The Bulletin Mormon Church Attack, Looming Government Shutdown, and Conspiratorial Women
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Sep 30, 2025 Noelle Cook, an ethnographer researching conspiracy theories and extremism, dives into why midlife women are increasingly drawn to conspiratorial beliefs. She explores the role of invisibility and caregiving in fueling recruitment, while also investigating the blend of New Age spirituality and conspiracy known as 'conspirituality.' Noelle shares insights from her research on the January 6 events, highlighting how diverse backgrounds can unite around shared grievances. Her findings shed light on the emotional triggers that amplify these movements.
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Ordinary Women In Extremist Spaces
- Noelle Cook discovered many January 6 women resembled everyday Gen X women and were drawn in via social ties and online communities.
- She shifted from academic study to relational ethnography after building long conversations and friendships with participants.
Fieldwork Became Personal
- Tammy called Noelle after her trans daughter died in jail and had no one to turn to, prompting Cook to move beyond academia to help directly.
- That moment transformed the project from research into a book and ongoing care for Tammy.
Conspirituality As Ersatz Religion
- Conspirituality blends New Age spirituality and conspiracy as a quasi-religion that provides identity, purpose, and community.
- For many women, QAnon served as an entry point that algorithmically amplified these beliefs during the pandemic.
