I’ve resigned myself to the fact that writing, ranting and getting snarky (or cranky!) about politics is never going to make me rich. I already knew that, but was disheartened to actually read it in print in the New York Times article Woman to Woman Online.
Sure, we all know that Dooce is the bee’s knees in the world of mommybloggers when it comes to finding a funny way to look at the world of mothering and I admire her for being able to turn it into a livelihood.
But apparently, when it comes to advertising, those of us who like to write about things in addition to being a mother, like, say, news, politics, world events or any other topic that the MSM considers to be a “non-mom” topic, we’re pretty far down on the list for being prime spots in the world of marketing to women.
In her NY Times article, author Claire Cain Miller writes:
To the disappointment of some women who want sites that focus on serious issues like politics, advertisers are not interested in every kind of content. They gravitate to the tried-and-true topics of women’s magazines: fashion, beauty, celebrities and love life.
It’s a slow progression and I guess there is some truth to it. The turnout for the BlogHer conference sessions on political topics was a bit slim. But I can’t help feeling pigeonholed when I read articles like this. Do advertisers really think they can only reach us by focusing on places where we get shopping tips or can lament our maternal shortcomings?
Now, I’m all about the cute shoes, but I’m also all about how my parents are going to make ends meet in their retirement, how all children can get decent health care, whether the country is going to hell in the proverbial hand-basket and how to keep my retirement savings from disappearing like warm chocolate chip cookies in a classroom full of pre-schoolers.
And I’m not the only one. Miranda at This Time, It’s Personal says:
This is the biggie for me right now. Our health care system is seriously messed up. Millions of children (and adults, of course) do not have health care. Millions more have inadequate health care. Of developed countries, we have the highest per capita cost for health care, but we are not number one. Nope, we rank #37.I’m going to repeat that: Our health care system ranks #37 in the world. We pay more than many others of the richest countries in the world, but our health care isn’t as good.
I guess the good news is that at least some outlets are becoming more interested in what we have to say on things other than leftovers and potty training. CNN’s iReports had a booth at BlogHer for women to talk about what issues are the most important to them in the upcoming election. Many, including myself, took full advantage of that chance for a little free airtime!
And I guess there is a glimmer of hope in light of NBC’s interest in BlogHer, though it would be great to see an iVillage category for news or politics. As Lisa Witter points out at The Huffington Post, and in her new book The She Spot, in marketing to women it’s crucial to know how to reach them.
Yes, we spend time in the places you’re already spending money. But advertisers, feel free to reach out to us in the other places we frequent. I think it could be well worth your while.
Cross-posted from BlogHer, where PunditMom is a Contributing Editor for Politics & News.
August 15th, 2008 at 8:57 am
I feel your pain from a slightly different angle. I try very very hard to stay bi-partisan on my blog (hmmm. maybe I’ll get my political rantings out on your blog!). But, I write about career advice for women, and what articles on our blog/e-newsletters get the most hits? Fashion tips and items like whether or not women should wear panty hose in the office.
August 15th, 2008 at 9:51 am
You'd think that the political mags might be interested in us. But even so, it's not like because we are politically minded mamas, that we still don't have to decide between Pampers & Seventh Gen diapers. *sigh*
That's it…I'm selling out. I'm going to write on beauty and wonders of being a conservative Latina. I'll be rolling in the dough! waahahaha!
August 15th, 2008 at 11:31 am
This is so discouraging. Like some sort of horrid vicious cycle, women bloggers will post about make-up and diapers over politics b/c it pays better, so in turn it will seem that ALL women care about are make-up and diapers. Ugh. Not saying I DON’T care about make-up and diapers. Love a good lip gloss and a good pull up. But I care about our economy going down the crapper too. Soooo… I am gonna write about both. Sorry folks, I actually care about topics on many levels: project runway, good lit, religion, potty training, the election. Don’t stuff me in a box, even if you’ll pay to get me in there, I just won’t fit. (And I say this BEFORE I have seen a dime for my blog. Check in with me a year from now, and maybe I will have sold out to THE MAN, chatting sweetly about “X” diaper brand and that its the only one I use… b/c the economy is still in the crapper and I need to pay for groceries… God I hope not tho.) Great post, as always.
August 15th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Society and MSM definitely want us one-dimensional. Remember what happened when those multi-faceted women burned their bars. Nobody wants that to happen again.
August 15th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Yes, but I personally donated to the Send the Momocrats to the DNC fund so I say Pundits 1, Dooce 0.
August 15th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
But I optimistically I choose to think that all of this money being funneled towards women bloggers is somehow going to go to contribute to our voices getting more airtime in all fields – not just mommyhood. The more stage we have, the more we can do with it.
August 15th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
So much for my Law & Order posts sending P to college.
She better be really good at something. LOL
August 15th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
It’s shocking that iVillage doesn’t have a news or politics channel: how about some petititioning? It’s less so that advertisers (not a crew that flocks towards critical thinkers) would target thinking, writing women. . . stay proactive!
August 15th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
An older women blogger (that being relative as I am 44 myself), I know recently lamented that her site traffic will go up just if she uses the word “boobs” in her tag.
She writes about the disabled and their struggles, beautifully, but much of that is ignored except by her faithful few.
I found that once I stopped writing ultra personal stuff and kept some husband and children stuff to myself (because that is where some things belong), I lost readers.
Now that I have decided that fiction is my calling and blogging something I do strictly for myself – I am much happier. Still it irks me that popular female bloggers and sites pander to stereotypes and play into the idea that women do not take a real interest in anything that isn’t within their immediate sight.
August 15th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
It’s very frustrating–seems like there are so few choices for women bloggers–IF we want to be multi-dimensional. It’s been particularly difficult for me on my blog (aside from the fact that I’m a total loser when it comes to the tech side of things), because I do not want to be tied to blogging about one subject. I’m a little ADD–so, one day if I want to talk politics–great, another day it might be body image, or recipes or books or any other thing that strikes my fancy. WHY do I have to limit myself to one or two topics when I find so many things interesting (or, alternatively, find so many things to whine about)?
I don’t have a punchy one-line pitch for my blog, so I’ve pretty much resigned myself to not being a super-blogger, and I assume I will not rake in dough with what I do. On the other hand, I have a darn good time writing, and I guess that will have to be enough for now.
August 16th, 2008 at 12:57 am
Absolutely!
August 16th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Go PunditMom! You’re a pioneer in combining a mom’s eye view with politics.
We women are interested in everything and anything including some hard-core policy wonkitude and yes, Biore pore strips too. It’s the both/and that advertisers can’t seem to wrap their heads around.
They’re welcome to catch up to us any time.
August 17th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I could not agree more. I am tired of Drival.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:06 am
This is my first read of you blog, and it’s great! Thanks! As a news-type-person I seem to ingest quite a bit of the stuff but I’ve never heard anyone go beyond reporting and into opinion in an insightful way that didn’t want to start a riot, or wasn’t boring as hell. Man I can’t stand the news when I’m not at work, and I’ve been reading blogs for social/entertainment purposes, but this format you have, it rocks. I also happen to think that makeup, diapers, and politics are not mutually exclusive…speak on, punditmom.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Ditto what x said. I enjoy the reflection you bring to the issues. I need more than reporting and I like to read views on politics from women. I’m not in blogging for the $, but advertisers should respect the powerful voice of political women bloggers…. if they don’t now, they will later.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Politics and science are hard.
We reward the simple and mundane in America. Hence why Americans have low educational attainment rates, are over weight and generally sad over all.
Despite us not becoming rich for our work, our work is far more important than whether Leta ate a pancake or not!!!!!!!!!!!
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:49 am
You know I do reviews and I was told on more then one ocasion taht they would not work with me (this is after they saw my site) because of my political view. I’m proud to add a little spice while still making cash. You know it’s hard and no every one is going to like it. Do I care…no. It won’t hold me back. Stay thoughful always! I love your stuff even without the potty training. It’s actually more intersting to raed to be honest.
All the general chatter in the mommy community get s little old!
Keep us coming back for a real reason!!