Is Ballerina Farm the Type of Feminist We Actually Need?
I’m a bit late to Ballerina Farm.
At the beginning of the year, I remember hearing controversy about a woman competing in a beauty pageant shortly after giving birth. I remember thinking how strange it was that anyone would criticize a woman for being able to do that. But beyond that, I didn’t pay much attention to her.
Then a month ago, I found myself scrolling through YouTube videos, searching for a tutorial on how to make cheese from raw milk. That’s when the algorithm introduced me to Hannah Neeleman.
Hannah and her husband, Daniel, along with their eight children reside on their farm in Utah aptly named Ballerina Farm. They sell meat boxes and sourdough starters through the farm’s website, all while documenting their lives on social media.
The controversy surrounding Hannah Neeleman is hard to understand. Hannah is a young woman who found success at home, in business, and in the performing arts, first in ballet, then in beauty pageants. There’s nothing overtly wrong with her. She’s no different than other female role models like Taylor Swift or Simone Biles.
What makes Hannah so controversial is that she elevates the role of motherhood, marriage, and family life alongside her professional success. She’s a mom and a business owner; a CEO and a…
