In Bed With The Right Episode 35: Talia Lavin on the Christian Right's View of Marriage/Parenting
Oct 14, 2024
Talia Lavin, an author and researcher focused on the far right, discusses her book Wild Faith and the Christian Right's pervasive influence on American marriage and parenting. She critiques harmful parenting manuals that promote authoritarianism and physical discipline, detailing their impact on family dynamics. The conversation highlights the emotional turmoil linked to submissions expected of women, and addresses the dangers of unregulated homeschooling. Lavin emphasizes the need for accountability in parenting and prioritizing children's well-being.
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Hidden Cultural Infrastructure
- The Christian Right shapes everyday American life through internal media like parenting and marriage manuals.
- These texts create a parallel cultural universe that heavily influences public policy and family norms.
Books From Parents' Shelves
- Talia asked ex-evangelicals what books sat on their parents' shelves to find key texts shaping family life.
- She discovered deeply influential manuals like Dare to Discipline and To Train Up a Child in those responses.
Popular But Insular Texts
- Some Christian manuals sell far beyond their apparent obscurity, appearing high on Amazon alongside mainstream fiction.
- These books circulate within a large internal audience and are not accidental marginalities.
