A Big Ask
Before I kick off this week’s edition, I have a big ask! Will you help Sarah and I grow The Slip by forwarding this on to 3 friends today? We’re passionate about growing a community of women who, no matter where they fall on the political spectrum, feel like they aren’t represented by today’s feminist movement. This newsletter is a tiny part of that equation, but we’re hoping - with your help - we can begin to change the conversation around what feminism REALLY is.
Thank you!!!
Bring Back The Culture Wars (Lord help us)
It’s usually pretty hard for me to get riled up about culture war stuff. Like, really hard. As long as no one is forcing me to do anything that violates my own moral code and worldview, I generally subscribe to the philosophy of “live and let live.” There are a couple exceptions - abortion being one - but as a general matter, I like freedom. And that means letting individuals make their own choices. But lately I’ve been wondering if this attitude of mine needs a little adjustment.
It all started in March when a public school district in Virginia decided to crack down on Dr. Seuss. Specifically, the district decided to disassociate Dr. Seuss with Read Across America Day because of “strong racial undertones” in his books. At the same time, Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced it was stopping the sale and distribution of six classic books for the same reason.
Reaction on the right was swift, as you can imagine. “[T]he purges have only just begun,” warned conservative commentator Ben Shapiro after the announcements were made.
The reaction on the left was...just as swift. And by “left,” of course, I mean the media as well as Democrat lawmakers and pundits. Ohio Rep. and one-time presidential candidate Tim Ryan (remember him? It’s ok if you don’t!) railed on the House floor: “Stop talking about Dr. Seuss and start working with us on behalf of the American workers!” As if the GOP can’t walk and chew gum at the same time.
“The culture war playbook is a well-worn one for the GOP,” wrote Politico dismissively, after noting that Biden and the Democrats have “no time” for such frivolous issues. A New York Magazine headline declared that “The Right Would Rather Debate Kids’ Books Than Biden’s Bills.” While Democrats are focusing on serious business and public policy, the piece argued, Republicans are obsessed with “frivolous culture war spats”.
Here’s where I tell you - shocker! - that I actually don’t care about Dr. Seuss. What I care about is hypocrisy and gaslighting. Allow me to explain.
The left wants to act like they don’t care about culture wars, but in reality, that’s ALL they care about. And the gaslighting is really starting to chap my behind. Can the right sometimes become too obsessed with culture war fights? Yes, absolutely. But, as a famous philosopher once said, “it takes two to tango.”
Journalist Glenn Greenwald touched on this during an appearance on Megyn Kelly’s podcast a few months ago when discussing Joe Rogan. (I’m going to paraphrase his point, but everyone should give it a listen here). Why does the left despise Joe Rogan? He’s pretty progressive in his policy views, and even endorsed Bernie Sanders. The answer? Because Joe Rogan is not like them. He may be cool with raising the minimum wage and legalizing weed, but he also likes MMA fighting and hunting. He has the audacity to interview “controversial” figures like Abigail Shrier and not apologize for it - despite how much it may offend young woke staffers at Spotify. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter what policy positions Joe Rogan holds, his cardinal sin is that he doesn’t conform to the progressive hivemind. The message is loud and clear: Conform, or risk getting canceled. Yes, CANCELED.
Now, let’s get back to me (oof. Did I really just type that?). I’m starting to actually care about the culture wars and I’m ready for it. How’s that for a little honesty? Sure, I’d rather not focus on Dr. Seuss or whether we’re going to acknowledge the differences between Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head. But the idea that there’s only one side that collectively loses its mind over culture is, to put it mildly, absurd. Yet the gaslighting continues.
On April 18, New York Times opinion writer Ezra Klein insisted that two recent examples of cancel culture - in which two well-qualified professionals lost their jobs over some tweets - were not, actually, about culture at all. Instead, they were the “actions of self-interested organizations that had decided their employees were now liabilities.” See? It’s economics, stupid! When the left eats its own, it’s about the bottom line - NOT CULTURE, YOU IDIOT. “[M]any of the people who participate in the digital pile-ons that lead to cancellation don’t want to cancel anybody,” Klein continued. “They’re just joining in that day’s online conversation.”
Oh, ok. And I was just born yesterday.
Want to know the quickest way to get me to boycott something, sign a random online petition, donate to some cause, or generally care about some trivial issue? Keep telling me reality isn’t reality.
And let’s not forget: where culture goes, politics follows. These battles don’t stay confined to our schools, neighborhoods, and toy store aisles. Eventually, some politician will decide to make [insert culture war issue here] the topic of his or her next legislative brainstorm session. And we all know what happens next.
So bring it on.
Something Non-Political
Now, for an abrupt left turn...
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my identity as a mom. What does that mean, anyway? Now that I’m 10 months into this crazy journey called “motherhood,” should I be *feeling* any different? Should “mom” be primarily how I define my identity? If so, why? If not, why not? I shared in my last edition of The Slip that I struggled quite a bit after my daughter was born last June. My postpartum anxiety and depression made me feel, among other things, like I had completely lost who I was as a person. I became completely untethered. It was scary and confusing.
I wish women talked about this more publicly. I hardly believe I’m the only mom who has struggled with an identity crisis (not to sound overly dramatic). In fact, the more I think about it, the more it makes sense that a new mom’s sense of identity WOULD go through the ringer after giving birth. Suddenly, we have this new person completely and wholly dependent on us for survival. We HAVE to be 100% consumed with this person’s nutrition, health, sleep, growth, etc, etc, etc. There is no option. Before my daughter was born, I was a wife, a sister, a friend, a foodie, a design enthusiast, a professional…In those first few weeks after my daughter was born it felt like those parts of me ceased to exist. I was 100% mother, and it was completely foreign to me.
For some, this shift is empowering and delightful. For others (ahem), it is unmooring. And yes, I think it’s ok to admit that. Motherhood is a journey unlike any other, and with Mother’s Day right around the corner, I think it’s high time we celebrate - and talk about - every single unique, individual path. Yes, I am a mom AND so much more. 💗
Media Diet
To read: You Have To Read This Letter (You really do)
To listen: How I Built This: Food 52’s Amanda Hesser
To read: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey. (I normally don’t do celebrity books, but this one is good!)
Products and Things I’m Loving:
Petitfee Gold and Snail Hydrogel Eye Patches.Seriously been loving these!
Thrive market. As someone who loves to cook, but hates to grocery shop, Thrive Market has become my new obsession for all things pantry staples. Not only can you filter goods by diet, but as a full-time working mom, the more I can get delivered to my front door the better!
Mother’s Day Gift Ideas That Show You Care, But Won’t Break The Bank
This gorgeous set of lemon stoneware mugs
This truffles and win gift set