Bad Mothers | Monica Cardenas, PhD | Substack

1:06:55

S3, Ep. 1: Dr. Katie McKenna on narcissistic family systems and sibling estrangement

9 hrs ago • Monica Cardenas, PhD

The Pelicot family estrangement

Two distinct memoirs about the same horrific abuse

Mar 6 • Monica Cardenas, PhD

This is Bad Mothers

A bit about how I found this topic and why it matters to me.

Nov 8, 2023 • Monica Cardenas, PhD

2:00

Introducing Bad Mothers, Season 3

Listen now | Welcome to season 3 of the Bad Mothers podcast.

Mar 2 • Monica Cardenas, PhD

It's him, not you.

You can’t help but cheer for the women who worked together to put Aaron Swan in jail.

Feb 20 • Monica Cardenas, PhD

Recent posts

While we argue with each other...

On the women in the Epstein files, and giving away our power

Feb 12 • Monica Cardenas, PhD

When Trump isn't the only narcissist in your life

When I lived in central London, the new Facebook headquarters was under construction nearby.

Jan 30 • Monica Cardenas, PhD

I don't hate moms or kids

After Jameela Jamil's essay that accidentally spawned a war

Jan 24 • Monica Cardenas, PhD

What makes an estrangement influencer?

Last year, someone in my comments remarked that I “promote” estrangement.

Jan 16 • Monica Cardenas, PhD

My sisters are essential to my estrangement story

On the variations in estrangement stories, and plans for season 3 of the podcast

Jan 8 • Monica Cardenas, PhD

The most liked Bad Mothers essays of 2025

This is a roundup of the five most liked Bad Mothers essays of 2025.

Dec 29, 2025 • Monica Cardenas, PhD

Bad Mothers

Bad Mothers

'Bad' mothers are regular women who subvert the one-dimensional patriarchal ideal of womanhood. But some really are just bad.

Recommendations

Abortion, Every Day

Jessica Valenti

The Anti-Misogyny Club

The Anti-Misogyny Club

Kari Bentley-Quinn

Maggie Frank-Hsu

Between the Lines with Melissa Fraterrigo

Melissa Fraterrigo

Links

My author website

Estrangement Book Club

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