Why the #boymom fad hurts girls and boys alike

If you haven’t been living under a rock this past year, you’ve probably seen the emergence of the #boymom movement. I’m about to rant about why it’s harmful not only to girls boys but also boys. Hear me out. You may say “this is harmless and for moms who are trapped at home with boys […]

Finding male allies in parenthood.

This last week has tested my strength and stress level. I am loving the work I’m doing. It is meaningful, I am appreciated by team members, my graduate students, my boss, and my big client sent a glowing review of my collaboration with his people this week. I’ve been working so hard on this university […]

Racism, Filters, and Maternal and Fetal Mortality

NOTE: This post will pull from a previous post I wrote about maternal and fetal mortality in 2016. I really encourage you to read it. Most of this will come from the CDC data and graphics I cite in that post. Maternal mortality is a public health issue. American women die at a rate […]

Let’s Not Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater, Okay?

This week, a lot of strange things took place on Capitol Hill. A strange, archaic way to pass bills was used to call for a motion to open debate on a bill. Various versions of “reform” were trotted out for the “Obamacare Crisis”. One version would have removed health coverage from an estimated 30 million […]

Substance Abuse is a Feminist Issue and a Maternal Issue

Today, I’m talking about an issue that does not attract much attention even in the circles which discuss pre-natal and post-natal depression. Honestly, even in the discussion of mental illness, this topic is often left out even if it is an especially common issue. Today, I am approaching drug abuse in pregnancy and in struggles […]

Part Three: Society and Gender

We’ve talked earlier in this series about how gender norms are influenced by parents first. I took issue with the idea that we can completely insulate our kids. While it’s a great goal to always strive for equality in the household, this is pretty impossible for most people. In fact, I would say […]

The invisible women of the women’s strike:

The women’s strike was seen by many feminists to be the continuation of momentum from the very successful Women’s March. It was expected to be less successful because a lot of women can’t strike (I could be fired as a government employee). However, it did close a number of school districts (which was a BFD). I would […]

Part Two: Gender and Family

This is part one of a series on gender equality in children. It’s targeted to smashing the patriarchy but it’s not just about our daughters. It’s also, perhaps, more important to those raising strong boys. Because without men realizing that women are human beings worthy of the same rights, women don’t stand a chance. […]

Part One: Gender in the Home