12 Comments

It was pretty awful to watch.

They’re teens - or were. It’s like watching local high schoolers pretend to be adults.

Per usual, the girls are served up and sexualized … the men responsible are barely present. Guess whose futures and ability to retain custody of their children will be negatively impacted by this show?

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I feel that, Jennifer. Many of these women are in their late 20s or early 30s, yet it feels like high school.

It gives us a sense of the stunted growth and development of these women from growing up in a context that limited their body autonomy. If you're constantly told how to live by someone else then you don't get very good at making decisions.

It's hard to say how active the men are in their lives (or even the kids since they didn't get a lot of screen time), since there are producers and editors with their hands in the outcome. Thanks for chiming in.

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Many of them also married in their teens. Right around the time I was heading off to college and learning to live on my own. It’s a powerful documentary of how child /early marriage stunts female development.

My MIL was married off at age 15. It’s fascinating to hear her perspectives on feminism - the only topic that she is enraged and passionate about is outlawing child /teen marriage. It is at the crux of female oppression for her culture and worldview. And she moved heaven and earth to save her own children from it. In watching this sad reality show, I began to understand why.

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Yes. And especially how early motherhood stunts female development. And being in a very controlling conservative religion doesn’t encourage critical thinking skills. I’m still climbing my way out of that.

My grandma had an arranged marriage when she was 16, so shares a similar story to your MIL. She muses constantly about how her life could’ve been different otherwise. She was the smartest girl in the class, but at this time, didn’t have body autonomy or the option to go to university in Communist China.

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So much whoa!!

I wanna watch this but I won’t cos I’ll get addicted 😂

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Truly, Sarina!! Lots to unpack.

It's so dramatic! My brother confessed he watched every episode too! So in case you need something to binge… 🥲

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He did?! Was he like ‘fuck yeah!’ ?

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It sounded like he couldn't get enough! This is a Mormon moment we're having right now! 😂

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Growing up catholic and sensitive, shame is also known as ‘post nut guilt’

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Yup. That sounds just about right. Thanks for chiming in.

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I'm so looking forward to unpacking all of this with you on Saturday, Sarah!

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Couldn't agree more, Lane! I have my Diet Coke ready!

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