One bad mother In praise of psycho housewives, stage parents, momfluencers, and other women we love to hate

Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

New York magazine writer Dickson debuts with a smart and funny exploration of what it means to be a "bad mom." In a culture obsessed with criticizing mothers, Dickson explains, moms are constantly shamed for failing to meet ever-evolving (and largely impossible) standards. She unravels how ideals of "good" motherhood have shifted throughout history, from the Victorian era, when mothers were expected to be "Angels in the House," selflessly nurturing their family, to the 1920s, when some psychologists purported that maternal affection stunted children's emotional growth. In more recent decades, feminism has failed to make the good/bad mom binary disappear; instead, Dickson asserts, "supplied with more options for how to mother than ever before, we are given more and more opportunities to fail." Dickson delivers insightful and nuanced appraisals of the bad-mom archetypes prevalent in pop culture today, demonstrating that "stage moms," like reality star Kris Jenner, are simultaneously vilified for devoting themselves to their children's success and blamed for their kids' failures, and that while "MILFs," like the character Stifler's mom in American Pie, are shallow manifestations of male fantasies, they're also aspirational in that they "never, ever apologize for their desires." This provocative critique will challenge readers' assumptions about motherhood. (Feb.)

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Review by Library Journal Review

As a senior writer for New York magazine, Dickson is no stranger to quick-witted culture reporting. Now she brings her thought-provoking perspectives to her debut book, examining pop-culture portrayals of women, with archetypes that range from tradwives and working mothers to momfluencers and so-called "welfare queens." Dickson takes a humorous yet informative look at contemporary history, from Mildred Pierce to the MILF era, showing that while there may not be one right way to be a mom, there is certainly no shortage of people ready to tell others that they're doing it wrong. Dickson gives an expressive performance of the self-narrated audiobook as she discusses family, femininity, and society's expectations for both. Her candid, conversational tone turns this issue-oriented analysis into an approachable, engaging listening experience. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a playful, provocative pop culture study that offers an amusing analysis of motherhood icons and ideals, from June Cleaver to Kris Jenner. Recommended for fans of thoughtful perspectives on parenthood, such as Jessica Grose's Screaming on the Inside or Minna Dubin's Mom Rage.--Lauren Hackert

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

An investigation into the bad-mother/good-mother binary and the way it shapes a mother's place in society today. Having reported on both popular culture and deeper sociopolitical shifts for outlets such asNew York andRolling Stone, Dickson weaves together her observations to dive deep into a variety of "bad mother" tropes. From stage mothers and unapologetically sexual clichés to ambitious career women, the author's subjects demonstrate how the "expansiveness" of the bad mom label, applied across political and cultural spectrums, renders every mother subject to judgment, thus reinforcing the broader disempowerment of all women. Dickson's hope is to spur some measure of empathy, maybe even solidarity, in the reader to counter the systemic forces that erect these mothers as villains. To make her point, she turns to (sometimes mediocre) cult classics and revisits some of her own previous reporting, draping her research in a healthy dose of bewildered snark and a hint of amusement with herself. While frequently entertaining, these witty jabs and asides sometimes dilute the potency of her fury and distract from its gravitas. Dickson is (rightly) quick to acknowledge the privilege of her race and class, keenly noting how the obsession with and variability of the repercussions of being labeled as a "bad mom" differ across races and economic classes. The author flirts with--but dutifully avoids--offering a clear and authoritative definition of a good mom. Instead, she keeps her focus on the "insanely rigorous standards surrounding motherhood" that have persisted even as women have pursued and found a measure of freedom, success, and support in other domains. She thus suggests a new narrative of female empowerment in a world where social media and sensational media coverage further entrench expectations that mothers be relentlessly selfless, materially unrewarded, and eternally disconnected. A humorous and potent takedown of the criticism awaiting mothers at--and between--every extreme. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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