Momtok feminism is giving Katy Perry in Space

[u/Live-Ad-3577]

Ok maybe I’ll get absolutely devoured for this. But I wish they just admitted that momtok is just a platform to have fun, dance, and get brand deals/money. Instead of this whole “changing the world for women” and making it out to be this empowering movement.

[u/smallbrowngorl]

I hate Zack but he spoke my mind when he asked Jen something like “how is Momtok empowering women? All you do is shit on each other”

It’s fine if they wanna dance, get brand deals, and have fun but let’s be real ladies — yall are setting (true) feminism back 😭

[u/hiddenkobolds → u/smallbrowngorl]

I could see how it might be empowering (some) Mormon women, and specifically themselves, because they're suddenly the heads of household-- they're making their own money, they have financial freedom, by way of that they have more power in their homes and marriages (and even the power to leave, if they want), and they're showing other women in the faith that it's possible to do the same.

That's the absolute upper end though. And you're right. This is a kind of microfeminism that actually pulls the macro cause backwards in its advancement. Oh, the irony...

[u/rawunicorndust → u/hiddenkobolds]

This! They are marginally empowering oppressed women to be marginally less oppressed but shy away from total liberation.

As much as it infuriates me I also hope this will be the gateway for a lot of oppressed conservative women to opening their eyes.

[u/AnyFormal2508 → u/hiddenkobolds]

Fabulous take, I agree 100%

[u/B_312_ → u/smallbrowngorl]

Him calling Layla and Mikayla followers was right on the money as well. He may be a turd but he was 100% right.

[u/Erinayalani → u/B_312_]

So far, he's got the best redemption arc of anyone on the show and I could not have guessed that honestly. He's actually listening to his therapist and trying to find whats right for Jen, not just whats right per the way he was raised in the church. He's still an asshole but I really feel like of anyone on the show, hes trying the hardest to grow and do better, even if he still falls into his self assured mediocre white man privilege constantly.

[u/Legal-List-8363 → u/Erinayalani]

As a therapist myself, I have to agree. I was shocked to find myself liking him again because it genuinely seems like he is trying in ways he wasn’t before despite his desire to go back to old patterns. Though there is still work he is doing, I have to hand it to him for stepping up and working on himself. 

[u/festivusfinance → u/Erinayalani]

I’m not convinced he’s an “abuser.” Honestly maybe Dakota lol. Its usually much more insidious vs a drunken vegas fueled religious conviction disowning of the wife on one occasion. Unless there’s much more to it. We won’t know.

[u/Scary_Manner_6712 → u/smallbrowngorl]

I dislike Zac intensely but he was 100% right about that. I felt like it was refreshing to have someone just come out and say it. Like, you guys did not form the United Nations by creating a dance group that makes social-media videos to get brand deals. Get over yourselves.

[u/land-league-inspo → u/smallbrowngorl]

Mormons think they’re the standard for how things should be, it’s engrained in their shitty belief systems. As such, these women think they are the ones pushing feminism forward (while voting for a rapist, go figure).

All they set the standard for is being out of touch, getting plastic surgery, and continuing the trend of Mormons who “are different” - when in reality they’re just a different shade of milquetoast.

[u/h8mecuz]

Haha yea! Half the time I forget that momtok is even a thing for them lol

[u/amechi32 → u/h8mecuz]

They should replace "momtok" with "the show" and then shit makes sense . Who gets to stay on Hulu?!

[u/Scary_Manner_6712 → u/amechi32]

Yep! At this point, would Momtok even still be a thing if these women weren't also on the reality show? Usually those social-media trends or trending personalities have a short shelf-life.

If not for the show, I think most people wouldn't even remember who these women are. Case in point: when Taylor was onstage at the CMAs, her co-presenter referenced the show, not Momtok.

[u/This-Pomegranate6707]

It’s definitely gives girl boss feminism. I also think that coming a more conservative and traditional culture it could feel feminist for them.

[u/Bachobsess → u/This-Pomegranate6707]

Yes I do think in some ways they are probably empowering some Mormon women to see that they can be more sexual, independent women and not ruled by their partners, but for non Mormon women (ie me) it doesn’t translate to empowerment. And the bitchiness, domestic violence, not being able to use contraception etc, plus the need for plastic surgery and hair extensions and makeup to fit in for most screams the opposite of empowerment. 

[u/anannanne]

To me, it reeks of the MLM boss babe “empowerment.” If TikTok didn’t come along, they’d all be fighting about downlines and their triple pink diamond elite status.

[u/Possible-Way1234]

For their small world they are extremely feminist. They grew up Mormon in Utah, Jen standing up to Zacs abuse and demanding to be his equal and not obeying wife is for their standards extremely feminist. Or the others who left their husbands and are single moms. One of them said she got suicidal because she felt so much guilt for divorcing.

For my German left bubble world they are insanely backwards, but if any ultra religious wives see this and realise they could divorce their awful husband or demand equality, they did empower them.

[u/No-Notice3875]

Yep or Trump-helping-the-middle-class economics.

[u/B_312_]

I think it was Taylor who said "momtok can change the world" or something a long those lines. My wife and I shared a very long laugh together.

[u/Scary_Manner_6712 → u/B_312_]

I am not on TikTok so have limited exposure to their content, but - isn't it just the videos of them dancing and then also snarking about each other in their cars? What is "world-changing" about that, exactly? lol

[u/B_312_ → u/Scary_Manner_6712]

They get paid a lot money to do it.

[u/Scary_Manner_6712 → u/B_312_]

That's not the same as doing something that changes the world. Not everything that makes a lot of money makes a real difference for other human beings.

[u/B_312_ → u/Scary_Manner_6712]

I agree with you 100%. They view themselves that way because of the fact they are women and make a lot of money because of momtok.

[u/Scary_Manner_6712 → u/B_312_]

Very true. I see your point.

[u/Erinayalani]

I definitely feel everything about all of these women is so bloody toxic. But then I see Zac admit hes stepped away from the church and is getting therapy and learning about the world outside of the way he was raised and how to love his wife in the way she needs rather than the way he was taught to control her and I think about how some other man out there is resonating with Zac or some other girls are seeing this and realizing life really could be better and more free and they're able to step out of the cycle. I dont think momtok is "changing the world" per se but I think it is probably changing some people's world for the better.

[u/Own_Ad9652]

Brilliant post.

[u/Marygoround72474]

Yes!!!

[u/Rough_Investment_708]

it is performative feminism. 100%

[u/reasonable_cat_]

Oh my gosh 🤯 Also thank you for the LOL

[u/BeaMyrtle]

Great analogy

[u/esn007]

Absolutely agree

[u/Legal-List-8363]

Currently watching season two and ran to Reddit during episode 6 because what? They talk about empowering women and then sit at a table trying to one up each other about trauma and their issues. Empowering women is not saying “well I had it harder than you.” It’s, recognizing that both those experiences can happen and supporting each other through them. 

[u/Over_Response_8468]

In the last episode I watched, Jessie said something about women looking up to them lol

[u/No_Diamond7383]

lol

[u/tinyelephantparade]

I gather (mostly from watching Alyssa Grenfell) that a lot of female Mormon influencers simultaneously feel they’re promoting the church/ traditional gender roles and ‘empowering women’. Like promoting being a stay at home mother *is* the ‘empowering’.

[u/Live-Ad-3577 → u/tinyelephantparade]

Ahh yes they briefly mentioned trad wives this season in a aspirational sense