I'm Maura Aronsmeli, and this is The Anxious Achiever.

We look at stories from business leaders who've dealt with anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges, how they fell down, how they pick themselves up, and how they hope workplaces can change.

When I read an interview with today's guest in Anne Helen Peterson's excellent newsletter culture study, I just could not stop thinking about it. I told everyone I knew,

I shared it on social media, but I simply felt I had to reach out to the article's author,

Jessica Calarco, and try to bring a conversation with her to you because her work is so

important, especially right now.

Jessica McCrory Calarco is Associate Professor of Sociology at Indiana University,

and she's the author of two books, a field guide to grad school, uncovering the hidden curriculum,

and negotiating opportunities, how the middle class secures advantages in schools. Her research examines

inequalities in education and family life. And she is the mother of two young children. Like me,

she did her undergraduate education at Brown University, although unlike me, she graduated

magna cum laude with many honors. My Conversation with Jessica Kalarko.

Welcome, Jessica.

Thank you for having me.

So I want to dive right in.

One of the recent studies that you worked on is called,

Let's Not Pretend It's Fun, which personally, on a lighter note, I loved because I just thought it was so true.

You know, like we're supposed to love parenting, especially younger children, and it's supposed to be the most joyous time.

And oftentimes it's not.

And data, even pre-pandemic data, bear that out.

So thank you for being honest, even in your title of your paper.

Yeah, and certainly that's something that's been true for me as well.

...