I love your work, Stephanie! I’ve read your books and deeply admire your talent and your courage. I’m a social worker in Texas so you know I absolutely understand what you are expressing about misplaced anger and blaming behaviors directed at those in poverty. Thank you for your tenacity and vulnerability. We need your voice.
Wow, I love your story, and your writing itself, see you as a brave, strong person, and a great mother. I am appalled by the responses you describe in your piece. Thank you for persevering.
I’m so sorry for all the haters. I love your writing. Few can articulate the reality of life the way you have with its joys and rawness. Keep looking ahead to what will come and leave the naysayers in the fringes where they belong. You have given us all a glimpse at the struggles of poverty & how our society seems ok with that. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself, your vulnerability and love of writing. 🤗
Shit I am so sorry. You do not deserve this hate and judgment, and it makes perfect sense why it is upsetting. I admire your courage and hate that your sharing your story and helping us see the truths of what it's like to live in poverty has to come with this personal cost. Your girls are lucky to have you. So are we.
From Fairbanks here. Yes to all of that. Raised 2 kids alone here by myself & I can certainly relate to all you said. I thought you meant Joe Walsh, the guitarist, for awhile & he's a good guy, so that threw me for a bit. I read your first book & am reading your second. Am very happy for your success. The folks who criticise: screw 'em. I think of it as tuning out the noise. Keep writing!
Wow! I am horrified at the responses and comments you received, Stephanie. And I’m so sorry you and your children had to experience such ugliness. Much good fortune to you going forward!
You writing your book made me feel much less ashamed at having a very similar story. I’ve been a poor single and then solo mother for almost a decade now and having been on all sorts of welfare because I was also homeless when I was forced to load what I could into the back of my 17 year old Volvo wagon and we moved into transitional housing after 4 months because our social worker nominated us.
Thank you for allowing me to feel less alone and also helping me feel more open to sharing how hard it is. I’m currently rewatching the series which I know is a dramatization, I cry because it brings back so many feelings. Hoping to graduate with my BA next year.
For Stephanie Land and her readers I offer a recently published book that goes far to explain the persistence of poverty in many parts of America. The Injustice of Place, 2024, by Edin, Shaefer and Nelson clarify how the Appalachia, and the Cotton and Tobacco growing areas of Texas and the deep South have structured the institutionalization of poverty and prevented escape for its victims. The same methods, to preserve a cheap labor force, are used across the country.
I wish I could say I'm surprised at the judgment and vitriol spewed at you. But I'm not surprised. My husband left me with a newborn, and it was amazing how many women didn't want to associate with me...like divorce was catchy, or like I would steal their husband. Other people's insecurities and deep, deep fears manifest as judgment and hatred of others all the time.
I had a similar experience as a widow. People don't like to be confronted with their worst nightmare, and I had many of our couple friends back away from me. As uncomfortable as the wives felt with me around (single woman on the prowl?) I didn't want to be reminded that they still had their partners and I didn't. I not only lost my husband, but our circle of friends too.
Stephanie, there are so many things I want to say to you about your post, and I've read a few now, and each time I've had the same thought to comment, so I am going to finally do it now. Ok, here I go. As both a clinical social worker and an aspiring memoirist, the generosity with which you write is, to me, astounding, but it also makes sense that it would bring up as much as it has, especially with the reactions of people who, despite good opportunities to know better, do not. You've risked a lot by telling your story with honesty and purpose and you've done it artfully, multiple times over now. It is sad to me that we live in a world in which it is so easy to eschew the complexity of human experience and that on top of that, the burden should fall to you to have to explain or defend yourself on these issues. I wish the publishing industry were better equipped to protect memoirists, and in particular, those who write about topical social justice issues. Until that changes, I just want to say a heartfelt thank you for doing the work you do and for continuing to model what it means to be both a writer and an advocate.
You are the voice for so many who do not have one. Continue to be the brave woman you are. We do the best we can, especially for our children. Education was your answer and hard work. Bless you!
Read both of your books and looove them. I always feel excited and happy when you post an article. You are such a strong and empowering woman. My role model.
thank you that means a lot to me. congratulations on applying and best of luck to you!
Sorry it's on here twice - Fairbanks internet!
I love your work, Stephanie! I’ve read your books and deeply admire your talent and your courage. I’m a social worker in Texas so you know I absolutely understand what you are expressing about misplaced anger and blaming behaviors directed at those in poverty. Thank you for your tenacity and vulnerability. We need your voice.
thank you i really appreciate that
Wow, I love your story, and your writing itself, see you as a brave, strong person, and a great mother. I am appalled by the responses you describe in your piece. Thank you for persevering.
I’m so sorry for all the haters. I love your writing. Few can articulate the reality of life the way you have with its joys and rawness. Keep looking ahead to what will come and leave the naysayers in the fringes where they belong. You have given us all a glimpse at the struggles of poverty & how our society seems ok with that. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself, your vulnerability and love of writing. 🤗
Shit I am so sorry. You do not deserve this hate and judgment, and it makes perfect sense why it is upsetting. I admire your courage and hate that your sharing your story and helping us see the truths of what it's like to live in poverty has to come with this personal cost. Your girls are lucky to have you. So are we.
thank you so much
From Fairbanks here. Yes to all of that. Raised 2 kids alone here by myself & I can certainly relate to all you said. I thought you meant Joe Walsh, the guitarist, for awhile & he's a good guy, so that threw me for a bit. I read your first book & am reading your second. Am very happy for your success. The folks who criticise: screw 'em. I think of it as tuning out the noise. Keep writing!
Wow! I am horrified at the responses and comments you received, Stephanie. And I’m so sorry you and your children had to experience such ugliness. Much good fortune to you going forward!
You writing your book made me feel much less ashamed at having a very similar story. I’ve been a poor single and then solo mother for almost a decade now and having been on all sorts of welfare because I was also homeless when I was forced to load what I could into the back of my 17 year old Volvo wagon and we moved into transitional housing after 4 months because our social worker nominated us.
Thank you for allowing me to feel less alone and also helping me feel more open to sharing how hard it is. I’m currently rewatching the series which I know is a dramatization, I cry because it brings back so many feelings. Hoping to graduate with my BA next year.
For Stephanie Land and her readers I offer a recently published book that goes far to explain the persistence of poverty in many parts of America. The Injustice of Place, 2024, by Edin, Shaefer and Nelson clarify how the Appalachia, and the Cotton and Tobacco growing areas of Texas and the deep South have structured the institutionalization of poverty and prevented escape for its victims. The same methods, to preserve a cheap labor force, are used across the country.
second this! that's a great book! so is $2 a Day by the same authors
Thank you for your courage. 💜
I wish I could say I'm surprised at the judgment and vitriol spewed at you. But I'm not surprised. My husband left me with a newborn, and it was amazing how many women didn't want to associate with me...like divorce was catchy, or like I would steal their husband. Other people's insecurities and deep, deep fears manifest as judgment and hatred of others all the time.
I had a similar experience as a widow. People don't like to be confronted with their worst nightmare, and I had many of our couple friends back away from me. As uncomfortable as the wives felt with me around (single woman on the prowl?) I didn't want to be reminded that they still had their partners and I didn't. I not only lost my husband, but our circle of friends too.
Your books meant so much to me as a DV/SA survivor. Thank you for writing.
Stephanie, there are so many things I want to say to you about your post, and I've read a few now, and each time I've had the same thought to comment, so I am going to finally do it now. Ok, here I go. As both a clinical social worker and an aspiring memoirist, the generosity with which you write is, to me, astounding, but it also makes sense that it would bring up as much as it has, especially with the reactions of people who, despite good opportunities to know better, do not. You've risked a lot by telling your story with honesty and purpose and you've done it artfully, multiple times over now. It is sad to me that we live in a world in which it is so easy to eschew the complexity of human experience and that on top of that, the burden should fall to you to have to explain or defend yourself on these issues. I wish the publishing industry were better equipped to protect memoirists, and in particular, those who write about topical social justice issues. Until that changes, I just want to say a heartfelt thank you for doing the work you do and for continuing to model what it means to be both a writer and an advocate.
You are the voice for so many who do not have one. Continue to be the brave woman you are. We do the best we can, especially for our children. Education was your answer and hard work. Bless you!
Read both of your books and looove them. I always feel excited and happy when you post an article. You are such a strong and empowering woman. My role model.