Self Care: or How NOT to be a Feminist Company

I checked out Self Care: A Novel by Leigh Stein from the library while prepping for a big ice storm that was going to hit Northwest Arkansas mid-week. I could not put it down! If you were waiting on a project from me… this is why I was extra slow 😳

The setting is a “progressive feminist” office of a women’s-only social media tech company. It was so painfully funny (ya know how the show Portlandia basically writes itself and is painfully accurate?) that I forgot I was reading fiction. I imagine this is pretty similar to what Rachel Hollis’ workplace sounds like.

I wanted to write a little bit about the book here because it got me thinking about the business my partners and I are building at Big Gay Co. We’ve spent a good deal of time debating whether to go the non-profit or for-profit route. Even though the work we’re doing right now lends itself to being non-profit, we feel that we’d have more freedom and influence as a for-profit company. BUT I do not want us to get anywhere near #girlboss territory.

While we build Big Gay Co, I want to be conscious about straddling the tension between having to make a living in this capitalist system and wanting to blow the whole system up. Can we do it without selling out to sponsorships? Can we build an influential company without social media? Can we support queer artisans financially without selling people shit they don’t need? I’m usually a pretty cynical person… but in this case I believe we can.

Point is - I highly recommend this book. It was hilarious - especially since I have a background in social media advertising and have been doing a deep, deep dive into #girlboss and #bossbabe culture this last year. I have so many thoughts about that. Can’t wait to share more!