My Summers on the Cape
Working, Not “Summering,” on Martha’s Vineyard Summer rolling around means vacations for many. But for others it means seasonal migration to restaurant and hospitality work.... Read More
Vacationing Broke
Being poor can feel like you’re stuck, and when everyone you know disappears into the world when they have the chance, you realize how truly... Read More
All Bodies Are Beach Bodies
Each year, as the chill of winter is thrown off by the warmth of spring and summer, we are inundated with advertisements on television or... Read More
Class Inequality in Children’s Movies
A new study, Benign Inequality: Frames of Poverty and Social Class Inequality in Children’s Movies, from Duke University sociologist Jesse Streib reveals that almost universally G-rated movies... Read More
Tis Better to Give than to Receive?
Every year in preparation for the holidays, there’s a lot of talk about how it’s better to give than to receive. Many people say we... Read More
Cultivating the Joy of Gift Giving
When I was a little girl, we never had extravagant Christmases. As excited as we were about the gifts, my mom always reinforced that “Jesus... Read More
Gifts and the American Dream
As I’ve struggled with the incredible pressure of the season to buy in order to prove our love and our worth, I’ve been helped by... Read More
‘Black Friday’ has literally consumed Thanksgiving
You can’t listen to your car radio, open your mailbox, turn on the television or watch a YouTube or Hulu video these days without being... Read More
Classism is in Fashion
Ever since Miley Cyrus twerked her bum on Robin Thicke’s crotch at the MTV awards, cultural appropriation has been a hot topic. But, society has... Read More
Dependency on Music Players Gets in the Way
Having instant access to tons of music at any moment is a great thing. With the newest technology, we don’t have to wait to hear... Read More
Brendan and the Magic Jeans
Once upon a time there was a boy named Brendan. He went to high school. He liked to sleep in. He liked to eat pizza.... Read More
Children and mass culture
We can’t escape mass culture. Everywhere, children and adults are bombarded: TV, movies, video, radio, books, newspapers, toys, comic books, billboards, friends and neighbors, etc.,... Read More
The Price of Passing
Recently, a community college newspaper offered a fashion profile of several students. I was amazed and alarmed to learn that, if they were telling the... Read More
Louis Vuitton & Me
I came home one day and saw my apartment number posted on the “parcel received” board. I said to myself, “that’s weird, I didn’t order... Read More
Jesse’s Choices
My youngest son is about to graduate high school. I am feeling a mix of emotions, as I am certain many others have felt and... Read More
Adjusting to holiday changes
Throughout my life, when my holiday traditions have changed, for financial or family reasons, I have found myself yearning for what used to happen. When... Read More
Santa Claus, Imagination, and Class
I must have been around seven, living in far northern Wisconsin—not classy Minoqua and other Chicago playgrounds, but the dregs of the timber industry, the... Read More
Gifts, power and money
The holidays can be hard times. With all the hopes and expectations of the season up, disappointments have more room to play. And when we... Read More
Lettuce in winter: When more is less
We all know what it’s like to appreciate a rare event–a fine restaurant dinner, a vacation to a far-away place, even an evening at home... Read More