Social media influencers like Nara Smith and Ballerina Farms reflect traditional domestic practices and aesthetics 

By JENEVAH HARRISON — features@theaggie.org

The modern tradwife narrative has become popularized on social media platforms, showcasing women practicing traditional roles of mothers and homemakers. Popular influencers such as Nara Smith and Ballerina Farms are examples of this tradition and have inspired a generation of women to crave the simplicity of a lifestyle which celebrates traditional gender roles, according to some students.

Violet Ichel, a second-year design major, described what she has seen on social media. 

“I’ve seen a lot of Instagram Reels of women cooking for their husbands, which seems normal; however, certain creators such as Nara Smith exaggerate this practice,” Ichel said. “Her appearance is sort of uncanny, in that it is almost too perfect.” 

Some say this resurgence of a 1950s-style vision of womanhood represents a personal embrace of femininity, simplicity or family life. For others, it’s a troubling return to outdated norms. This romanticized view of traditional gender roles has stirred mixed reactions, particularly among younger feminists who see it as a pushback against hard-won strides toward gender equality. 

One feminist-identifying student Melissa Caltacci, a second-year nutrition science major, said that it is extremely harmful to young girls who may not fully understand the implications of this narrative. 

“When influencers like Nara Smith promote homemaking as the ultimate path for women, it subtly implies that other lifestyles are less fulfilling,” Caltacci said. “Young girls might start to think they’re less valuable if they don’t fit into this hyper-traditional mold. It’s not about homemaking being wrong; it’s about the pressure to conform to a single vision of what womanhood should be.” 

The tradwife movement appeals to some as a refuge from the stress and burnout associated with modern life. Influencers like Ballerina Farms depict a serene, family-centered life in an idyllic rural setting away from the hustle of cities and careers.

“I understand why it’s alluring,” Anna Petruzzi, a second-year psychology major, said. “Everyone’s exhausted by societal pressures to succeed, so this alternative looks peaceful. But I wonder if it’s romanticizing a time when women didn’t have a choice but to stay home.”

Critics such as Petruzzi argue that the movement’s glorification of domesticity risks setting back decades of progress in gender equality. In their view, these images often ignore the harsh reality of the 1950s, when women faced limited choices, financial dependence and a lack of career opportunities. 

For many critics, the tradwife trend reveals a deeper issue with how social media shapes identity and aspirations. By presenting a highly curated and aesthetically pleasing portrayal of domestic life, influencers like Smith and Ballerina Farms may be setting unrealistic standards. Rather than simply reflecting a lifestyle, the movement often promotes an idealized, filtered version of it that hides the mundane or difficult aspects. 

“We see images of perfect, magazine-worthy homes, but the reality of domestic life isn’t always that pretty or fulfilling,” Caltacci said. 

It’s also worth noting the economic reality behind many of these “tradwife” influencers, who have substantial means. They often exceed the average person’s financial means, portraying unrealistic and unattainable lifestyles.

Despite the criticism, some supporters argue that the tradwife movement isn’t about pushing all women to stay home but instead about giving women the option to choose homemaking without stigma. 

For many women, returning to a simpler lifestyle is empowering in a world that often equates worth with career achievements. They argue that modern feminism should allow space for all women to make choices about their lives — whether that means pursuing a career, becoming a stay-at-home mother or finding a balance between the two.

Yet, the tradwife trend reveals how complex and divisive these issues remain. The choice to embrace traditional roles may feel liberating to some, but it’s also laden with implications and expectations that can shape younger generations’ perceptions of womanhood. 

The tradwife movement underscores the diversity of the feminist conversation in modern society. While some find peace in a return to traditional gender roles, others feel it risks reviving outdated practices. 

As social media continues to shape lifestyles and ideals, the debate over the tradwife narrative serves as a reminder of the power — and responsibility — influencers wield over their audiences. Whether for or against, there’s no denying that the movement has sparked meaningful conversations about gender, choice and the evolving definitions of freedom and femininity in the 21st century.

 Written by: Jenevah Harrison — features@theaggie.org

In light of the recent election, third-party voters share their thoughts

By LAILA AZHAR — features@theaggie.org

Since 1853, the president of the United States  — with the exception of Andrew Johnson, who became an Independent after becoming unpopular within his party — has been either a Democrat or a Republican.

For many people, voting for a presidential candidate outside of the two major parties is unthinkable.

UC Los Angeles student Hamza Khan understands why his decision to vote third party was surprising to others.

“A lot of people just see it as: why would you vote for a candidate who has no chance at winning?” Khan said. “But I think there’s more to consider than just that.”

In the recent 2024 election, NBC News reported a total of just under 2.7 million third-party votes, in comparison to president-elect Donald Trump’s 75.9 million and current Vice President Kamala Harris’ 72.9 million.

For voters such as 2024 UC Davis graduate Noorulain Ali, the decision to vote third party was heavily influenced by the conflict in Palestine.

“I definitely stopped supporting the Democratic party after the way the situation in Palestine was handled by [President Joe] Biden,” Ali said.

It’s no coincidence that a significant percentage of Muslims in the United States voted third party this year. 53% of Muslim voters voted for Green party candidate Jill Stein, and only 20% voted for Kamala Harris, according to an exit poll conducted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

This marks a major shift in Muslim voters turning away from the Democratic party. In 2020, 65% of Muslim voters voted for Biden.

“Although Muslims constitute roughly 1% of the American population, they are an important voting bloc because they are concentrated in swing states, which are often narrowly won in elections,” an Al Jazeera op-ed by Dalia Mogahed and Saher Selod reads.

In 2020, for example, over 60,000 Muslims voted in the state of Georgia — a state which Biden won by a margin of only 12,000 votes. In Pennsylvania, which he won by 81,000 votes, 125,000 Muslims voted. Four years ago, Biden won Michigan — a state with 240,000 Muslim voters — by 155,000 votes. This year, the state was home to the Uncommitted Movement, which protested Biden’s nomination.

This election has left Muslim voters feeling abandoned by both major parties.

“On one hand, the Democrats are facilitating a genocide abroad,” Khan said. “But on the other hand, Trump has sparked a lot of inflammatory rhetoric about immigrants, notably from Muslim-majority countries, which makes things dangerous for those of us here. It’s a lose-lose situation.”

Some view third-party voting as a step toward a more equitable form of election.

“We deserve better than a two-party system,” Khan said. “If we’re stuck between the same two options every time, it means politicians aren’t ever incentivized to be better, or to be actually good. People just vote along party lines.”

Following the results of the recent election, many took to social media to express their frustration with third-party voters.

“Generally…what was Third party voters thought process,” a tweet with over 79,000 likes reads.

To some, this sentiment feels unfair.

“I don’t understand how people can see the images that have come out of Gaza and fault others for not voting for someone who served under the administration in charge while all of this is going on,” Khan said.

The vote of every third-party voter wouldn’t have alone changed the outcome for Harris — not the popular or electoral vote. Especially for voters in California, a state which is called for the Democratic party as soon as polls close, third-party voters likely didn’t impact the results of the election.

“It’s not right to blame us for the way things turned out,” Khan said.

Parties are eligible for public funding if they receive 5% of the popular vote in a presidential election, a fact that some cite as influencing their decision to vote third party.

“Even if a candidate doesn’t win, if they can just reach that 5%, it’ll impact the amount of resources they get,” Ali said.

Megan Le, a third-year economics major, is not a third-party voter, but she doesn’t agree with the outrage that has been directed at them. For her, the onus is on politicians to appeal to voters.

“I think it’s better to be a third-party voter than to be completely disengaged from politics. At least you’re making a decision and doing what you think is best for the country, instead of just apathy,” Le said. “I don’t think voters should have to vote for a candidate they find legitimately appalling. I think politicians have a responsibility to create platforms that resonate with the people they’re trying to serve.”

Regardless of who one voted for in the recent election, it’s likely that everyone has something they’d like to change about the system.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about what someone thinks is best,” Khan said. “People will come to different conclusions about strategy. But I think we should be looking to our politicians to lead better and not pointing the blame at each other.”

Written by: Laila Azhar — features@theaggie.org

Local students and business owners share thoughts on lights throughout downtown and campus

By NOAH HARRIS — features@theaggie.org

Daylight savings recently made its biannual appearance into our lives. As we fall back one hour, darkness begins to fall at a much earlier time and lighting becomes more necessary throughout the community. 

In January, the city of Davis released a survey for residents offering three options for residents to choose from to light up Downtown Davis. 

“[There are] three different lighting options […] to replace the decorative ‘twinkle’ lights that previously adorned trees along downtown sidewalks,” the city of Davis said on their website. “These previous lights historically provided an enhanced downtown ambiance and improved lighting for safety, however were experiencing wear and tear.” 

The three options they gave were: a laser unit affixed to the ground projecting small, moving lights toward tree canopies, LED lights strung between installed poles and LED lights strung between trees. 

The city of Davis used to have 650 LED lights, which were installed in May 2014. By October of the same year, they were taken out and replaced with warmer lights due to negative resident views. This operation cost 350,000 dollars. 

Even though the survey was taken in January, there does not seem to be any progress with this project. However, Brett Lee, the executive director of the Davis Downtown Business Association (DDBA), believes that the city has different plans to install more lighting in Downtown Davis. 

“The city is looking at replacing lighting that most people would call decorative lighting,” Lee said. “In Winters or San Francisco, they’ll have decorative lights strung up 20 feet above the street. I think the city plans to do that, which will add to the atmosphere.”

Lee continued by explaining other renovations currently underway in Davis. 

“In addition, the G Sreet redesign where there’s sort of a car-free zone, with outdoor dining as part of that project, there’s going to be lighting added,” Lee said. “There’s been a little bit of a delay and I have heard from shopkeepers that they missed that decorative lighting and they’re sort of waiting for the city to replace it.”

Kelsey Meyer, a fourth-year environmental policy and planning and managerial economics double major, decided to conduct a group report on the issue. For her, downtown lighting has not proven to be as big of an issue as it is where she lives.

 “I live in North Davis, and I bike to and from campus on Oak Street — it’s a beautiful street during the day,” Meyer said. “But at night, anywhere that’s not on the stretch that’s right next to the high school, it’s almost completely pitch black.”

Meyer wrote a report for a class last year that looked at improving lighting in Davis. Her group proposed three options.

 “We looked into retrofitting the current lights with brighter lights, which we decided would help a little bit, but probably wouldn’t be too much of an impact on the current situation,” Meyer said. 

The report proposed for Davis to build new adaptive lighting systems across the city. There was already a roadmap for this, according to Meyer. 

“As some other cities that had implemented [similar] programs such as San Jose, they actually saved money long-term because of the energy savings from the adaptive lighting,” Meyer said. 

The city of Davis is not the only place students have issues with lighting. Tvesa Medh, a third-year psychology and cognitive science double major, and Molly Mac Farland, a fourth-year psychology major, both see lighting as something to improve on the UC Davis campus alongside downtown. 

Mac Farland took a University Writing Program (UWP) class at UC Davis and was told to report about something she viewed as an inconvenience.

 “I decided I would interview my mutual friend who works at a women’s committee on campus,” Medh said via email in a joint statement with Mac Farland. “[The friend] explained to me that her committee actually has a set aside budget to fund projects like this to increase safety on campus, so we decided to push this project further and try and get more lights installed not only around that building, but other places on campus that aren’t well-lit.”

Dark sky legislation is an important part of this issue. Davis has had a light ordinance since 1998; it was established to minimize the amount of lighting at night, which creates less light pollution and allows for a more visible night sky. 

For Meyer, adaptive lighting would not go against this ordinance, though it would mean adding more lampposts. 

“A solution like adaptive lighting can help solve that because it’s only [going to] be turned on when it’s needed by travelers,” Meyer said. 

As opposed to lights that stay on all night, adaptive lighting would only turn on occasionally. Mac Farland understood the city ordinance but expressed concern about what it meant for students’ safety. 

“It’s important for campuses to have plenty of light not only for women but anyone who walks or travels in dark areas,” Mac Farland said. “Especially where there’s a ton of young people who can be considered vulnerable at times.”

Lighting is something that has caused much debate in Davis. The hope for students like Meyer, Lee, Mac Farland and Medh who have concerns on student safety is that ongoing problems will be resolved in a timely manner. Student safety is a community-wide concern as we enter the year’s winter months and experience earlier sunsets and darker nights. 

Cast members and the director reflect on how they brought the production to life

By GRACIELA TIU — features@theaggie.org

Presented by the UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance, the play “She Kills Monsters” will have its opening night on Thursday, Nov. 21. Directed by Lucas Hatton, who received a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in the dramatic arts in 2017, the production dives into topics of grief, bullying and the connection between siblings through fantasy games and the use of humor.

“[The show] has been produced frequently in colleges and universities in particular,” Hatton said. “[We] wanted a show that students would be excited about and that would be a fun theater-going experience, but not shy away from some of the more serious or important themes.”

With initial discussions about the play taking place in early 2024, auditions in April and rehearsals beginning in the fall, the cast and crew have been working hard to bring the unique show to life.

The show is a story of two sisters and the depth of their relationship. After the untimely death of the younger sister, Tilly Evans, Agnes Evans finds her sister’s notebook and discovers that her love for the game Dungeons and Dragons has brought her to a fantasy world inspired by the game.

“The play is so rich,” Hatton said. “Every night [that] I watch a run-through, there [are] new things that pop out of it. While the play has a lot of fanciful elements and some silliness, there is also an emotional truth in it in terms of the challenges and difficulties that the characters face. The way to have that resonate is to approach it with respect and honesty — allow[ing] for a journey that the characters take scene by scene and moment by moment — rather than hinting at it or doing something stylistic where it feels less sincere.”

Melanie Garcia, a second-year theatre and dance major who plays Tilly, said she hopes the show’s relatable and emotional themes will resonate with audiences.

“I hope that they take something away from it,” Garcia said. “I think it shows a lot of real topics that a lot of people shy away from because they’re just so out there and vulgar, but they are true stories [that] need to be told. So I hope that if [people] have been through those kinds of things, it’ll help them see that they’re not alone, and that other people and even fictional characters have been through things that they have also been through.”

Lana Lindley, a fourth-year theatre and dance major who plays Agnes, said the production spotlights two sisters and their meaningful connection to each other, which even traverses life and death as they journey between realms.

“She’s a very smart and independent woman; She’s 24 in the show, and she is dealing with a lot of grief after her family died,” Lindley said. “She’s a really thoughtful and considerate sister, friend and girlfriend — but because she’s dealing with the death of her family, she has a lot of grief that she’s suffering with at the same time, so her relationships are very complex.”

Lindley reflected on how exploring her character’s traits, personality and past experiences strengthened her acting.

“Playing Agnes has really challenged me as an actor,” Lindley said. “She has so many complexities [in] her personality, and it’s difficult to play on stage but in the best way possible. She’s not a simple, static character — she’s very dynamic, so it’s really fun to play.”

Garcia described how she feels the audience might relate to her character.

“I play Tilly Evans, Agnes’ little sister, and she’s very unique in her own way, but [I] also feel like a lot of people can relate to her,” Garcia said. “She’s just this little teenager that is obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons — she’s very silly and confident in herself but also has moments where you see through her facade of [being] this strong person and see who she actually is on the inside.”

Starting at the beginning of the quarter, rehearsals were from 6 to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, with tech week — the final week before opening night — taking place from Nov. 14 to 20 and bringing additional hours to their rehearsals.

“A lot of my days, dare I say every day, have become super busy, and it’s hard, but you find ways to work around it,” Lindley said. “But it’s so exciting and rewarding, especially now that it’s almost here.”

Along with student cast members and professional technical designers, the production also features the work of assistant student crew members.

“We have faculty, who are the primary designers, and then there’s a head of the scene shop as well,” Hatton said. “Each of those areas: lighting, sound, projection and scenic, each has at least one assistant designer who is a student, and I also have a student assistant director.”

Students also had the opportunity to work with an outside professional to refine the fight scenes in the show.

“We got to work with a fight choreographer who came in from New York and that was super cool,” Lindley said. “His name is Dan, and he was so much fun to work with. It was also really cool getting to learn how to do fight scenes and how to not hurt someone.”

Lindley said spending hours working and collaborating on set brought many student cast members closer together.

“The cast has been extremely nice and friendly,” Lindley said. “We’re all super outgoing and very extroverted. I would say times in the green room, [where we] hang out either before rehearsal or during a quick break, are always fun. We’re all just on our phones but also telling each other funny things that happened during our days, and it’s a little bit of time to just debrief with each other.”

The show will run from Nov. 21 to 23 and Dec. 5 to 7, with tickets available for purchase on the UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance website.

“Watching the run last night, I think we’ve created a really inviting and exciting world and experience,” Hatton said. “I hope that as many people come to see and enjoy this play as possible.”

Written by: Graciela Tiu — features@theaggie.org

The ducks are a symbol of community to students around campus

By AMBER WARNKE — features@theaggie.org

The ducks living in the Arboretum on campus have captured the hearts of students for decades, contributing to the beauty of the UC Davis campus. They also benefit the local ecology, according to John Veon, an ecology Ph.D. student with an emphasis on waterfowl and wetland ecology.

“They’re gonna be eating a lot of foods, like invertebrates and plants, but also they cycle a lot of those foods,” Veon said. “So all the nitrogen and phosphorus from the waste that they have, they’re gonna put that back in the environment and that’s positive for plant growth. They can also participate in seed dispersal, so they can eat plant seeds and move them to other locations.”

When describing the types of ducks students can spot in the Arboretum, Veon said that the ducks are “a mix.”

“A lot of them are mallards, which is one of the most common ducks in North America,” Veon said. “But they’re also crossbred. There [are] other ducks, like wood ducks, [that] I’ve seen in there. You’ll see a lot of those. And it’s not uncommon to see a few diver ducks, like ringnecks, and things that might be swimming around looking for fish.”

Jacqueline Satter, a sixth-year Ph.D. student in the ecology graduate group, commented on the origins of the Arboretum ducks.

“The Arboretum ducks are a pretty good mix of [non]-wild ducks, what I assume are released farm ducks and some companions that have joined them along the way, but we still love them,” Satter said. “They’re probably farm-influenced and genetically not really wild. They still endure a lot; ducks are ridiculously adaptable.”

Kevin Ringelman, an assistant professor in the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, also discussed the Arboretum’s mix of farm and hybrid ducks.

“The ducks that you see in the Arb are mostly resident,” Ringelman said. “They live there all year round.”

Veon also shed light on how UC Davis students can help protect and support the Arboretum ducks.

“What you can do is the big one, not littering or feeding them,” Veon said. “When you start to feed them seeds, they start to associate with the fact that, ‘Oh humans are friends,’ and we don’t want to do that — because there may be context, whether it be roadways or out there in other environments where our disturbances may lead to their mortality.”

Veon says that feeding can also bring the ducks in close proximity to one another, which can transmit diseases among the population. It’s also against state law, as it can lead to duck overpopulation and pollution.

Veon suggests that students can protect the ducks by giving the wildlife space.

“Whenever you try to chase a duck or you try to handle a wild duck, they’re burning a bunch of precious energetic resources,” Veon said. “So they need that for all their little ducklings, their egg development and they need that for growing feathers every year.”

Veon continued by offering suggestions for people to do their part in enabling the ducks to happily exist in their environments for years to come.

“If you ever want to get involved in waterfowl conservation that would tangentially benefit your Arboretum ducks, [buy] a duck stamp,” Veon said. “They’re beautiful [and] there’s a whole duck art competition that happens every year. You can go to your post office and purchase one, and that goes straight to waterfowl conservation.”

Veon also shared another interesting aspect of ducks: they help form communities, especially for nature lovers.

“Ducks are really good at bringing people together,” Veon said. “People love to watch ducks. You know, people come from a variety of backgrounds, whether you’re a hunter, you’re a birder or a park goer or a hiker.”

Students often spend time relaxing in the Arboretum, which covers 100 acres and was established in 1936. The popular spot on campus gives students a chance to interact with nature and wildlife, including the ducks.

Veon explains why he thinks humans connect so much to ducks.

“I think we find them so endearing because first off, aside from being cute and fluffy and quirky, they tend to have a level of affection towards each other,” Veon said. “They’re social groups, so [they] actually rely on each other to protect each other from predators. [It] kind of gets at the social context of how we like to be, for the most part. But also, you know, there’s a sense of protection and love that they give to their offspring.”

To Hannah Clements, a fourth-year biochemistry and molecular biology major, the ducks have a special meaning due to her involvement with the UC Davis Marching Band.

“I am a member of the alto saxophone section, and each of the sections in the band have a mascot, which is usually an animal,” Clements said. “The alto mascot is a duck because when you’re bad at the alto, which most of us were at one point, it sounds like a duck quacking.”

Clements feels that the mascot of the duck serves as a reminder of the importance of the relationships she has built in Davis.

“Whenever I see a duck I think of my friends and [the] community that I built,” Clements said. “So, it’s kind of something that brings us together, and I’d say it’s just a symbol of keeping the whimsy in college, which can be hard sometimes. You realize it’s nice to be silly sometimes.”

This affection for ducks is nearly universal, according to Veon.

“They’re just so deeply attached to each other, until they’re big enough to leave the nest, as we often say about many [kids] going off to college,” Veon said.

Everything that must be said about ducks can be summarized by Clements: “Quack!”

Written by: Amber Warnke — features@theaggie.org