This Old Convo Again?

Hi {{first_name|friend}},

The “return to traditional values” folks are awfully loud. Tradwives are all up in our algorithms preaching that the path to true marital satisfaction lies in obeying your husband. The manosphere is certain that a woman’s place is in the home. A prominent pastor connected to the White House is arguing for a repeal of women’s right to vote (cool!).

But the truth of tradwifedom is less than idyllic, and the idea that this gendered division of roles and responsibilities is the key to happiness is way off. So elucidates historian Stephanie Coontz’s new book For Better and Worse: The Complicated Past and Challenging Future of Marriage. Coontz asks, what if these so-called “traditional” values weren’t traditional at all? And what if the “good old days” weren’t actually all that good? In findings that will surprise no straight woman, when heterosexual couples equally share household and caregiving responsibilities, satisfaction levels are higher. Perhaps this can help tee up another round of the always-delightful conversation about who’s doing more at home.

Bye,
Your friends at Gloria

Skirts: perfect for when it’s too hot for pants, and a dress feels too formal. They’re also extremely versatile, which is maybe why they are having a real moment this summer. We’re seeing lower waistbands, both full and slip styles, and a lot of longer lengths (to the knee, to the ankle). Below, a few new faves.

Most of us care about a lot of things, but figuring out where to donate, how much to give, and when to do it can feel like one more thing on an already long list.

Ritmo makes it easy. This app matches you with one cause a day based on your interests, and with a single tap you can contribute starting at just 50 cents a day. You can change causes anytime, discover organizations you may not have found otherwise, and support issues that matter to you without spending hours researching.

If you've been looking for a low-lift way to support good work in the world, check out Ritmo. The app is free on iOS and Android, and right now, new users get $7 in donation credits when they download here. #partner

TO WATCH Attention, Harlan Coben fans: The master of the mystery thriller’s latest Netflix adaptation, I Will Find You — about a father falsely imprisoned for killing his son, who it turns out isn’t dead after all — comes out on June 18. Expect a lot of shocking twists.

TO TRY These two drinks, for sleep. We've been trying to take magnesium every night for better sleep (it really works for us), and Moon Juice's Magnesi-Om and Sleepy Magnesi-Om are two we keep coming back to. They mix easily into water, taste good, and are easy to work into our evening routine. Shop them here. #partner

TO MAKE This sticky soy orange chicken (to eat with jasmine rice) tastes even better on day two. You can also swap in tofu — just toss the cubes in cornstarch before searing to get them extra crispy.

TO READ This summer’s beach read might be Villa Coco, the new novel from Pulitzer-winning Less author Andrew Sean Greer. It has an aimless twentysomething protagonist, a Tuscan estate, an eccentric array of characters, and an ill-fated vow of celibacy.

The latest viral toy (which might offgas VOCs :/). • Strange things happening in the SF matchmaking scene. • Another thread in the web of Epstein complicity. • Parental summertime sadness. • “My horrible, no good weekend at the UFC White House fight.”

_{*Gloria may receive an affiliate commission on purchases made through our newsletter.}