Ep. 93 - Understanding the Influence of Media on Motherhood: A Candid Conversation with Sara Peterson

In this episode of "Parenting Understood," we welcome Sara Petersen, who has been challenging the perception of motherhood influenced by media and social media. Sara shares her journey as a writer, inspired by her experiences as a mother and her evolving understanding of feminism. She explains how motherhood ignited her feminism and made her question the idealized version of motherhood portrayed in the media.

The conversation delves into the complexities of maternal identity and the weight it carries compared to paternal identity. We highlight the feelings of intellectual starvation, claustrophobia, and the struggle to maintain autonomy in motherhood as well as delve further into the impact of social media on motherhood.  We also examine the psychological impact of social media, including downward and upward comparison theories. 

You can learn more about Sara through her book, Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture, and by following her on Twitter and Instagram @slouisepetersen