Why is mum-shaming still a thing in 2023? Is it because society still won’t let women fully express themselves? | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

Bad mother' behaviour seems to include anything that even hints at maternal ambivalence or a desire for more freedom

It's hard enough being a working mother of young children, especially one in the process of getting divorced, without being smeared in the press as a bad mum. That's what's been happening to the actor Sophie Turner since her split from her pop singer husband, Joe Jonas, with various reports appearing on celebrity gossip websites casting aspersions on her parenting. Apparently she likes to party, he likes to stay at home", he's been in dad mode" caring for his own children pretty much all of the time" (Turner has been filming in the UK), and, in deciding to divorce, is taking the best course of action for his girls".

The misogynistic undercurrents of these reports are clear: Turner is an irresponsible, absent mother who has had the audacity to make childcare arrangements with her partner in order to work, and worse, attend a wrap party where cocktails - cocktails! - were freely available. Meanwhile, Jonas is a present, loving father who is going above and beyond for his children, and is choosing to divorce their mother, it is implied, for their own welfare.