Momfluenced

  

I received a copy of this release from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture

Author: Sara Petersen

Publisher: Beacon Press

Release Date: 4.25.23

Publisher’s Summary 

Momfluencers are just like us, except they aren't. They are mothers, yes. They are also marketing strategists, content creators, lighting experts, advertising executives, and artists. They are businesswomen. The most successful momfluencers offer content that differs very little from what we used to find in glossy women's magazines like Glamour and Real Simple, only they're churning it out daily and that content is their lives.

My Review

This book fills the gap in my life since the last episode of Jo Piazza's "Under the Influence" podcast. 

Author Sara Petersen takes a deep dive into the "representation of motherhood designed to be 'noticed'"aka "momfluencing." As a consumer/viewer the fascinating phenomenon of momfluencing causes me to cycle through feelings of envy, aspiration, inspiration, and resentment, but I can easily see why so many women are drawn to this type of social media performance--validation and financial compensation. These mothers are celebrating their previously unseen labor and controlling their narrative. They're also commandeering that income flow back into their pocket instead of being "used as pawns in our patriarchal capitalist culture, which depends on our caregiving labor to maintain the entire system but denies us any compensation (financial or otherwise) for that labor." *BOOM* That makes you want to cheer them on, right? 

But, as with anything, there are always dark sides, and momfluencing is no different. From privacy concerns to white supremacy, this type of creative labor definitely has its downsides. If you've read Seyward Darby's "Sisters in Hate," Max Fisher's The Chaos Machine," or Sarah Frier's "No Filter" you're going to have some full-circle moments. This book includes expert analyses from psychologists and academics, multiple momfluencer account highlights, and lots of personal author insights. It is the perfect mix of relatable and informative. A crucial read for anyone who uses social media in any capacity. 

Note: I read this as an e-ARC but will be purchasing a physical copy, mainly so I can use the  "For Further Reading" list at the back of this book as my own personal syllabus. 

"Table of Contents" 

1. Performing Motherhood with a Hashtag

2. In Pursuit of Clean Countertops and a Shoppable Life

3. Mirror Neurons and Cringe Follows

4. Pretty/Ugly

5. Minimalist Moms, Cool Moms, and Unfiltered Moms

6. Good (White) Moms

7. Disrupting the Feed

8. Cruel Optimism and Dreams of Motherhood "Destined to Be Dashed"