Tradwives: Ballerina Farms, Nara Smith & Tiktok Culture

Since when did homemaking in heels become aspirational again? This week, we're diving into the viral world of tradwifeculture: the soft lit, stay-at-home fantasy that’s taken over TikTok. We unpack how this ultra-feminine, domestic aesthetic is being glamorized by influencers like Nara Smith and Estee Williams, and ask: is this just cottagecore with better branding, or something more dangerous?

We trace the history of the traditional housewife ideal, from 1950s suburbia to its deeply racist, exclusionary roots, and examine how today's revival may be less about “choice” and more about disillusionment with modern feminism. What happens when burnout meets nostalgia? And who gets left out when we romanticize the past?

From parasocial sourdough to the performance of wifedom online, we're asking the bigger questions: Is tradwife culture empowering? Is it regressive? And what does it say about where we are right now?

Created and produced by Tess Bellomo and Claire Donald

For more RAM, go here.

Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month here and save 15% when you buy annually!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices