First published 2026
Historian Kristin Kobes Du Mez examines the cultural forces that created modern white Christian womanhood in America. She traces connections between late nineteenth century New Thought philosophy and holiness evangelicalism, showing how their merger produced today's pastel Instagram Christianity. Du Mez identifies religious innovators who promoted positivity as the pathway to both spiritual fulfillment and material prosperity. She demonstrates how this ideology spread through consumer products, mommy blogs, romance literature, and retail environments like Hobby Lobby. The author argues that while these cultural artifacts appear to celebrate female empowerment, they actually promote vulnerability and domestic roles that can enable manipulation and abuse. Du Mez reveals how seemingly innocent wall art slogans and lifestyle brands connect to broader systems of control within evangelical communities.
Genres: feminism, 21st-century, christianity, academic, cultural-studies, american-history
Vibes: critical, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: cultural-critique, social-commentary
Period: 19th-Century, 20th-Century, 21st-Century
432 pages · Hardcover · Liveright
Content warnings: abuse, sexism