Every morning, Hannah Neeleman steps out onto her Utah farm to hand-milk cows and collect fresh eggs, preparing a homemade breakfast for her husband and eight children—all while dressed in a floral sundress. Neeleman has gained a following of over 18 million across TikTok and Instagram under the account name Ballerina Farm, where she shares glimpses of her bucolic family life.
But how did this picturesque lifestyle land Neeleman in the middle of a major internet controversy?
Ballerina Farm has become a popular example of the growing discussion on “tradwife” culture, short for “traditional wife.” The term highlights traditional gender roles, with women focusing on raising children, cooking, and managing domestic duties.
In an interview with the Times of London, journalist Megan Agnew revealed that Neeleman was previously a ballerina studying at Juilliard School when she chose to follow her husband, Daniel Neelman’s wishes to leave school early and marry. This sparked a wave of controversy online as viewers rushed to question whether Neeleman’s decision to turn from her original dreams as a promising ballerina in favor of what seemed to be Daniels’ wishes for traditional family life was the right one.
The feminist movement of the 1960s shifted women’s roles in the workforce. Leaders like Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan had fought for equal treatment of women in the workforce. Laws such as the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned workplace discrimination and paved the way for a new way of life for women.
Today, it’s normal and almost standard for women in urban areas to hold jobs in the workforce. But despite all the progress, many women still face challenges including, but not limited to, unfair pay, limited opportunities for leadership, and stereotypes based on old ideas about gender roles.
These issues are at the center of an ongoing debate online, where tradwife content creators are getting backlash. The tradwife culture celebrates traditional gender roles, where women stay home, take care of the house, and focus on supporting their husbands. Critics argue this movement could undo years of progress toward gender equality, saying it risks taking society back to a time when limited rights for women were the norm.
In an interview with Vogue Magazine, Dr. Jaqueline Beatty shared the implications and controversy behind the portrayal of traditional lifestyles online, explaining how traditional wives historically held extremely limited economic and legal power. Women were not able to raise money on their own and any money that they did make would become their husband’s. Beatty argued that the most troubling aspect of the promotion of tradwife culture was not women simply accepting this but actively advertising it as a glamorized way of life.
However, some suggest the popularity in tradwife culture highlights the efforts that go into domestic work and actually brings attention to historically undervalued household labor. Through tradwife content, viewers are able to gain insight on the behind the scenes work of previously underrepresented household duties and the skills and significant effort needed to manage a household. The easy visibility on social media platforms offer a new perspective on these traditional roles for all types of viewers.
“It really depends on how the creator is displaying what they’re doing. If they’re saying this is what every single person should do because this is what women do, then I think that it’s detrimental. But if it’s somebody who’s taking joy in what they’re doing, then I think that it can be really beneficial,” said Abigail Zinn (’25).
When perceiving modern day traditional domestic lifestyle content it’s important to note that the “tradwife” lifestyle promoted by these creators is not always what it seems. For example, Nara Smith, a well-known tradwife content creator who often showcases her ability to make everything from scratch while maintaining a perfect appearance in extravagant outfits, is also a full-time model alongside her husband. Similarly, Hannah Neeleman runs several businesses from her family farm in Utah, including a meat production company, enamelware, and a baked goods business.
In reality, Smith, Neeleman, and other creators are entrepreneurs who are monetizing the “tradwife” image. While they may embrace traditional gender roles in their online personas, they are also using their platforms and businesses to build successful careers. Thus, the portrayal of tradwife culture online is not always accurate.
“I came from a pretty Mormon background so there were a lot of tradwifes and a lot of ‘you stay home and he goes to work’” said Chloe Kirkman (’27), “so it actually was not great for my mom’s mental health and mine because we did not see our Dad much. It’s not super accurate because it’s not that glamorized and it’s not that fun.”
While the image of the “tradwife” might appear appealing to many, especially teenagers and young adults on social media, it’s important to understand the reality. The idealized life portrayed online rarely addresses certain consequences that come with this lifestyle, such as limited financial and personal independence.
Traditional wives or “kept” wives often have limited access to control over their finances, leaving them dependent on their husband for economic security. Additionally, with an estimated 43% of first marriages ending in divorce according to the CDC, this dependence becomes particularly concerning, as such circumstances could render these women financially vulnerable and facing significant obstacles when seeking employment.. Regarding personal independence, the limited financial independence can impact a woman’s self-perception and sense of autonomy.
Yet, the “tradwife” lifestyle remains attractive to young audiences. The appeal may lie in its simplistic view of family life, where women are celebrated for their domestic skills rather than their professional accomplishments. In an age of fast-paced careers and shifting societal expectations, the “tradwife” lifestyle offers a sense of stability and comfort. For many students at Cherry Hill High School East, the differing ways households can run impacts students’ views on these videos.
“I believe that the teenage girls attracted to ‘trad’ life content are based on the household they grew up in… If a girl like myself grew up in a household where it was a very ‘traditional family’ where the moms didn’t really work and took care of the children, they might find some resistance against people bashing on traditional lifestyles since that is what they grew up with” said Fiona Houston (’27).
However, as this content grows in popularity, it is important to consider the reality of what is portrayed online. While many “tradwife” creators may appear to lead a life of perfect domestic peace, the truth is that they are often building businesses and careers that require significant effort outside of their posts. The rise of “tradwife” culture, while offering a view of a romanticized and simplified past, should also prompt reflection on the shifting societal expectations for women today.
In the debate of Ballerina Farm, Hannah Neeleman may portray her life online as fulfilling traditional household duties, but it is important to recognize the entrepreneurial reality behind her online persona and the impact of this content on the debate in feminism.