this post was submitted on 11 Nov 2023
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I went to Stephanie Land's book launch of Class in NYC.

Don't even want to read the book, she was rude, uninteresting and her book launch was super dysfunctional. She stared at her feet while people tried to speak with her.

I second everyone's opinions on Maid: She makes excuses for her poor behavior and everyone else always seems to be the problem in her writing -- seems like a massive victim complex and a ton of weaponized incompetence. Her story does not shadow the lives of so many women in this country truly struggling and doing everything they can to change her situation. Don't waste your $$ - donate the $27 to a cause that will actually support struggling young adults like the union settlement association.

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[–] Dizzy-Garage9258@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I would love to meet her in person just to see how she really is. Class has been so so disappointing for me so far. Besides the lack of accountability, just lacking in substance, reflection and value.

[–] whocares0022@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

Trust me, you didn't miss out on much...

[–] InevitableRespect207@alien.top 0 points 9 months ago (2 children)

THANK YOU for your comment! I have heard several incredibly positive/sympathetic interviews with Stephanie Land, and could not believe that the interviewers weren’t challenging her about how her life choices made a bad situation far, far worse.

I enjoyed Maid and loved the Netflix series, which helped me empathize with the many ways our country makes life even harder for poor people. But I think Stephanie Land reinforces every bad stereotype about poor people. While I admire her for pursuing her education and giving herself a path out of abject poverty, I find it unthinkable that she had a second child while she was still very poor and unstable (emotionally and financially).

There are so many hardworking people in this country who are making difficult but responsible choices: to complete their education BEFORE starting a family, to use birth control and exercise their reproductive rights so they don’t have children they can’t raise properly, to have only as many children as they can afford (which could mean 0 or 1 child when they’d love a houseful), to have children with a loving and responsible partner (or not at all), to study in a major that will allow them to earn a stable income, to take care of their children rather than abandoning them, and on and on.

In contrast, Stephanie Land seems quite entitled about her “rights” (to be a student, to be a parent) and very lax about her responsibilities (like providing food, clothing, shelter, emotional stability for her children). Her children have suffered as a consequence. And we as taxpayers have to pay for the consequences of her poor choices. Our country is filled young people living in totally unstable homes, many who are repeating the mistakes of their parents. This leads me to wonder: How would Stephanie Land feel if her own daughters were single, broke and pregnant?

[–] Ok-Following-8824@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

Wow! This is really really well said and written. I agree with everything here. The cycle I’m sure will continue. What’s sad is that she has 2 daughters. I’m willing to bet that they both will struggle with similar issues with men, sex and mental health issues. The cycle has to want to be stopped. Stephanie clearly doesn’t get that part.

[–] Professional-Ad4012@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

That's exactly what I mean. When I criticize this book you put it so perfectly: she relies on every negative trope White America has about poor women, that they are entitled and don't feel like they need to take care of their responsibilities.

[–] Professional-Ad4012@alien.top 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I live in the town in Alaska that she went to college in before she dropped out the first time. She hasn't visited and doesn't mention Alaska because she knows that we are ready to let everyone know that she's a liar, she made Her background sound bad so people would feel bad for her when she kept making bad choices. I do think she was maybe an alcoholic at the time, Just smoking a ton of weed and drinking a lot, which can make life pretty tough.

But there is definitely a reason why she hasn't come back to Alaska and done a book tour or any kind of press--- she knows that we know, and we don't like fake people up here.

I honestly thought her next installment would be about Alaska and her younger years wildly partying here, because it's a lot more likable portion of her life then refusing to work and instead going on welfare and going to get a Master's Degree.

[–] Historical_Month_931@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

Not doubting what you say but. Where does it say she was a rich kid? As far as I know her mom was a social worker and her dad a project manager years later in life. I was under the impression she came from a historically poor family?

[–] Interesting_Copy_353@alien.top 0 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Reading Maid I was rooting for her. Then learned that she had a second child that she could not adequately support or parent. I was/am appalled. When she’s on this book tour, on podcasts and radio, does anyone ever push back about her choices? She’s the current queen of poverty porn and raking it in.

[–] Professional-Ad4012@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

Her story wouldn't have been told, It wouldn't have been received, if she was a person of color, period.

[–] Professional-Ad4012@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

This is all acceptable because she is an upper class white woman who took a small detour into poverty while she was in college (a very novel experience, I hear--being broke in college?? Weren't we all????) and somehow manifested that into an entire career.

Imagine being so steeped in privilege that being broke for a little bit seemed newsworthy.