Recently a number of hit pieces and critiques of the cultural phenomenon known as “tradwives” seem to suggest that progressive feminists are beginning to have a change of heart. Although their stated intention is to detract from the phenomenon, the coverage often ends up looking a bit like a paid endorsement.
Consider a recent viral essay from The Times, “Meet the queen of ‘tradwives’ (and her eight children).” Writer Megan Agnew interviews the popular online influencer Hannah Neeleman who, although she doesn’t understand herself to be what is commonly labeled a “tradwife,” embodies the type more or less completely. Neeleman champions domesticity, motherhood, and traditional femininity at the wildly popular Ballerina Farm, popularized on her eponymous Instagram account which has almost 10 million followers. She also happens to be a beauty queen who is married to a fabulously wealthy husband with whom she lives on a large ranch with their eight beautiful children.
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