“Your kids are vaccinated?” “You bought that stroller?” “I would never do that with my kids.”

These are just a few of the parenting choices that are disputed in the cultural “mommy wars.”

The “mommy wars” is a cultural idea that mothers are in conflict with each other over arbitrary parenting choices. These conflicts can cause mothers to create stereotypes of other mothers and in turn, cause them to judge each other.

At this week’s Feminist Friday, Kelly Odenweller, lecturer of psychology, will discuss this topic and how it detracts mothers from feminist initiatives.

Kelly Odenweller has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh in communication, a Master of Arts degree from West Virginia University in communication studies and a doctorate from West Virginia in communication studies.

“My line of research applies an inter group perspective to family and gender communication. I am primarily interested in how communication within and about families can socialize its members and foster social change for men and women,” Odenweller said. 

Odenweller also has a history in the effects of stereotypes like portrayed in the “mommy wars.” 

“My doctoral dissertation experimentally tested the effects of stereotypes and social categorization on stay-at-home and working mothers’ communication,” Odenweller said.

During the discussion, attendees will learn more about the culture around the “mommy wars” and how to create a unified group that supports each other instead of excluding, criticizing or attacking each other, mothers and non-mothers included.

Feminist Fridays are every Friday at the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center from 1 to 2 p.m.