In this episode of Telling the Bees, I delve into the complex themes surrounding motherhood, particularly focusing on the portrayal of 'bad moms' in both fiction and nonfiction. I discuss the societal expectations placed on women, the controversies surrounding Meghan Markle/Sussex, and the “My Friends Abandoned Me When They Had Kids” discourse. I then analyze cultural depictions of motherhood compared with the representation of women in media before ending with Love is Blind and White Lotus.
Note: I realized I misspoke during this, and Meghan and Harry's Spotify deal was worth $20m, not $100m. Apologies!
Chapters:
00:00 | Intro
05:19 | The Impact of Fame and Media on Meghan Markle
10:37 | Cultural Commentary on Women in Media
21:34 | My Friends Abandoned Me When I Had Kids Article
26:48 | The Bad Mother Phenomenon in Media
32:10 | Love is Blind
36:38 | White Lotus: Aging and Societal Pressures
Articles:
As Ever: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/21/style/meghan-markle-as-ever-brand-name-controversy.html
Paul Mescal Wants Privacy:
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/02/paul-mescal-aftersun-oscars-awards-insider
The Infamous Meghan/Harry Article:
https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/prince-harry-meghan-markle-cover-story-2025
My Friends Abandoned Me When They Had Kids:
https://www.thecut.com/article/advice-my-friends-abandoned-me-when-they-had-kids.html
Boyfriendland:
https://tellthebeees.substack.com/p/boyfriendland
The Monstrousness Lurking Inside Motherhood:
https://lithub.com/the-monstrousness-lurking-inside-motherhood/
Red Team/Blue Team:
https://tellthebeees.substack.com/p/red-teamblue-team
Are You Afraid of Getting Older?
https://tellthebeees.substack.com/p/are-you-afraid-of-getting-older
Snow White Controversies:
https://www.vulture.com/article/disney-snow-white-controversy-timeline.html
https://www.vulture.com/article/disney-snow-white-premiere.html