Ep. 93 - Understanding the Influence of Media on Motherhood: A Candid Conversation with Sara Peterson

In this episode of "Parenting Understood," we welcome Sara Petersen, who has been challenging the perception of motherhood influenced by media and social media. Sara shares her journey as a writer, inspired by her experiences as a mother and her evolving understanding of feminism. She explains how motherhood ignited her feminism and made her question the idealized version of motherhood portrayed in the media.   The conversation delves into the complexities of maternal identity and the weight it carries compared to paternal identity. We highlight the feelings of intellectual starvation, claustrophobia, and the struggle to maintain autonomy in motherhood as well as delve further into the impact of social media on motherhood.  We also examine the psychological impact of social media, including downward and upward comparison theories.    You can learn more about Sara through her book, Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture, and by following her on Twitter and Instagram @slouisepetersen  

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Parenting Understood is a podcast aimed at helping parents become more confident and relaxed in their parenting. We explore the current research on different parenting and child development topics and break it down into an easy to understand, relatable content. We know there is an abundance of information out there which can make it feel overwhelming. Maybe trying to determine what’s fact vs opinion makes you want to bury your head in the sand. Let us help you find and understand the evidence based resources you need, to feel more confident in the choices you make as parents. Join us each week to get a breakdown of the current research and let us guide you to becoming a more confident and relaxed parent, able to provide the sensitive and responsive care your child needs.