Meaning Versus Happiness in Care

Caregiving is often framed as a burden, but what if it’s also one of the most meaningful ways we come to know ourselves?

Emily sits down with acclaimed journalist and cultural critic Elissa Strauss for this episode to discuss her extensive work on the politics and culture of parenting and caregiving, which has appeared in publications like The Atlantic and The New York Times. 

Centering on her new book, When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others, they challenge feminist notions that have undervalued caregiving and explore how caregiving can enrich one's sense of self. 

You’ll hear about the philosophical foundations of care ethics and how caregiving for various dependents, not just children, brings profound personal growth, scientific research on caregiver well-being, the importance of male caregivers, and also the need for systemic support for caregivers.

Listen and Learn: 

• How redefining caregiving, not as a burden, but as a powerful source of meaning and self-expansion, might change what we think feminism, motherhood, and what a “full” life actually look like
• How caregiving across parenting, disability, and aging becomes an intense, surprising mirror that reshapes identity and meaning in ways most of us never expect
• The research that shows why caregiving doesn’t have to wear you down, and under certain conditions, it can actually make you healthier and even help you live longer
• How one husband turned the challenges of caregiving into moments of quiet activism, love, and connection
• How does caring for others bring meaning, even when day-to-day life feels messy?
• What if the real barrier for working caregivers isn’t just the glass ceiling but the glass door separating home and work, and how breaking it could change everything we value about care?
• Why men’s brains change when they care for others, how caregiving reshapes masculinity, and what it really means for dads today
• Why caring for those closest to us isn’t just personal—it’s a radical philosophical lens that could change how we think about society itself

Resources: 

• When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781982169282
• Elisa’s Website: https://www.elissastrauss.com/
• Elisa’s Substack: https://elissa.substack.com/
• Connect with Elisa on Social Media: 
• https://www.facebook.com/elissa.strauss.7/
• https://www.instagram.com/elissaavery/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/elissa-strauss-742720112 

About Elissa Strauss

Elissa Strauss is a journalist, essayist, and cultural critic who has been writing about the politics and culture of parenting and caregiving for more than fifteen years. Her work appears in publications like the Atlantic, the New York Times, Glamour, ELLE, and elsewhere, and she was a former contributing writer at CNN.com and Slate. Her book, "When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others," is out now from Gallery Books, and she writes a Substack called "MADE WITH CARE."

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