Through a thematic analysis, representation and feminist theory sought to find how the mothers on SLOMW portray Mormon women. The RQ asked “How do the SLOMW’s portray Mormon women?” To better illustrate how the cast portrays the church, I established three themes: false female empowerment, challenging traditional gender roles, and moral policing. Looking at cast members through these themes allowed this study to find how these themes portray Mormon women.
As influencers and reality TV stars, the cast of SLOMW’s want to showcase female empowerment to a large audience. Female empowerment is when women support other women. However, despite the cast's attempts to showcase female empowerment, it’s undermined by them tearing others down in the group. In season two episode 10 of SLOMW (2024), the group goes to a Christmas party hosted by Engemann who invited Frankie Paul by accident because she was in the group chat she invited. Liann May, Frankie Paul’s mom, shows up at the venue in Frankie Paul’s place and confronts Engemann about her “what Liann calls Demi” (Jenkins et al., 2024). Engleman and May get into an argument in which Engleman says “I’m so sick, especially with Taylor, of her getting a pass because she’s going through hard things and saying ‘well that's just how she is.’ Welcome to the real world Taylor. This sucked? Fucking sucked for us too” (Jenkins et al., 2024, 12:45). Engleman’s statement is resentful and angry that Frankie Paul gets grace when she’s struggling but when others in the group are going through similar things, they are the villain. Zac Affleck, Jen Affleck’s husband, after discussing if Jen should continue being a part of MomTok, talks about how he believes the group isn’t there to empower one another (Jenkins et al., 2024). Zac (2025) in season three episode one said, “I just feel like you sometimes look to these girls for support and empowerment, and you get let down a lot. I hope that this next time, you guys can be there for each other” (Jenkins et al., 2024, 33:05).
One of MomTok’s core values is fighting the patriarchy surrounding women in the church (Jenkins et al., 2024). As Neeley (2024) said in season one episode one, “we’re just powerful women trying to change the stigma of gender roles in the Mormon culture” (Jenkins et al., 2024, 02:08). From an outside perspective, the group is challenging traditional gender roles, the majority of the group being the breadwinners in their families. Dauper (2026) in season four episode 10, “we have come so far in just the last few years, especially here in the Utah Mormon culture, because MomTok has flipped typical gender roles. We’re breadwinners, not trad wives” (Jenkins et al., 2026, 51:36). However when looking at their actions and behaviors in the show, the group is in traditional relationships where women both resist and uphold oppressive structures. This is evident in Dauper and Jordan Ngatikaura relationship after Dauper’s affair with Marciano Brunette. Ngatikaura in the season three episode said, “It’s emasculating as hell. And it’s embarrassing. I don’t want to be looked at less of a man because my wife did what she did. And I don't wanna be looked at less of a man because I decided to stay around because of it” (Jenkins et al., 2024, 46:01). In the church, men are seen as the provider (Jenkins et al., 2024). Ngatikaura’s relationship is the opposite dynamic combined with growing up in the church, “it adds another level of feeling not enough” (Jenkins et al., 2024, 29:49). Ngatikaura and Dauper believe they should stay together despite all their complex feelings because in the church, divorce is frowned upon (Jenkins et al., 2024).
One of the beliefs Momtok was built on is empowerment (Jenkins et al., 2024). In season 2, episode 10 Mathews said “MomTok was built on is the empowerment, women empowerment. I think it's empowering to go off everyone else's beliefs and their experiences and say, you know what? Actually, I don’t believe with you and that’s fine” (Jenkins et al., 2024, 42:48). In some instances the cast is supportive of one another, comforting Frankie Paul when she finds out Dakota was lying about being with a family friend and comforting Taylor when she talks about having an eating disorder. When released her company Baby Mama, Leavitt didn’t attend due to her falling out with the majority of MomTok. The group throughout the event talk about how they’re disappointed Leavitt didn’t show up and believe that she shouldn’t be in MomTok because of her lack of effort in the group (Jenkins et al., 2024). During the countdown for the company's release, Engemann suggests they all unfollow Leavitt at the end of the countdown. In season one, episode one layla said “It's extremely disappointing that Whitney didn't show up for Mayci for her launch party. I just feel like we don’t need to continue to support her if she doesn’t even wanna be friends with us and support one of our friends” (Jenkins et al., 2024, 27:16).
In season two, episode 10, Hope talks about how she’s “not entirely sure if it's something I can be a part” of MomTok anymore because it’s drifted away from what it was originally about, women supporting women and mothers supporting other mothers (Jenkins et al., 2024, 17:41). Hope, not officially a part of the group at the time, sees the behaviors of the members and doesn’t see the support system MomTok originally was.
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