The Southern Utah M.A.V.
Semiotic lens
What signs and symbols do I see daily here in southern Utah?
I see many of them driving around with their big hair, big sunglasses, and big Ross bedazzled jeans. They’re on their cell phones trying to meet up with their gals at Cafe Rio or Pizza Factory, to let their kids Craigen and Brooklyn have a play date right before a shopping spree at Target or Old Navy. Then there’s the obligatory stop at the Sweet Tooth Fairy for cupcakes.
There’s some sort of a pattern here. What do these symbols mean here in southern Utah? They are a sign of what I call, “The LDS Power Mom.”
Symbols:
- The SUV: “Not only do I have money from my husband’s multilevel marketing job, but I have a big family just like the prophet said to have, 2 kids.”
- The Cell Phone: “I’m so important that I must talk on this at all times and in all places. Because I’m planning the next mutual activity or Scentsy party.”
- The Rear View Mirror: “I don’t use this because it doesn’t matter what other people are doing around me.”
- The Big Hair: “The bigger the hair the more important I am down here in Southern, UT. Maybe I’m even the Elders Quorum President’s wife.”
- The lunch Date: “I’ve got to get together with my other Mormon Mom’s to talk about all the important things, like how my husband spends too much time at his job and so I deserve this outing.”
- The Window Stickers: “Look how many kids I have! I’ve put them on my window, so you know I’m righteous.”
- The pretentious children’s names: “Not only can I express my style through myself, but now I can show you how cute they are by giving them hybrid Mormon names! And I don’t even have to watch them in public places because they are so cute that everyone else will just be watching them too. Heck maybe they’ll even walk up to the pulpit at church so everyone can see how cute Bridger is with his iPad!”
