Still sucked in even though I wrote a book about it!
Still sucked in even though I wrote a book about it!
On momfluencer pregnancies and the ineffable power of momfluencer culture
A few days ago, Julie D. O’Rourke announced her pregnancy.
O’Rourke is the creator of the Rudy Jude clothing line, and I’ve been following her for several years (and devote quite a few pages to her in Momfluenced), because I’m frankly owned by her irresistible combination of lush, earthy aesthetics; her creativity and craftiness; and her enviable sweater collection. I also happen to be a person who overthinks and second guesses and tries to mindfully breathe away intrusive thoughts about how I responded/reacted/seemed/performed in nearly any given circumstance, so perhaps the most alluring component of O’Rourke’s Instagram account (for me) is O’Rourke’s conspicuous lack of self-consciousness. Her sense of self seems solid as hell, and even though I’m acutely aware that I know absolutely nothing about O’Rourke as a real person, I’ll admit to fully believing that her IRL self more or less matches the self she’s performing on social media. Maybe that’s the power of her storytelling and imagery. Maybe that’s the strength of my parasocial bond with her. Maybe it’s both. Maybe it’s neither!
Since wrapping up book edits a few months ago, I’ve made a concerted effort to release myself from the pressure of keeping up with some of my pet momfluencers (Julie D. O’Rourke included). I’ve enjoyed the quiet, and it’s been relatively easy to stay up to date with zeitgeisty momfluencer news without actively following the momfluencers involved, since I am far from alone in reporting and writing about momfluencer culture.
But when my cousin sent me O’Rourke’s pregnancy announcement post, I swan-dived in without a second’s pause. In the days since, I’ve checked her stories compulsively. Looking for - what?