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Culture Study explores societal norms, personal experiences, and the impact of technology on daily life through a critical lens. Topics range from home ownership pressures and the #TradWife phenomenon to burnout and the portrayal of gender in media, often focusing on the intersection of culture and identity.

Society and Culture Technology and Lifestyle Gender and Identity Media and Entertainment Work-Life Balance Social Media Trends Personal Development

The hottest Substack posts of Culture Study

And their main takeaways

Pretty White Moms in Their Pretty White Houses

7258 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Motherhood Online Influence Gender Roles Consumer Culture
  1. Momfluencers monetize their maternal identity on social media through sponsored content, affiliate links, and brand partnerships.
  2. Momfluencer culture perpetuates reductive and exclusionary ideals of motherhood rooted in gender, race, and class.
  3. Aestheticized motherhood by Cool and Trad Moms offers an illusion of certainty and personhood through visual representation.

Culture Study Goes Full ACOTAR

3308 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Fantasy Romance Literature Podcasts Critique
  1. These books have explicit sex scenes that focus on female pleasure, offering multiple builds and payoffs, with a perspective that centers around women's desires.
  2. The hotness in the books is rooted in monogamous fantasies, exploring the idea of soulmates and eternal monogamy as very sexy concepts.
  3. The series grapples with the complexity of first loves and the trauma of realizing someone may not be your perfect match, providing a rare depiction of challenging romantic realities.

Inside the Dahlia Wars

3103 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Gardening Community Monetization Ownership Creators
  1. Dahlias have a rich history and diverse range of varieties, making them popular among collectors for their beauty and unique characteristics.
  2. The dahlia community faces challenges like disease control, competition for rare varieties, and shifting norms around pricing and ownership.
  3. There is a growing trend among millennials to turn hobbies, like dahlia growing, into side hustles, reflecting a desire for productive and monetized leisure activities.

The Worst, Worst Week

8643 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Grief Loss Recovery
  1. The author's dog passed away, leading to deep sadness and grief.
  2. The author is also recovering from their first case of COVID, adding to the difficult week.
  3. The author is taking a break from the newsletter to heal and put themselves back together.
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The Gnome Trail

2936 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Nature Community Social Issues Art Podcast
  1. There are many hidden trails on the island that offer unique and beautiful experiences for those who take the time to explore.
  2. Community, like the trails, requires ongoing maintenance and efforts to be inclusive and welcoming to all.
  3. The existence of gates, physical or metaphorical, in communities raises questions about access and the risk of exclusion.

The Case for Detracking

2821 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🚌 Education Student experience Challenges
  1. Detracking in education is a process that aims to reverse the ways students are grouped into different educational pathways, addressing systemic injustices.
  2. The harm of tracking can lead to racial and socioeconomic disparities in education, impacting opportunities for college and overall school experience.
  3. Challenges in detracking include the resistance from educators and parents, as well as the need for training and support to create more inclusive and diverse classroom environments.

How Do You Make Email and Texts Steal Less Time?

2654 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Communication Productivity Social media
  1. Emails, texts, and messaging apps can make us worse at maintaining deep friendships by offering false comforts and distractions that replace meaningful connections.
  2. Efficiency in emails and texts is important, but it's crucial not to let these tools take over our lives and prevent us from engaging in activities we truly value like hanging out with friends or pursuing hobbies.
  3. The goal is to communicate in more present and meaningful ways, where our attention isn't constantly divided. Finding a balance between digital communication and real-life interactions is key.

A Wild and Shimmering Life

2334 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Film Hollywood Representation Identity Legacy
  1. Katie Gee Salisbury's book on Anna May Wong sheds light on the complex negotiation of popular media and gives a fresh perspective into Wong's storied career.
  2. The book highlights the critical importance of personal experience in biography writing, emphasizing the subjective nature of telling someone's life story.
  3. The discussion on Hollywood's past and present shows that while progress has been made in Asian American representation, there are ongoing challenges and biases in the industry that still exist today.

How Do You Find a Good [Insert Profession Here]?

2116 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Advice Community Internet
  1. The post discusses the importance of finding trustworthy professionals in various fields like doctors, therapists, contractors, and more.
  2. Detailed information is key when seeking recommendations or providing advice on services to ensure transparency and clarity.
  3. Conflicting advice and experiences are normal, emphasizing the idea that everyone's mileage may vary when it comes to service providers.

Culture Study Classifieds! (Winter Edition)

2308 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Community Creativity Networking
  1. Share your services or store to reach a wider audience by posting in a classifieds section like this.
  2. Offer your skills for free or a low fee to help others, whether it's proofreading, grant writing tips, or providing other specific services.
  3. Showcase your creative work like photography, writing, music, or design in platforms that allow you to share with interested audiences.

An Atmospheric River of Links and Recs

2051 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Books Podcasts Shopping Community Writing
  1. The author shares about fulfilling Trans Santa gifts with donations and the impact it had, showcasing the power of community support.
  2. The post discusses upcoming content on resistance to the Airbnb Space decorating style and invites readers to share their experiences with alternative rental aesthetics.
  3. The author mentions enjoying reading a fantasy series and gathering various links and recommendations to share with paid subscribers.