Podcast
The Bulwark Podcast
The poem "Gold Stars" is about fatherhood and the author receiving more attention and praise than he deserves for doing things a mother might do. The poem also touches on the ways that sexism and patriarchy operate in society.
On the days when I'm not alone with my children, I'm made to feel as if I'm a saint or a God or the undisputed best father of all time.
— Episode: Clint Smith: A Reckoning with History
Episode: Clint Smith: A Reckoning with History
The poem "Gold Stars" is about fatherhood and the author receiving more attention and praise than he deserves for doing things a mother might do. The poem also touches on the ways that sexism and patriarchy operate in society.
On the days when I'm not alone with my children, I'm made to feel as if I'm a saint or a God or the undisputed best father of all time.
What I mean is that when we walk into CVS and my daughter is wrapped on my chest and my son toddles at my side, people stop and look and gasp and point and walk up to me asking to shake my hand.
Men tap me on the back, women touch my shoulder and touch their hearts.
The manager at the front of the store comes on to the loudspeaker to say, excuse me, may I have everyone's attention? On aisle seven, you can get three boxes of detergent for the price of two.
And on aisle five, there's an incredible father running errands alone with his children. Everyone in the store bursts into applause.