Nov
17
Mommy Blogging and Feminism
ByOne of my faveorite professors attended a feminist movement conference last week. She mentioned that there was a whole session devoted to mommy blogging. In that moment I felt my two worlds collide. I talk with mommy bloggers. I work with mommy blogger. I would consider myself part of the mommy blogger community.
So why is mommy blogging a feminist movement?
Women for the first time in history are given the opportunity to scream out their frustrations. To name their faults. To show their true colors. To intertwine with other mothers, other women. They are coming together to show their scars. To admit that motherhood isn’t always rainbows and flowers. That we struggle and we fall.
That is feminism at it’s best.
No related posts.
What I particularly like about mommy blogs are the following:
1. It debunks the myth that society has forcefed us (and seems to continue to forcefeed us) that all females are natural mothers and therefore, motherhood/parenthood should come easily for us. It doesn’t. It probably won’t.
2. Along the same lines, I think that mommy blogs also debunk the notion that mommyhood is all flowers, fluff and just warm, fuzzy feelings because often it isn’t. I had mild to moderate PPD when I had my son. I cried. I couldn’t pick him up – I was scared to change his diaper. And the fact that society says that this wasn’t “normal” or the parent myth said it wasn’t normal isn’t ok. And there are other struggles that parents face daily that show that the fuzziness myth isn’t all that.
3. It helps bring women together, even if they don’t agree. Women support each other, which I think was one of the goals of feminism.
How crazy & exciting!!
Steph
I also think that mommy bloggers have become powerful in the political and consumer arenas, which is wonderful. Mom’s are finally being given credit for the real power and influence that they have.
Great post!