On a recent episode of Jorge Masvidal’s podcast, Kayla Harrison spoke about feminism, modern parenting, and what she believes is the erosion of traditional family values. The two-time Olympic gold medalist didn’t hold back, sharing opinions about how societal expectations have changed for women and families.
Harrison began by criticizing modern interpretations of feminism, arguing that women have been misled about what fulfillment should look like.
“Feminism is the biggest scam the devil ever pulled off in my opinion,” she said. “When I sit here and think about it, you know, you can do better and you need to go be a boss babe, and okay, you can. But you can also have a family at the same time.”
She suggested that many parents are pushed into work situations that keep them away from their children for most of the day, even though the promise of independence and financial freedom doesn’t always deliver the happiness people expect.
“Instead of staying with your kids, you’re going to send them off to strangers for eight hours every day so that you can go work for the man, still, by the way,” Harrison said. “And get paid and have this money to not spend. It’s just such a scam.”
She continued: “Like that’s the greatest lie the devil ever told is like telling women like ‘Oh, you shouldn’t raise your kids.'”
According to Harrison, the shift has also affected men and their sense of identity within relationships and families.
“It’s emasculated men to the point where it’s like not safe to be a man almost,” she said. “I’m like no wonder our society is…”
Later in the conversation, Harrison acknowledged the economic pressures that many families face today, noting that the rising cost of living has made dual-income households more of a necessity than a choice.
“Why would you send your kids to a stranger every single day?” she asked. “But it’s a necessity that society has created because the cost of living is so high now that you do need two incomes just to support a family.”
She went on to describe what she sees as the stressful daily routine many parents and children experience.
“You wake them up at 6:00 in the morning. Everyone’s nervous systems are disregulated. You’re yelling at them, screaming, ‘Get out the door,’” Harrison said. “The only time you spend with them is the car ride to school. Then when you pick them up, you have a quick dinner. Then you’re off to do the 57 sports that they’ve all got to do. Then it’s, ‘Hey, go to sleep.’”
Harrison also spoke about her own parenting philosophy, explaining that her upbringing shaped her desire to take a different path with her children.
“I grew up in the rat race,” she said. “I grew up believing I’ll be enough when I’ve won something. But I’m raising my kids different.”
She even questioned the traditional school structure, describing her hesitation to send her daughter back into a conventional classroom environment.
“My daughter’s petitioning to go back to school, but I’m like, ‘Dude, why am I going to send you to spend eight hours under fluorescent lighting where there’s no movement?’” Harrison said. “She’s just going to sit under bright lights for eight hours and learn stuff, by the way, that none of us use.”
“The core is the family,” she said. “It goes God, family, and then everything else. And they’ve like completely dismantled the system.”
