It wasn't only TV shows but also Women's magazines.
I hypothesise that the Editors and writers of Women's Magazine undertook a subtle and covert form of manipulation, especially using pop psychology questionnaires.
For example, a psychology questionnaire would be "Are you being abused?" followed by personal stories of women who allegedly have been abused.
What clued me into this was a mate who told me that his wife would report feeling unhappy after reading women's magazines. His simple reply was, "Stop reading them!"
I should also add many decades ago, a female psychologist I knew said that magazines like Australia's Women's Weekly were about maintaining things as they are.
I didn't understand what she was saying at the time.
That’s a really interesting point, and you’re right—it wasn’t just TV shows, but also women’s magazines that played a big role in shaping perceptions. Those subtle manipulations, like pop psychology questionnaires and personal stories, often worked to sow seeds of doubt about traditional roles, even when no issue existed. Women percieve abuse to be much more common than it is! I am so sick and tires of the not-so-subtle message that if you were content in your role as a wife or mother, maybe you were missing something. We are left watching sci-fi and Tom Cruise.
I can tell you exactly where I was and roughly the year, 1992, when a friend told me she was pregnant with her first baby. In a discussion, I spoke to her about the importance of including her partner with the child. After all, I have heard many mothers say that their husbands did not show interest when their children were young. I suspected he was excluded.
Little did I know that what I had hypothesised was not researched until a decade later and is known as "Maternal Gatekeeping."
This concept of “maternal hate keeping” entered my mind some months ago here on Substack (thanks!), and it was like this proverbial light that came to me. I have commented on this elsewhere in here, but a lot of this maternal gatekeeping stuff has to me been rampant in the Danish society regarding maternal leave (which is paid for in Denmark). In a society where many people voices the importance of equal rights for men and women, a disturbing number of people were against when the EU made paternal leave a right - something we in Denmark hadn’t been able to do on our own (shameful to me since we no doubt have the social structures and safety to do that). In may this year for the first time, the Danish Parliament passed legislation to make conscription mandatory for both sexes of all citizens (deemed fit to serve) and with the same conditions from 2027. This is to me a HUGE step in equal rights - conscription can of course be discussed but if it’s there (and in Denmark with a part of Denmark in the Baltic Sea especially) I don’t see a viable alternative for years and years (also our experience with the German occupation and after that, USSR liberating “Bornholm” in the Baltic Sea but forgot to take leave after) it of course has to be extended to all.
One of the most vehement critics of this was an organization called “Kvinfo” (clever play on the word for woman “Kvinde” and “information”) who spoke against this because it was not supporting women. 😳
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Their hypocrisy is astounding. And while I do not bet in real life, figuratively I’ll bet good money that many of these voices are the same who are “maternal gatekeepers” (I haven’t looked into the sources yet but I’ll be very much surprised if there is not a significant overlap. The same people who have propelled equal rights for all and talked (of course as ought to be) against any discrimination, funnily enough often also seem to believe in the notion that discrimination is only discrimination if it is negative discrimination (for example over the years many have banged the drums not only that couples of same sex adopting but that they should have even better opportunities (rooted in special legislation!) than heterosexual couples. And this was even back before the identity Marxism took more firmly root.
I have always found men’s magazines so much more interesting than women’s magazines lol. There are some exceptions, for example I lived in Andalusia back in the ‘10s and the Spanish Vogue and Elle were actually pretty good back then.
Charlotte from SATC (which is still among my favorites for me) and Carol from BH 90210 (the original) are also for me a good example. We do see how she feels a bit alone after their relocation but also we see how actually even though they have their problems, the Walsh twins are generally more happy and stable compared to their friends and frenemies.
(I know some find this obnoxious, I love this show).
I saw your post about another favorite of mine, Gilmore Girls. But I should maybe add that while I did grow up with Beverly Hills (I was born in 1982), I didn’t really watch neither SATC nor Gilmore Girls until my early twenties and that might have had some impact on how these shows affected me and what I take from them. (I am sort of a “heretic” in Gilmore I guess, because I am totally on Team Lorelai & Christopher or at least Lorelai & Max. I love Mrs. Kim, And Rory should have accepted Logan’s proposal.
Dear Monica, thank you for your kind thoughts and feedback! These are all great shows I loved them too, which is what makes them so dangerous. I’m incredibly pleased with the review you left- it means a lot to me and makes the hard work worth it. Happy thanksgiving!
Oh and I NEVER really got into Mad Men or Desperate Housewives. But “our family ties” with Michael J Fox and others to me actually depicted a positive family dynamic (I watch the whole first season from time to time still).
I really want to appreciate the content you put out, but your obsession with Jews is a bit too much for my liking. You should perhaps focus more on Europeans, much more relatable.
Thank you for your feedback. I focus on promoting Judeo-Christian values. As an observant Jewess, I naturally reference our scripture, as it is what I am most familiar with. Regarding nationalities, both Malka and I are Europeans. In my conversation with her, the emphasis was on traditional values, which are also cherished by Christian tradwives, rather than on religion itself.
I sincerely hope you will continue enjoying Psychobabble, we have amazing guests lined up.
It wasn't only TV shows but also Women's magazines.
I hypothesise that the Editors and writers of Women's Magazine undertook a subtle and covert form of manipulation, especially using pop psychology questionnaires.
For example, a psychology questionnaire would be "Are you being abused?" followed by personal stories of women who allegedly have been abused.
What clued me into this was a mate who told me that his wife would report feeling unhappy after reading women's magazines. His simple reply was, "Stop reading them!"
I should also add many decades ago, a female psychologist I knew said that magazines like Australia's Women's Weekly were about maintaining things as they are.
I didn't understand what she was saying at the time.
That’s a really interesting point, and you’re right—it wasn’t just TV shows, but also women’s magazines that played a big role in shaping perceptions. Those subtle manipulations, like pop psychology questionnaires and personal stories, often worked to sow seeds of doubt about traditional roles, even when no issue existed. Women percieve abuse to be much more common than it is! I am so sick and tires of the not-so-subtle message that if you were content in your role as a wife or mother, maybe you were missing something. We are left watching sci-fi and Tom Cruise.
A question I often ask myself is, "Why is it so?"
I can tell you exactly where I was and roughly the year, 1992, when a friend told me she was pregnant with her first baby. In a discussion, I spoke to her about the importance of including her partner with the child. After all, I have heard many mothers say that their husbands did not show interest when their children were young. I suspected he was excluded.
Little did I know that what I had hypothesised was not researched until a decade later and is known as "Maternal Gatekeeping."
This concept of “maternal hate keeping” entered my mind some months ago here on Substack (thanks!), and it was like this proverbial light that came to me. I have commented on this elsewhere in here, but a lot of this maternal gatekeeping stuff has to me been rampant in the Danish society regarding maternal leave (which is paid for in Denmark). In a society where many people voices the importance of equal rights for men and women, a disturbing number of people were against when the EU made paternal leave a right - something we in Denmark hadn’t been able to do on our own (shameful to me since we no doubt have the social structures and safety to do that). In may this year for the first time, the Danish Parliament passed legislation to make conscription mandatory for both sexes of all citizens (deemed fit to serve) and with the same conditions from 2027. This is to me a HUGE step in equal rights - conscription can of course be discussed but if it’s there (and in Denmark with a part of Denmark in the Baltic Sea especially) I don’t see a viable alternative for years and years (also our experience with the German occupation and after that, USSR liberating “Bornholm” in the Baltic Sea but forgot to take leave after) it of course has to be extended to all.
One of the most vehement critics of this was an organization called “Kvinfo” (clever play on the word for woman “Kvinde” and “information”) who spoke against this because it was not supporting women. 😳
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Their hypocrisy is astounding. And while I do not bet in real life, figuratively I’ll bet good money that many of these voices are the same who are “maternal gatekeepers” (I haven’t looked into the sources yet but I’ll be very much surprised if there is not a significant overlap. The same people who have propelled equal rights for all and talked (of course as ought to be) against any discrimination, funnily enough often also seem to believe in the notion that discrimination is only discrimination if it is negative discrimination (for example over the years many have banged the drums not only that couples of same sex adopting but that they should have even better opportunities (rooted in special legislation!) than heterosexual couples. And this was even back before the identity Marxism took more firmly root.
I have always found men’s magazines so much more interesting than women’s magazines lol. There are some exceptions, for example I lived in Andalusia back in the ‘10s and the Spanish Vogue and Elle were actually pretty good back then.
I'm gonna write a TV show or movie script that gives women a houswife to admire and want to be like.
Thank you! Please do, I would pay to watch that.
I would gladly pay too!
Charlotte from SATC (which is still among my favorites for me) and Carol from BH 90210 (the original) are also for me a good example. We do see how she feels a bit alone after their relocation but also we see how actually even though they have their problems, the Walsh twins are generally more happy and stable compared to their friends and frenemies.
(I know some find this obnoxious, I love this show).
I saw your post about another favorite of mine, Gilmore Girls. But I should maybe add that while I did grow up with Beverly Hills (I was born in 1982), I didn’t really watch neither SATC nor Gilmore Girls until my early twenties and that might have had some impact on how these shows affected me and what I take from them. (I am sort of a “heretic” in Gilmore I guess, because I am totally on Team Lorelai & Christopher or at least Lorelai & Max. I love Mrs. Kim, And Rory should have accepted Logan’s proposal.
Dear Monica, thank you for your kind thoughts and feedback! These are all great shows I loved them too, which is what makes them so dangerous. I’m incredibly pleased with the review you left- it means a lot to me and makes the hard work worth it. Happy thanksgiving!
Oh and I NEVER really got into Mad Men or Desperate Housewives. But “our family ties” with Michael J Fox and others to me actually depicted a positive family dynamic (I watch the whole first season from time to time still).
I really want to appreciate the content you put out, but your obsession with Jews is a bit too much for my liking. You should perhaps focus more on Europeans, much more relatable.
Hi Brad,
Thank you for your feedback. I focus on promoting Judeo-Christian values. As an observant Jewess, I naturally reference our scripture, as it is what I am most familiar with. Regarding nationalities, both Malka and I are Europeans. In my conversation with her, the emphasis was on traditional values, which are also cherished by Christian tradwives, rather than on religion itself.
I sincerely hope you will continue enjoying Psychobabble, we have amazing guests lined up.
Hannah