Phil Maciak, a TV critic at The New Republic and an expert on dad culture, explores the quirks of fatherhood and style. He discusses what defines dad culture, from pleated shorts to sentimental 'dad hats.' The conversation delves into non-traditional family roles and the impact of media on parenting norms. Maciak also highlights how masculinity is evolving alongside diverse identities. They even debate whether Bandit from 'Bluey' represents the ideal dad. Get ready to rethink what it means to be a father!
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Dad Culture Symbolism
Dad culture symbols (cargo shorts, grilling) reflect shifts in work, home, and gender roles.
These symbols tie to changes in American life starting in the 19th century.
insights INSIGHT
Dad Archetype Emergence
The "dad" archetype emerged as fathers sought intimacy with children.
This also involved adapting to evolving gender roles and increased household equality.
insights INSIGHT
Dad as Adjective
"Dad" is now an adjective describing an aesthetic rather than just a person.
This shift aligns with the decline of monoculture and rise of social media.
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In 'Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women', Susan Faludi presents a detailed examination of the backlash against feminist gains of the 1970s. The book argues that this backlash, fueled by media, politics, and popular culture, blames the women's liberation movement for various problems faced by American women in the late 1980s. Faludi identifies and debunks myths such as the 'infertility epidemic' and the 'man shortage', showing how these myths were constructed and disseminated to undermine feminist progress. The book also explores historical trends of backlash following significant feminist advancements and its ongoing impact on women's rights and equality.
Feminism's forgotten fight
Feminism's forgotten fight
Kirsten Swinth
What makes something ~Dad~? Is it pleated Dockers? A worn baseball cap? Asking (again) if you’ve checked your oil? Incompetency in the domestic sphere paired with competency outside of it? I’ve long loved thinking through both the serious and the ridiculous of Dad Culture, and for today’s episode, we have an actual scholar of it (Phil Maciak, currently hard at work on a Dad Culture book) to unpack the history and theory of Dadness, including: do you have to be a dad to be part of Dad Culture (no) is Dad Culture just white middle-class boomer dads (also no) and is Bandit from Bluey too good of a Dad (maybe). Listen on, and let’s Dad It Up.
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