Melissa Petro

New York

Author of SHAME ON YOU: How to be a Woman in the Age of Mortification (Putnam/@penguinrandom 2024), rep: @Lauramazer. She/her, NYC.

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Articles

3 moms in tech who had to RTO share how going back to the office has changed their lives

1 week ago | businessinsider.com | Lauryn Haas |Melissa Petro |Henry Blodget

For working parents — and in particular, mothers — holding a full-time job requires an intricate balancing act to keep up with both professional and caregiving responsibilities. While remote work during the pandemic made that balance more manageable for many women, companies that once championed flexible work have been slowly walking it back for months, with more and more major companies announcing RTO mandates.
I post photos of and share details about my children online because it's part of my job. I don't see any downsides.

Mar 7, 2025 | businessinsider.com | Melissa Petro

Careers Melissa Petro and her family. Melissa Petro This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? . Melissa Petro writes stories about her children, balancing the risks and benefits of public exposure. Despite past media scrutiny, she believes openness combats societal issues and personal struggles.
I post photos of my kids online. It's part of my job, and the reward outweighs the risk.

Mar 7, 2025 | yahoo.com | Melissa Petro

Melissa Petro writes stories about her children, balancing the risks and benefits of public exposure. Despite past media scrutiny, she believes openness combats societal issues and personal struggles. She argues that storytelling's financial and emotional rewards outweigh potential privacy concerns.
My family skipped Christmas at home and went to Sri Lanka for a month. Instead of forced traditions, we enjoyed much-needed family time.

Dec 23, 2024 | businessinsider.com | Melissa Petro

In 2022, Melissa Petro's family skipped holiday stress for a meaningful trip to Sri Lanka instead. The trip was a celebration after she sold a book proposal and they met up with family members there. Staying in an Airbnb with hired help enhanced her experience and allowed for true relaxation. From Elf on the Shelf to cookie swaps, matching pajama sets, ugly sweater office parties, and countless other traditions, the holidays can be the most wonderful — and exhausting — time of the year.
Opinion: Shame on her: Why shaming is still one of the most useful tools for controlling women

Nov 15, 2024 | theglobeandmail.com | Melissa Petro
How My Shame Became My Strength

Oct 3, 2024 | time.com | Melissa Petro

IdeasBy Melissa PetroOctober 4, 2024 7:00 AM EDTPetro is a journalist whose writing has been featured in The Washington Post, Allure, Cosmopolitan, Rolling Stone, Good Housekeeping, The Guardian, InStyle, and many other national publications.
I Suddenly Found Myself The Breadwinner In Our Family. I Didn't Expect What It Would Do To My Marriage.

Oct 1, 2024 | yahoo.com | Melissa Petro

The author, right, is pictured with her husband. Photo Courtesy Of Melissa PetroNot too long after I sold my book to a Big Five publisher for a six-figure advance, my husband lost his job. Even though money wasn’t an issue on account of the book deal — and I was actually relieved that he could take over the lion’s share of invisible labor that I’d been managing for years on top of my low-paid, part-time freelance work — I felt my partner’s stress level rise.
Shame on You: How to Be a Woman in the Age of Mortification

Sep 16, 2024 | washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com | Melissa Petro

Melissa Petro’s Shame on You: How to Be a Woman in the Age of Mortificationopens with a moment from her own life when she experienced public humiliation: having to leave her job as a teacher of art and creative writing at an elementary school in the South Bronx after she was outed as a former sex worker. Dubbed a “prosti-teacher” in the tabloids,Petro has spent the two decades since thinking about shame — in particular, women’s shame.
I Suddenly Found Myself The Breadwinner In Our Family. I Didn't Expect What It Would Do To My Marriage.

Sep 12, 2024 | msn.com | Melissa Petro

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I Suddenly Found Myself The Breadwinner In Our Family. I Didn't Expect What It Would Do To My Marriage.

Sep 12, 2024 | huffpost.com | Melissa Petro

Not too long after I sold my book to a Big Five publisher for a six-figure advance, my husband lost his job. Even though money wasn’t an issue on account of the book deal — and I was actually relieved that he could take over the lion’s share of invisible labor that I’d been managing for years on top of my low-paid, part-time freelance work — I felt my partner’s stress level rise.

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Melissa Petro @melissapetro

29 Apr 25

RT @Billie_SD: Excited to share that today I started as the Trending Lifestyle Editor at Yahoo! I’ll be covering lifestyle-focused celebrit…

Melissa Petro @melissapetro

23 Apr 25

RT @sirenasees: Putting out a pitch call for Esquire: If any AAPI writers want to send me their incredibly thoughtful and well written essa…

Melissa Petro @melissapetro

23 Apr 25

RT @lolaannamendez: Last week I landed a story I've been pitching since 2021 (Sent to 113 editors and once I finally shifted the angle it…

Melissa Petro

Articles

3 moms in tech who had to RTO share how going back to the office has changed their lives

I post photos of and share details about my children online because it's part of my job. I don't see any downsides.

I post photos of my kids online. It's part of my job, and the reward outweighs the risk.

My family skipped Christmas at home and went to Sri Lanka for a month. Instead of forced traditions, we enjoyed much-needed family time.

Opinion: Shame on her: Why shaming is still one of the most useful tools for controlling women

How My Shame Became My Strength

I Suddenly Found Myself The Breadwinner In Our Family. I Didn't Expect What It Would Do To My Marriage.

Shame on You: How to Be a Woman in the Age of Mortification

I Suddenly Found Myself The Breadwinner In Our Family. I Didn't Expect What It Would Do To My Marriage.

I Suddenly Found Myself The Breadwinner In Our Family. I Didn't Expect What It Would Do To My Marriage.

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