In Part 1 of our jam-packed conversation with feminist writers Tracy Clark-Flory and Amanda Montei, Sarah and Miranda attempt to unpack why this has been such a big year for examining sex in hetero-marriage, the specter of patriarchy haunting all of our marital beds, and whether or not good sex is possible anymore in a hetero-marriage.

Links:

* Amanda Montei’s “Can a Sexless Marriage Be a Happy One? Can a Sexless Marriage Be a Happy One?” in the New York Times Magazine

* Liars by Sarah Manguso

* All Fours by Miranda July

* Tracy on The Endless Repetition of Heterosexuality

* Want by Gillian Anderson

* Anne Hathaway’s The Idea Of You

* Nicole Kidman’s Babygirl

* Ester Perel

* Tracy Clark-Flory’s fabulous newsletter, TCF Emails and her book, Want Me.

* Amanda Montei’s fabulous newsletter, Mad Woman, and her book, Touched Out.

Culture Recs:

* Lisa Taddeo’s Three Women and the related television series

* Brian Jordan Alvarez

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit motherofitall.substack.com/subscribe