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Laurence Kirshbaum's avatar

Wait a sec, this is your Conscience Bot speaking to you Babygirl! What's all the fuss about Nicole Kidman? The star of the film is Harris Dickinson who is the hunk of hunks. He takes over her emotional/sexual life and she's the CEO harassing him! And to make it dreamier, Nicole's film hubby is Antonio Banderas, not a bad rejected bedmate. (Banderas will be seen biting mightily into a carrot in a Super Bowl Commercial today for the German manufacturer Bosch.) Now let's do some Bot-talk about your real life Babygirl. You're marrried to a hunk named Mark who's far superior to either of those movie characters. He's drop dead gorgeous, he's smart, and most importantly he's a perfect partner who keeps you sane! He is so smart that he defers to letting you do your thing, which happens to be the brilliant editorial leadership of a great literary company Red Hen, where you all keep your pants on and your roof off. Go get 'em Babygirl, I'm a Bot who knows exactly what you need. Remember: The secret to having everything is knowing you already do!!!

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Anne Pedersen's avatar

I too am a Kidman fan but have no plans to see Babygirl. Despite the fact some (ok, many) women apparently want to be dominated, I'm not about to spend money to see a film that basically glorifies patriarchy and make the subjugation, however willing, of a woman transgressively cool. Your body, my choice? My 30-something daughter saw it and had a similar reaction.

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Samantha Stein's avatar

Loved you post. I wrote a little something about Babygirl and shame, in case you’re interested! https://lostcausesandotherconcerns.substack.com/p/playing-with-shame-babygirl-edition

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Jen Kohan's avatar

My fantasy is to grow things that will live on after I am gone... I want to plant trees and compassion and love, curiosity about and within the people around me, and most of all I want to plant acceptance and gratitude and peace in my own heart about my own mortality. I, too, seek to escape domination (you dive from heights and swim away and I race into the thick forest my dear friend) and when I fantasize about being bound it always involves a safe word and a partner I trust. This year I fantasize about writing again to sow seeds of love, good trouble, the courage to walk through fire. You are the voice that whispers in my ear, "do not be afraid because you are a goddess."

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