When Conservative Tradwife Ideals Clash with Harsh Realities

Lauren Southern, a prominent figure in right-wing circles during Donald Trump’s first term, first gained widespread attention with her 2015 video titled “Why I’m Not a Feminist.” At 19, Southern argued that women hold certain advantages in areas such as child custody disputes and escaping abusive relationships. She claimed feminists were unintentionally fostering a reverse sexism dynamic she refused to support.

However, Southern’s rejection of feminism did not protect her from the harsh realities of male abuse. Her recently self-published memoir, This Is Not Real Life, chronicles the collision between conservative ideology and lived experience. The book has attracted attention for Southern’s account of being sexually assaulted in Romania in 2018 by Andrew Tate, a notorious misogynist and internet figure accused of human trafficking—a claim Tate denies. More poignantly, the memoir details Southern’s painful attempts to fit into the ‘tradwife’ archetype, a pursuit that nearly led her to suicide. Her story stands as a cautionary tale for young women drawn to the domestic ideal she once championed.

Despite the presence of some high-profile women in Trump’s administration, conservative efforts are increasingly aimed at sidelining women from public life. This push is evident among certain Republican leaders; for example, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently shared a video of Christian leaders asserting that women should be barred from voting.

Influential conservative women are also promoting the homemaker role as the ultimate expression of wellbeing and a refuge from the soul-draining nature of the workforce. Podcast host Alex Clark, speaking to thousands at a conservative women’s conference in June, urged listeners toward “less Prozac, more protein,” advocating for fewer women in the labor force and a return to traditional femininity—even though Clark herself is unmarried and childless.

This Instagram-friendly traditionalism is gaining traction as workplace conditions become increasingly hostile to women. Recent reports indicate a substantial number of mothers have left the workforce this year, driven partly by mandates to return to on-site work and backlash against diversity policies. Some women have expressed contentment with leaving their jobs, aligning with the MAGA culture and the rising ‘traditional wife’ movement.