New Books in Sociology Amanda Parrish Morgan, "Stroller" (Bloomsbury, 2022)
Nov 30, 2025
Amanda Parrish Morgan, a sociologist and author, dives deep into the cultural significance of strollers in her book, *Stroller*. She explores how these everyday objects symbolize parenting philosophies and social status, revealing insights into the pressures new parents face. Discussing topics like momfluencer culture and the intense judgment around parenting choices, she highlights the emotional labor of motherhood. Morgan connects these themes to broader social implications, including the implications of consumerism and individualism in U.S. parenting.
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Stroller As A Cultural Nexus
- The stroller functions as a cultural nexus that both enables parental autonomy and imposes constraints.
- Amanda Parrish Morgan shows how a running stroller made her stronger yet slower, a vivid metaphor for motherhood.
Baby Gear As Social Signal
- Strollers and baby gear act as visible status signals that index class, values, and parenting philosophy.
- Morgan notes parents use objects to locate themselves socially and to show belonging or distinctiveness.
Parenting Style As Identity Signal
- Contemporary parenting styles function like identity markers more than concrete practices.
- Morgan links momfluencing and curated parenting choices to signaling membership on an informal spectrum of attentiveness.
