Mar 26 2025 71 mins 36
The girlies explore the increasingly popular act of going “no contact.” In the first of two episodes, they break down the history of severing ties, how the nuclear family is ultimately an economic trap, and why Sophie Lewis argues we should abolish the family altogether. Digressions include our banishment from the Delta Lounge, the wholesomeness of r/fearofflying and whether we’ve officially run out of names for medications.
If you're currently no contact with family or considering this step, you're not alone; connect with Stand Alone, Together Estranged, and Family Support Resources for community and support.
This episode was produced by Julia Hava and Eliza McLamb and edited by Allison Hagan. Research assistance from Kylie Finnigan.
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SOURCES
Abolish the Family by Sophie Lewis
All our Kin: Strategies for Survival in a Black Community by Carol B. Stack
Parental Alienation: A Disputed Theory With Big Implications
Why So Many People Are Going “No Contact” with Their Parents
Parent–adult child estrangement in the United States by gender, race/ethnicity, and sexuality
Developmental Estrangement and the Re-emergence of Love
Family estrangement is on the rise. A psychologist offers ways to cope
Blocking your mom: why adult children are going no contact
Why So Many People (Myself Included) Are Experiencing Family Estrangement
How Estrangement Has Become an Epidemic in America
No, Parent-Child Estrangement Isn't Just a Fad
Estrangement is never easy or straightforward. Psychologists can help
Pillemer: Family estrangement a problem ‘hiding in plain sight’
Nearing holiday season, Americans weigh family estrangement
A Shift in American Family Values Is Fueling Estrangement
A Family Therapist Looks to Historians for Insight on the Changing Forms of Family Estrangement
The Causes of Estrangement, and How Families Heal
A Psychologist Shares How A ‘Chosen Family’ Can Help Fight Loneliness
What abolishing the family would not do
Finding Connection Through "Chosen Family"
The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake
Parent–adult child estrangement in the United States by gender, race/ethnicity, and sexuality
Developmental Estrangement and the Re-emergence of Love