Leslie Bell, a psychotherapist and sociologist, discusses the tug-of-war between love and career aspirations. She offers insights on prioritizing personal goals without sacrificing relationships. The conversation reveals the importance of communication and mutual support in navigating choices, especially for women facing societal pressures. They explore real dilemmas about pursuing career dreams while maintaining connections, highlighting that it's possible to achieve balance and growth in both areas. It's a thought-provoking dive into the complexities of modern relationships.
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Cheryl's Graduate School Move
Cheryl Strayed shares her move to Syracuse for graduate school with her partner Brian.
This move was a joint decision reflecting mutual support for career and relationship goals.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Collaborate on Relationship Decisions
Discuss and jointly decide whether to pursue a long-distance relationship or sacrifice one goal with your partner.
Ensure both partners commit to the decision to avoid resentment or imbalance.
insights INSIGHT
Career vs Love is Patriarchal Setup
The framing of career versus love as zero-sum reflects internalized patriarchal expectations.
Women often feel responsible for accommodating relationship sacrifices, which is unfair and limiting.
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Hard to Get 20 Something Women and the Paradox of Sexual Freedom
Hard to Get 20 Something Women and the Paradox of Sexual Freedom
20-Something Women and the Paradox of Sexual Freedom
Leslie Bell
Leslie Bell's 'Hard to Get: 20-Something Women and the Paradox of Sexual Freedom' explores the challenges young women face as they navigate love, sex, and relationships in the context of increased social and economic opportunities. The book examines how traditional gender roles and expectations still influence women's choices, creating a paradox between sexual freedom and the pursuit of personal and professional goals. Bell delves into the pressures women feel to prioritize relationships while also striving for career success, leading to internal conflicts and difficult decisions. Through interviews and analysis, the book provides insights into the complexities of modern female identity. It offers a framework for understanding the challenges and opportunities that shape the lives of contemporary women.
The Bell Jar
Sylvia Plath
The Bell Jar is a thinly veiled autobiography that follows Esther Greenwood, a talented and ambitious college student, as she experiences a mental breakdown. The novel begins with Esther's unfulfilling summer internship as a guest editor for a women's magazine in New York City, where she grapples with identity and societal norms. Upon returning home, Esther's mental health deteriorates, leading to several suicide attempts and eventual hospitalization. The novel explores her treatment, including electroconvulsive therapy, and her gradual recovery under the care of a progressive psychiatrist. It also critiques the limited roles available to women in the 1950s and the brutal psychiatric treatments of the time[2][3][5].
This episode was originally released on April 13th, 2017.
You love your partner, you love your career... but they're pulling you in different directions. What do you do? Is it foolish to put your career on hold for the sake of your relationship? Or is it more foolish to give up a great relationship for the sake of your career? Or, is there a way to have both?
The Sugars discuss two letters from women in relatively new relationships who are having trouble deciding what to prioritize. They have help from psychotherapist and sociologist Leslie Bell, author of Hard to Get: 20-Something Women and the Paradox of Sexual Freedom.
Dear Sugars 