Friends, it is here. The Holiday Season. A time of to-dos, both explicit and implicit. A time of joy and stress. A time when we say “the holidays” but mostly mean Christmas. A time when Garrett is told that he needs to stop playing Monster Mash because apparently it’s not that holiday season. And, oh yes, a time of gender discourse.
Our conversation? It was fun. What a knotty topic. On one hand, it’s obvious, right? In heterosexual couples, the holidays are a time of disproportional work for moms. Just layers of societal expectations, piled on top of one another like a Martha Stewart trifle. But also: when does social construction stop and actual enjoyment begin? What if you like hosting the cookie exchanges, earnestly? And what about the holiday cards? We (Garrett and Sarah) don’t want you to feel like you have to send us one, but man oh man do we love hanging yours up.
Are we the only podcast discussing gender and the holidays this year? No! But are we the only podcast that talks at length about Dr. Ann Burnett’s holiday card archive at North Dakota State University? And where there’s also an extended, not safe for work or children digression where Garrett tries to explain the difference between South Dakota State University (home of the Jackrabbits) and NDSU (home of the Bison) and Sarah offers a VERY UNEXPECTED musical interlude? Yes, without a doubt. That’s the This Week In Breeders promise.
Links:
“All I want for Christmas is you” is objectively the best holiday song, but Garrett would not be the exact kind of white dude he is if he didn’t also admit that his personal favorite is, of course, “Fairytale of New York” by the Pogues.
“Holiday Magic is made by women, and it’s killing us” (Gemma Hartley, Huff Post)
Anne Helen Petersen on “The Mom Does It” (Culture Study)
The Sum of Small Things (Elizabeth Currid-Halkett)
“The History of our love-hate relationship with the Christmas letter” (Ann Hodgman, Smithsonian Magazine)
“How being busy became a badge of honor” (Minnesota Public Radio)
All hail Dr. Ann Burnett, keeper of the North Dakota State University Christmas Letter archive which may or may not still exist now that she’s an emeritus Professor (oh God we hope it’s still there: if it is you can send letters to Department No. 2310 P.O. Box 6050 Fargo, N.D. 58108).
Also, Sarah’s other podcast (
) did a banger holiday episode as well, as did our pals at .
More:
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