Guilty pleasure or shameless indulgence? Is there really anything wrong with shamelessly indulging in something that makes you feel good (as long as it’s morally acceptable)?
During a recent Room 4 Four podcast episode, my co-hosts and I candidly discussed our favorite guilty pleasures. From Botox to YA t.v. to peanut butter marshmallow concoctions, we giggled while revealing our secret indulgences as Moms. At the time I didn’t really think much of my guilty pleasure question – except how exciting it can be to hear the possibly embarrassing things others do alone. But today I’m feeling a lot of feels about the concept of guilty pleasures.
Guilty Pleasure or Shameless Indulgence?
For the last week I have spent a great amount of time reading, writing, and talking about Taylor Swift’s new album and her romantic history with Matty Healy. I’ve received mixed reactions to my not-so-secret hobby. From congratulatory praise to scoffs and gibe, there has even been plain disregard for my actions. Truthfully, the negative mockery made me feel embarrassed. I second guessed my personal investment in the lore of Taylor and Matty, but ultimately decided there’s nothing shameful about finding joy in harmless pop culture.
What is a guilty pleasure?
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, guilty pleasure is “something pleasurable that induces a usually minor feeling of guilt.” The origin of the term dates back to the 1700s, but I find the ‘first use of guilty pleasure to describe a brothel’ in an article from 1860 in the New York Times most significant. We all know a brothel is the last place anyone would want to admit visiting. So if that is an example related to the emergence of guilty pleasure in our society’s vernacular, it’s no surprise we feel shame when using it.
As stated in “Against ‘Guilty Pleasure'” by Jennifer Szalai, the term ‘guilty pleasure’ did not start coming up in its contemporary incarnation until the tail end of the culture wars in the late nineteen nineties. With that being said, it may be a stretch to relate my obsession with current celebrity news to men visiting prostitutes. While both feel humiliating to confess, one action is morally unfavorable and the other is truthfully not so bad.
It makes wonder why some Americans give such guilty pleasures, like following celebrity news or reading trashy romance novels, a lowbrow connotation. The Oxford Dictionary defines lowbrow as a person who is not highly intellectual or cultured. Does my interest in Taylor Swift and Matty Healy mean I’m dense and empty-headed? I think not…
Shameless Indulgences are OKAY
Motherhood is a lot – mentally, physically, emotionally, and probably even spiritually. The emotional labor associated with being a Mom can feel impossible to keep up with. We all know self care is a must – any doctor will tell you it is healthy to take a break and put your energy into something unassociated with motherhood.
You know what else is hard though? Life.
At the end of the day, I think it is important we all take pause before judging someone’s source of escape from the hardships of reality. Shameless indulgences – guilty pleasures – whatever you want to call them – are okay! As long as your actions are morally sound (and healthy for one’s mental state). Where ever or however you find space in your busy day and chaotic mind for ridiculous whims – I applaud you to do it shamelessly.
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