parenting

Mom & Pop Culture: Now it

My goal in writing this series was to delve into the intersections of feminism, parenting and pop culture, and I did my best to tackle as many topics as possible in my eight weeks here. (Although of course, I’m still left staring at a laundry list of things I wanted to write about…... Read more »

Mom & Pop Culture: Music Madness

The problem is that while a lot of music (I’m thinking mostly of pop and hip hop here) that’s geared towards teens and adults also appeals to kids, it’s not actually appropriate for them. So what’s a mama (or papa) to do when they want to rock out, but not expose their kids... Read more »

Mom & Pop Culture: Viral Videos

We’re (not so) slowly creating a new social contract where oversharing has become de rigueur. Blame it on the popularity of reality TV or the easy access the Internet provides—either way, we’re currently at a place where a video... Read more »

Mom & Pop Culture: The Reality of Reality TV Parenting

I understand that reality television has to have some sort of “hook” to get you, the viewer, interested enough to stick around. For the most part, that’s usually drama. Even when shows are about parenting, it’s not the day-to-day rhythm that gets airtime, but rather the sensational,... Read more »

Mom & Pop Culture: Gender is NOT a Genre

With gender stereotypes pervading our TVs, movies, toys, clothes, etc., can’t we just have kids’ books without adding more labels? Read more »

Mom & Pop Culture: An Interview With Peggy Orenstein

“There is still pressure to do everything, do everything well, and look hot while doing it. And I think that ‘and look hot while doing it’ part, that’s the new piece. It used to be that having it all did not include looking hot… But now it does and it includes it at a really young age.... Read more »

Mom & Pop Culture: The Princess Paradox

It’s hard to overlook all of the negative aspects that pop up along the princess path, and I knew that I would be very particular regarding exposure and access to princesses if I had a girl. Never in a million years did it cross my mind that I would be trying to navigate the same murky waters... Read more »

Mom & Pop Culture: Princess Week!

As Disney continues to sell their princesses (and make no mistake, they’re selling a brand, not just characters), they continue to show us that people will eat up these negative messages as long as they’re packaged in an appealing way—in this case, in pinks and purples and lots of... Read more »

Mom & Pop Culture: The Grocery Game

Let’s use Disney as an example (since they’re one of the biggest offenders when it comes to branding). Sure, you might expect familiar Disney faces to pop up in places like mylar balloons in the florist department, on band-aids, shampoo, toothpaste, and tooth brushes in the health aisle... Read more »

Mom & Pop Culture: Occupy Sesame Street! How Not To Lose Your Activist Spirit

Fighting for social justice doesn’t need to stop when you give birth. In fact, in my opinion, we should fight even harder if we have to raise a kid or two in this world. Also, by continuing our activism postpartum, we’ll set kick-ass examples for our children. It’s win-win all... Read more »

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What I Learned About Gender and Power from Sailor Moon

My life began in 1995 — the year I turned eight and became a divorced kid.    Read more »