In the perverse world of American celebrity drama, divorce and infidelity have long been the norm. Unfortunately, the rest of America – particularly the female segment – has been following suit.
In an article in the True/Slant online media outlet writer Lisa Todorovich holds Sandra Bullock up as an example of someone who has successfully maintained a sympathetic image by simultaneously divorcing and adopting a child. It would be difficult to blame Bullock for divorcing her husband Jesse James given his infidelity, but is it really a good idea to divorce and become a single mother at the same time? This would be akin to a woman deliberately getting pregnant while she knows that she is about to split up with her husband.
Todorovich tells it below:
…when the tattooed nightmare hit, she told People, she grabbed a bag, took baby Louis and got the hell out of Dodge, keeping out of sight while the Category 5 storm swirled around her. And it sounds like her organizational skills in planning how she’d stay out of sight are nothing short of remarkable.
She’s reportedly filed for divorce, saying she was totally blindsided by the scandal. Jesse James has reportedly given up parental rights to little Louis, and she’ll finalize the adoption as a single parent, though she’ll continue to co-parent James’ three kids.
It’s true that Bullock had been trying to adopt a child for years, and this may simply be a case of unfortunate timing on her part, but Todorovich holds it up as a fortuitous convergence of events: dump the guy and run off to be a single mom and the world will love you! I’m pretty sure that’s the lesson young women will take away from it as well.
The idea that becoming a single mother is a triumphant thing is one of the most disgusting aspects of American culture. Not only does it deny the importance of a father in raising a child, it also denies the reality that single motherhood is no walk in the park, and the huge demands it places on mothers and children are not good for children – and hence society – in the long run.
We have to accept that, as absurd as it may be, celebrities are role models for the great masses, and when they send the wrong messages to the people that admire them there will be consequences for all of us. Perhaps Bullock should declare a commitment to finding a man to participate in the raising of her adopted baby boy. If she were to do so, then she would truly be worthy of respect.
