Why is Bitch Fest positioned as saying what therapists cannot say?

Therapists are constrained by licensing requirements, professional ethics, and the therapeutic frame that requires neutrality and client-led pacing. Bitch Fest operates without those constraints. It can say directly: this isn't about a name, it's about whose comfort matters more in the room. No licensed professional is typically that direct in session.

What should you do if your mother-in-law keeps calling you by the wrong name?

The column recommends a mirror: the next time she uses the wrong name, calmly say that's not my name, then stop talking. No explanation, no softening, no laughter. Let the silence sit where it belongs. If your husband rushes to smooth it over, that's the more important conversation than the mother-in-law's behavior.

Is it okay to lie about having plans to avoid social obligations?

Bitch Fest's answer is that preferring your own space is not a problem. What needs examining is the belief that enjoying solitude requires justification or that declining social invitations without explaining yourself is a character flaw. The column draws a clear line: solitude by choice is healthy; social performance from obligation is what drains you.

Shop Perks & Places Podcasts

Bitch Fest: The Column That Says What Therapists Cannot

By Joseph Tito • March 2, 2026

Woman typing Bitch Fest letter with wine

This isn’t about venting.It’s about refusing what no longer works.Dear Bitch Fest,My mother-in-law keeps “accidentally” calling me by my husband’s ex’s name. It’s been six years. At Easter dinner, she did it twice. My husband says I’m overreacting. Am I?, Still Not JenniferDear Still Not Jennifer,Let’s be very clear.This isn’t about a name.It’s about whose comfort matters more in the room.Right now, the expectation is that you absorb the disrespect so everyone else can stay comfortable. That’s not neutrality. That’s a choice.And when your husband says you’re “overreacting,” what he’s really saying is:It’s easier for me if you swallow this.Six years means this isn’t accidental. It’s a pattern that’s been tolerated long enough to become normalized. And the only reason it continues is because there’s been no consequence.Your rebellion doesn’t need theatrics. It needs a mirror.The next time she does it, calmly say:“That’s not my name.”Don’t explain. Don’t soften it. Don’t laugh it off.Then stop talking.Let the silence sit where it belongs.If your husband rushes to smooth it over, that’s the real conversation. Because a partner who minimizes your experience is still participating in it.Rebellion doesn’t always flip tables.Sometimes it just refuses to smile anymore.Dear Bitch Fest,I lie about having...