P.S. I’m Jewish

The following is a genuine email exchange. Names and locations have been changed as appropriate. ——————————————————————–From: J. [NAME@hotmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 11:52 AM To: Perry, David Subject: Your beautiful article on pope Francis on cnn.com Thanks David for a very well written article on the pope. First big surprise: It is written in … Continue ReadingP.S. I’m Jewish

Girls, Goldieblox, and the Perils of Princess Culture

My 9yr old complained to @LEGO_Group re mag she was sent,reply was useless. Re-registered as ‘John’.Big difference. pic.twitter.com/Tbdo1X39zc — Jacky Wafflewaitress (@Wafflewaitress) November 22, 2013 I think about toys and gender a lot because of the ways that early experiences shape our brains. My daughter gets invited to a lot of parties – because almost … Continue ReadingGirls, Goldieblox, and the Perils of Princess Culture

Motherhood: Not the most important job, because “job” metaphors devalue.

Earlier in the week, the Australian writer Catherine Deveney published a piece on motherhood and discourse in The Guardian. It mirrors some of my own arguments about the ways that our emphasis on motherhood is bad for women and men, albeit in different ways. She opens by talking about the line, “Motherhood is the most … Continue ReadingMotherhood: Not the most important job, because “job” metaphors devalue.

Inclusion not Same-ness: Nico’s holiday performance

As promised on Friday, here’s a video of Nico’s fall performance that illustrates my principle of “inclusion, not same-ness.” Inclusion is complicated. We demand reasonable accommodations, and we sometimes get them without litigating “reasonable,” but inclusion requires thoughtful, intentional, good-will from all parties. Sometimes inclusion means bringing someone into a group and enabling them to … Continue ReadingInclusion not Same-ness: Nico’s holiday performance

Cult of Compliance: Miami Convenience Store Edition

On Thursday, a vigil was held for Ethan Saylor, the man with Down syndrome whose death led me to coin the phrase, “cult of compliance.” I see the consequences of that cult everywhere. It’s a world in which police demand total compliance and use lack-of-compliance as justification for abuses both small and great (and fatal). … Continue ReadingCult of Compliance: Miami Convenience Store Edition