This week, we talked to Kristin Du Mez about her new book Live Laugh Love: The Secret History of White Christian Women and the World They Made. It’s the story of mommy blogs, cutesy feminine slogans, and smiling tradwives insisting that true empowerment means staying at home.
In reality, of course, it all serves to draw women into systems of oppression — whether it’s MAGA or the evangelical church. And if you question these systems, like our guest host Aimee did, the power of shame keeps you frozen in place.
Kristin said she hopes that knowing these systems were set up this way intentionally can help inspire more women to break free. Being shamed by your community is one of the worst feelings in the world, but it isn’t really personal. It’s about a few people at the top desperately clinging to their power.
The more we can welcome and not shame women who leave these controlling systems, the more women will feel like escape is an option. Like there’s another community ready to welcome them with open arms. Of course accountability is important, but more shame isn’t going to build a better world.
Stories like Aimee’s of escaping the evangelical church give us a peek into just how hard it is to leave. Shame and self-loathing are such powerful forces; it takes tremendous courage to speak your truth anyway. But it is possible, as Aimee proved. With empathy and community, we can make it a little easier.
Live Laugh Love is coming out on September 15 and pre-orders are available now!
