It’s a fair thing to wonder, but honestly (sadly) I think it would have been the same reaction if it had been a woman political substacker, it would have just been a grumble at a lower register in a different corner of the internet.
Posts like this are why I’m a proud subscriber and happy to be here. ❤️
(Should have said, I’ve logged about the same number of years in politics/politics-adjacent work as Jess has cultivating this community, so my response is a guess but a well informed one)
First of all Happy birthday! And second: YES YES YES!
This line hit hard: "the assumption that a woman writing about beauty and fashion for other women is a hobby dressed up as a job."
I'm a fashion psychologist. My thesis is that dismissing what women care about (clothing) is how we dismiss women entirely.
The reflexive disbelief that taste, curation, and aesthetic labor are "real work" is the same logic that says fashion is superficial while men's hobbies (watches, cars, bourbon) are cultured interests worth serious money.
You've been doing this for 20 years. That's incredible! The fact you have to do calculus around admitting what it's worth is the whole problem.
Congratulations on building something undeniable. Keep rocking and have an amazing birthday week!
Honestly. Why shouldn’t you or anyone else make money in return for the time, service, effort, expertise, creativity, editorial, hours and hours of real live work that goes into creating and distributing a publication. Like it magically appears out of thin air?! Because it’s on the internet it’s not fair somehow?
Thank you so much for writing this, during what should have been your birthday break no less. The insinuation that to make $275k as a fashion Substacker you must have a sinister plan to take advantage of people is not only silly, it’s insulting to both the writer and the reader. I have a career in sales that I get paid a salary for - and part of that job is.. sending people links! Should that be ripped apart too?? It’s absurd!
I'm using my Substack / ShopMy income to stay at a swanky Charleston hotel after a week of college visits with my daughter next week. I hope this anonymous diva makes 2X, (hell 10X) next year. You too. Me three!
Love you for posting this. I have a draft titled "It must be her husband or her dad" but I've been too nervous to hit publish. Why do people always assume a woman's success can’t be due to her talents or merits?
Well said! I actually think it's funny that you even have to call out paid partnerships. Coming from years of doing PR in the beauty industry, do you think everything covered in magazine editorials were from the goodness of editor's hearts? Expensive gifts, global press trips, etc. this was never revealed lol Keep doing your thing Jess!
I love Substack and I’m glad I joined the platform but the snarking on female writers by other women has been my least favorite part. The misogynistic Substack article yesterday really pissed me off the most though because everything she writes is on the back of other women. She has no problem making her money that way but God forbid I help someone get dressed or tell them about something new. I made significantly more than the person featured last year as well, a number I could only dream about when I moved to NYC in 2001. Even though I was proud of it, I only told a handful of people the amount because women aren’t allowed to talk about their accomplishments especially if they are an influencer. I can’t even fly myself in business class for an actual business trip without someone running to Reddit. The saddest part is that it’s been that way since I started on blogpost in 2007 and nothing has changed since then but I keep holding out hope that it will.
I'm glad you're here on Substack, heather! I actually know her identity and wonder if she'd be so brave were she not anonymous. Didn't she paywall something that was a criticism? I thought that was hilarious. Anyway that website is basically just a Reddit thread. Ignore it. You deserve everything you've worked hard for (for a really, really long time!) and haven't shrunk. I commend you
lol the first thought I had when I saw that in the article was, GET IT GIRL!! It should be seen as a sign of ✨expansion✨ (and happiest of birthdays!! And congrats on the book!)
I have been thinking about what you wrote since I read it this morning. As a mom of three who works from home, I find myself constantlyyyyyy minimizing what I do. Being overly flexible, over explaining, offering justifications that literally nobody asked for. And now I realize it almost makes me part of the problem! My substack, along with everything else I do, supports half our costs as a family of five. And I need to act more as such. I am going to have you and what you wrote in my ear from now on when I catch myself thinking my time isn't as precious as another person who works
Like the hours that are spent cultivating relationships and trust never get any credit from anyone! Brands. Haters. Society. Also, $275k in NYC is like $200k salary in Columbus and that was director level salary at a corporate job. People need to chill out.
I just keep thinking that if we crossed out “fashion” and wrote “political” substacker, the reaction wouldn’t have been the same.
true.
It’s a fair thing to wonder, but honestly (sadly) I think it would have been the same reaction if it had been a woman political substacker, it would have just been a grumble at a lower register in a different corner of the internet.
Posts like this are why I’m a proud subscriber and happy to be here. ❤️
(Should have said, I’ve logged about the same number of years in politics/politics-adjacent work as Jess has cultivating this community, so my response is a guess but a well informed one)
Exactly
First of all Happy birthday! And second: YES YES YES!
This line hit hard: "the assumption that a woman writing about beauty and fashion for other women is a hobby dressed up as a job."
I'm a fashion psychologist. My thesis is that dismissing what women care about (clothing) is how we dismiss women entirely.
The reflexive disbelief that taste, curation, and aesthetic labor are "real work" is the same logic that says fashion is superficial while men's hobbies (watches, cars, bourbon) are cultured interests worth serious money.
You've been doing this for 20 years. That's incredible! The fact you have to do calculus around admitting what it's worth is the whole problem.
Congratulations on building something undeniable. Keep rocking and have an amazing birthday week!
thank you!
Of course! This argument needed to exist. Thanks for writing it.
Honestly. Why shouldn’t you or anyone else make money in return for the time, service, effort, expertise, creativity, editorial, hours and hours of real live work that goes into creating and distributing a publication. Like it magically appears out of thin air?! Because it’s on the internet it’s not fair somehow?
bc I'm just a girl be-bopping around doing my girl stuff? YOU ARE WORTHY OF THE BRANDS YOU BUILD LADIES
Thank you so much for writing this, during what should have been your birthday break no less. The insinuation that to make $275k as a fashion Substacker you must have a sinister plan to take advantage of people is not only silly, it’s insulting to both the writer and the reader. I have a career in sales that I get paid a salary for - and part of that job is.. sending people links! Should that be ripped apart too?? It’s absurd!
I read some silly post by some silly writer "exposing" how that money is made and I was just like, really?
It was the snarkiest of articles. Like, why? Thank you so much for writing this.
Echoing you Emily!
I'm using my Substack / ShopMy income to stay at a swanky Charleston hotel after a week of college visits with my daughter next week. I hope this anonymous diva makes 2X, (hell 10X) next year. You too. Me three!
GOOD FOR YOU
Love you for posting this. I have a draft titled "It must be her husband or her dad" but I've been too nervous to hit publish. Why do people always assume a woman's success can’t be due to her talents or merits?
LOL I have said this identical thing a million times. We need to get a drink and Kiki
YES DONE
Well said! I actually think it's funny that you even have to call out paid partnerships. Coming from years of doing PR in the beauty industry, do you think everything covered in magazine editorials were from the goodness of editor's hearts? Expensive gifts, global press trips, etc. this was never revealed lol Keep doing your thing Jess!
I know. Kinda blows my mind that people still get their nickers in a bunch over it.
I love Substack and I’m glad I joined the platform but the snarking on female writers by other women has been my least favorite part. The misogynistic Substack article yesterday really pissed me off the most though because everything she writes is on the back of other women. She has no problem making her money that way but God forbid I help someone get dressed or tell them about something new. I made significantly more than the person featured last year as well, a number I could only dream about when I moved to NYC in 2001. Even though I was proud of it, I only told a handful of people the amount because women aren’t allowed to talk about their accomplishments especially if they are an influencer. I can’t even fly myself in business class for an actual business trip without someone running to Reddit. The saddest part is that it’s been that way since I started on blogpost in 2007 and nothing has changed since then but I keep holding out hope that it will.
I'm glad you're here on Substack, heather! I actually know her identity and wonder if she'd be so brave were she not anonymous. Didn't she paywall something that was a criticism? I thought that was hilarious. Anyway that website is basically just a Reddit thread. Ignore it. You deserve everything you've worked hard for (for a really, really long time!) and haven't shrunk. I commend you
lol the first thought I had when I saw that in the article was, GET IT GIRL!! It should be seen as a sign of ✨expansion✨ (and happiest of birthdays!! And congrats on the book!)
expansion indeed!!!
AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!! Thank you for this Jess. Also happy birthday!
thank you Sogole! The most anti-hater, biggest cheerleader for others there ever was
I have been thinking about what you wrote since I read it this morning. As a mom of three who works from home, I find myself constantlyyyyyy minimizing what I do. Being overly flexible, over explaining, offering justifications that literally nobody asked for. And now I realize it almost makes me part of the problem! My substack, along with everything else I do, supports half our costs as a family of five. And I need to act more as such. I am going to have you and what you wrote in my ear from now on when I catch myself thinking my time isn't as precious as another person who works
this comment made it worth it
YES!!!!!! Each line got better and better.
Bravo!!!!!
The funny part too - the substackers freaking out about this number want exactly what this person has
My thoughts exactly!
The "hell yeahs!" get progressively louder the longer you read. A likely thing to experience on The Love List! P.S. A very happy birthday!
Like the hours that are spent cultivating relationships and trust never get any credit from anyone! Brands. Haters. Society. Also, $275k in NYC is like $200k salary in Columbus and that was director level salary at a corporate job. People need to chill out.
So TRUE. the soft skills are so major. People do need to take a chill pill