Few authors have influenced society's ideas about romance more than Jane Austen. The English novelist, born in 1775, lived only to age 41. In her short life, Austin completed six novels, including her most famous, “Pride and Prejudice.”With Valentine's Day just around the corner on Feb. 14—or the alternative Singles Awareness Day on Feb. 15— it’s a good time to reflect on Austen’s legacy. Far more than the usual novelist, Austen instructs readers toward a moral good, just as a philosopher would, Brenda Hafera, a senior policy analyst in American studies at The Heritage Foundation, says. Austen challenges class structures and common stereotypes for both men and women. She forces readers to look past the surface in romantic relationships to consider the character and intellect of a life partner. Today on “Problematic Women,” we discuss the lessons we can learn from Austen in an age of dating apps and casual relationships. Also on today’s show, we talk about he best way to celebrate Valentine’s Day as a single person, and why some brands are giving consumers the option to opt out of Valentine's Day promotional emails. Plus, the Winter Olympics are in full swing in Beijing. We break down why China never should have been given the honor of hosting the games. And as always, we crown our Problematic Woman of the Week.Enjoy the show! Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.