female role model she represented that helped facilitate Clinton’s defeat and usher in the Trump era?

Here is a woman who embodies the same qualities as Trump — a studiously self-styled “anti-politician” who prides herself on her ignorance of the most basic aspects of the political system while preferring to focus instead on charming talk-show hosts — and yet not so much as one lonely sign dared to observe the former First Lady’s culpability in Trump’s triumph.

media_camera First Lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama at the US Capitol after inauguration ceremonies in Washington. (Pic: AFP Photo/Jim Watson)

Not even here in NSW, as thousands marched in solidarity with Americans at the Women’s March in Sydney, did any of those attending take a moment to reflect on the dangerous precedent the likes of Michelle Obama have set for our incoming premier.

Like any woman elevated to the highest office in her state or country, Gladys Berejiklian will be held to an unforgiving level of scrutiny and will on occasion face a double standard that — deny it or not (and many will indeed steadfastly deny it) — still flourishes in 2017.

At times it will be subtle — and it’s certainly not to be used as an excuse to hide behind when she is criticised for any genuine errors or misjudgements she will all but certainly make over the coming weeks and months — but as NSW’s second female premier, Berejiklian is destined to encounter sexism during her time in power.

media_camera Leader of the NSW Liberal party, Gladys Berejiklian, was this week sworn in as the state’s new premier after the shock resignation of Mike Baird. (Pic: AAP Image/David Moir)

The truth — however unfashionable it may be to admit — is that when it comes to all things politics, voters still prefer the fairer sex to be confined to the-woman-behind-the-man type roles.

Which is why a benign and unthreatening figure such as Michelle Obama will always be more celebrated than her female peers who refuse to settle for a “Mrs” claim to power.

Unlike the intelligent yet cautiously bland ex-First Lady, the likes of Clinton and Berejiklian dare to pursue political office in their own right. Not for them the carefully inoffensive refusal to comment on anything of serious substance or submit to the unspoken edict that a woman’s greatest asset is her ability to rock a sleeveless dress and dance on TV.

The audacity of such women to refuse to play it safe, and be satisfied with Plus One professional status, naturally infuriates those who believe women and politics don’t mix. So far, so predictable.

But that the antiquated concept of women and power as embodied by Michelle “Mom in Chief” Obama fails to be condemned — and is in fact celebrated — by the very same who profess to be devastated by Clinton’s defeat is a bitter irony that goes unacknowledged.

Her defenders will argue that cultivating the facade of a housewife bored by politics is her right. Isn’t it her business if she chooses to aspire to matters no more intellectually taxing than planting vegetables in the White House garden, they will ask.

While at a purely personal level that might be true, the personal is political — as has been declared at many of the inauguration protests. And Obama is certainly astute enough to have known that the more closely she resembled a Stepford Wife these past eight years — well-dressed and elegant yet never challenging or controversial — then the higher her popularity would soar.

media_camera Michelle Obama was often photographed working in the White House Kitchen Garden during her time as First Lady. (Pic: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

That her traditional approach to her role of presidential spouse reinforced the notion of a woman’s rightful place (IE: you were more likely to find her in the White House kitchen than the West Wing on any given day) only made the task harder for Clinton as she attempted to annihilate the ultimate gender stereotype by shattering the most stubborn of glass ceilings.

Only in the final days of her husband’s presidency did the former First Lady summon the courage to speak out in favour of Clinton and denounce her opponent in the strongest of terms — but it was too little, too late.

Then came the revelation last month that she is so disinterested in politics she couldn’t even be bothered to stay awake to watch the result on election night.

“I went to bed,” Obama told People magazine. “I don’t like to watch the political discourse; I never have.”

It was a staggering admission that would have seen Melania Trump universally ridiculed as a shallow bimbo had she said such a ridiculous thing. But, coming from the adored Obama, it was met only with sympathetic chuckles.

So while Mrs Obama’s anti-politics, anti-Washington, celebrity-driven persona — a persona that is more than a little reminiscent of Trump’s appeal — might have made her a popular figure, it ultimately did Hillary Clinton no favours.

Although they will recoil at any comparison between Michelle Obama and Donald Trump, those taking to the streets to lament the inauguration of the new president would do well to remember that he is not the only influential figure in American politics who has set back the cause of powerful women.

You won’t see this written on a placard anytime soon — but in fostering the lingering resistance that still surrounds the fortunes of a female leader, sometimes the greatest damage comes from those who conform to the old rules for their own political gain.

Sarrah Le Marquand is the editor-in-chief of Stellar magazine and the founding editor of RendezView