~*~*~
Seems Jennifer Aniston and Bill O'Reily had a "moment" recently ... kind of ...
In an interview promoting her summer comedy "The Switch" (about artificial insemination shenanigans) Jennifer Aniston had the audacity to say, "Women are realizing more and more that you don't have to settle, they don't have to fiddle with a man to have that child."
Cue the angry traditional family mob, led by their fearless leader, Bill O'Reilly with Gretchen Carlson and Margaret Hoover nipping at his heels.
Gretchen Carlson insists that Aniston's comments weren't because of her movie (Aniston portrays a single mother having a child through artificial insemination) but because of her own personal "failings".
"No, this is about the fact that in her personal life, she's a 41-year-old single woman who has never been married and probably has not ruled out the chance of having a baby."
Ummm ... there was that Brad Pitt guy, but who's keeping tabs?
Then, Fox News Analyst Margaret Hoover says that Aniston's character is "suspiciously similar" to Aniston herself (i.e. same age, single woman, etc.)
Really? The movie is about a 40-something single female and they cast a 41-year old single female for the part. My! That is "suspicious."
O'Reilly claims Aniston is "throwing a message out to 12-year-olds and 13-year-olds that hey, you don't need a dad! Dad ... eh ... you know."
Well, the movie is rated PG-13. I suppose if, as a parent, you didn't believe that was a message you wanted your 12-year old to hear, you could ... well ... be a PARENT and tell them "NO!"
Look, statistics show, time and time again, that children growing up in two-parent homes are, on average, more successful (The Daily Beast published a great ARTICLE outlining some of these statistics).
Personally, I feel it is quite selfish to intentionally have a child knowing that child will be raised in a single-parent household (although I feel differently about adoption by single parents and haven't been able to resolve that glaring inconsistency), but I don't believe that Jennifer Aniston's comments were, as O’Reilly called them, "destructive to our society." It's Jennifer Aniston for God's sake!
It's been almost 20 years since Vice President Dan Quayle denounced Candice Bergen's "Murphy Brown" character for having a child out of wedlock. Talk about stuck in a rut. Maybe O'Reily, his angry traditional family mob, and Quayle should sit down, have a Walter's, and remissness about the good old days of women's suffrage.
Seems Jennifer Aniston and Bill O'Reily had a "moment" recently ... kind of ...In an interview promoting her summer comedy "The Switch" (about artificial insemination shenanigans) Jennifer Aniston had the audacity to say, "Women are realizing more and more that you don't have to settle, they don't have to fiddle with a man to have that child."
Cue the angry traditional family mob, led by their fearless leader, Bill O'Reilly with Gretchen Carlson and Margaret Hoover nipping at his heels.
Gretchen Carlson insists that Aniston's comments weren't because of her movie (Aniston portrays a single mother having a child through artificial insemination) but because of her own personal "failings".
"No, this is about the fact that in her personal life, she's a 41-year-old single woman who has never been married and probably has not ruled out the chance of having a baby."
Ummm ... there was that Brad Pitt guy, but who's keeping tabs?
Then, Fox News Analyst Margaret Hoover says that Aniston's character is "suspiciously similar" to Aniston herself (i.e. same age, single woman, etc.)
Really? The movie is about a 40-something single female and they cast a 41-year old single female for the part. My! That is "suspicious."
O'Reilly claims Aniston is "throwing a message out to 12-year-olds and 13-year-olds that hey, you don't need a dad! Dad ... eh ... you know."
Well, the movie is rated PG-13. I suppose if, as a parent, you didn't believe that was a message you wanted your 12-year old to hear, you could ... well ... be a PARENT and tell them "NO!"
Look, statistics show, time and time again, that children growing up in two-parent homes are, on average, more successful (The Daily Beast published a great ARTICLE outlining some of these statistics).
Personally, I feel it is quite selfish to intentionally have a child knowing that child will be raised in a single-parent household (although I feel differently about adoption by single parents and haven't been able to resolve that glaring inconsistency), but I don't believe that Jennifer Aniston's comments were, as O’Reilly called them, "destructive to our society." It's Jennifer Aniston for God's sake!
It's been almost 20 years since Vice President Dan Quayle denounced Candice Bergen's "Murphy Brown" character for having a child out of wedlock. Talk about stuck in a rut. Maybe O'Reily, his angry traditional family mob, and Quayle should sit down, have a Walter's, and remissness about the good old days of women's suffrage.
~*~*~
24 comments:
I have to disagree with you and agree with Bill-O that Aniston is sending out a dangerous message because as we all know, 12 and 13 year olds everywhere see her as the iconic embodiment of wisdom and knowledge.
I do think however, the more dangerous message is sent out everyday by Gretchen Carlson who proves every time she opens her mouth that it is possible for vacuous idiots to somehow receive a degree from Stanford. CHeers Dana!!
I don't think it's selfish for a single woman to have a child without a man... I may never meet "him"... So I should never be able to have a child? Even if, in my 40's I can fully support a child?
Let's not even get into the fact that Jennifer Anniston always seems to play the same character- herself- in every movie. I think it's reaching to say that she's telling 12 year olds that that they don't need a dad. More like she's telling 40 yr olds that they don't have to have a man to experience being a parent.
I have zero desire to have kids, which is lucky since men have zero desire to marry me and have kids with me. If I wanted them, though. I believe I should be able to have them so long as I'm am financially and emotionally stable. I can't stand for folks to be all up in my right to do stuff I don't even want to do, but want the freedom to sonic o wanted to.
Really interesting! it is a slippery slope. I don't think it is wrong or irresponsible to intentionally have a baby if you can afford to support the child financially and emotionally. But I do think it is a little selfish.
Jennifer Aniston's comment was not exactly dangerous, but it was in poor taste. I wonder if they were taken out of context - cause you know, Bill O'Reily would never do anything like that. ;-)
Dads are important. Having 2 parents is important. But we can all list tons of examples of kids who turned out perfectly in less than "perfect" situations.
Matt-Man, if Bill is right, and 12 and 13 year olds everywhere see Aniston as the iconic embodiment of wisdom and knowledge, we have a much bigger problem than single parents by choice!
Curvy Jones, I don't want to take anyone's freedom of choice away, and I know that single parents can be successful, I just believe actively seeking single parenthood has far more to do with what the woman wants than anything else, and that is selfish *shrugs*
Karen, Aniston, in a follow-up interview Aniston said, "Of course, the ideal scenario for parenting is obviously two parents of a mature age. Parenting is one of the hardest jobs on earth. And, of course, many women dream of finding Prince Charming (with fatherly instincts), but for those who've not yet found their Bill O'Reilly, I'm just glad science has provided a few other options."
Priceless ...
oops, auto correct fail at the end. I don't even know what I was trying to say, there....
From People
“Of course, the ideal scenario for parenting is obviously two parents of a mature age. Parenting is one of the hardest jobs on earth,” Aniston tells PEOPLE exclusively. “And, of course, many women dream of finding Prince Charming (with fatherly instincts), but for those who’ve not yet found their Bill O’Reilly, I’m just glad science has provided a few other options.”
I do not believe a 12-19 year old would seriously see this movie and think ..
"oh this character thinks it's okay to have a baby alone, so can I."
Sorry I just do not.
I just dislike when things like this get blown out of proportion. There are plenty of movies preteens see & I don't believe (I may be naive) it sparks them to do as they (movie) do.
I know a lot of married people who have a baby for selfish reasons too. Why is it only selfish if a single woman does it? That's silly.
In fact, I can point to many, many women who married just whothefuckever just so she would BE married and could have kids. In that scenario, she and the kids might well be better off is she just had the kid alone.
Also, I think it's impossible to compare "results" of single women having kids in general, to the "results" of single women who make the decision to go the "science" route to have kids. Mostly because you're comparing society in general, (and LOTS of babies born into poverty) to a rather small group that would, at minimum have to be able to afford the treatments. I don't think too many poor women are going out and getting artificially inseminated in order to have kids.
Professor Fate, hey you! You're supposed to read the comments before posting ;)
Baseball Mom, I think if 12-19 year olds see this movie and think, "oh this character thinks it's okay to have a baby alone, so can I," we have an awful lot of parents not doing their job!
Jay, agreed! Selfishness in deciding to have a child is not limited to single mothers.
The Daily Beast article I referenced was an interesting one as it pointed to financial stability being the biggest influence in the success of raising a child, it just so happens that financial stability among a 2-parent household is easier than in a single parent household.
That said, I think it's a stretch to say that just because you have financial security, you will be a successful parent - there are just too many other factors to consider.
And I had to speak generally as I was writing a blog post, not a doctoral dissertation :)
I can't stand to listen to O'Reily even for a little bit. He's such an arrogant twit.
If the parent loves the child..and I believe if you go out of your way to have a child, you will - then it is nobodies dang business whether you are single, married, straight or gay.
Those talking heads are nothing more than uptight, insecure, ultra conservative conspiracy theorists trying to stir shit up just so they have something to talk about and can justify themselves getting paychecks for being talking heads.
Breathe . . .
Personally, I never listen to those twits.
Since when did Jennifer Aniston become and oracle for morality? Who is Bill O'Reily to say what a "typical/normal American family" is?
I can't figure out why people put so much stock into what celebraties and/or journalists have to say. And, Dana, you're right - A PARENT, not an actress or a newsperson, should be giving their children the guidance needed to navigate the world.
For the record. I would like to say up front that I don't want to be replaced by a turkey baster. And I believe in the two parent family thingy. That is, if both parents are mature, ready and competent to be having children. I have had the misfortune to see one and sometimes both parents be complete idiots/bad parents. You just hope the kids are born to a great set of parents. But if that doesn't happen. One good parent is good too. Is one good parent better that a two parent set up with one of the parents being a loser? Maybe!. One good parent is certainly better than two losers. I'm not going to be hard on Jennifer A. for the movie or going the turkey baster route. I just don't want to be replaced by the turkey baster. LOL It's Jennifer's dime as they say and if she is mature, ready and competent. Good luck to her.
I usually like Bill O'Reilly.
Okay, that's a lie.
I usually tolerate him. My conservative husband loves him and he's not, well, Sean Hannity.
But I saw that interview and I think he's ridiculous.
How many 12 year old boys have the tiniest bit of interest in Jennifer Aniston's movies? And so what if they have interest in this one?
I am going to log off now even though if I keep ranting I might go into labor.
On second thought, I might return in a few days.
I do like Jennifer's response I read today:
"Of course, the ideal scenario for parenting is obviously two parents of a mature age. Parenting is one of the hardest jobs on earth," Aniston tells PEOPLE exclusively. "And, of course, many women dream of finding Prince Charming (with fatherly instincts), but for those who've not yet found their Bill O'Reilly, I'm just glad science has provided a few other options."
I have seen single parents (like yourself) do a fabulous job with their kids - even kids who come with something extra special, if you will. A kid can see that when they look around at school. They don't need to go to a movie.
I feel that you do not need a dad. Let me explain. It's kinda like the job that I used to have. It was for someone with a masters degree. We had 4 previous directors all having a master degree, and they all sucked. They were so busy trying to apply the school-logic to solve issues when what we really needed was someone with a strong work ethic and experience. I have a GED and landed the job by luck. I excelled at it.
Having a dad is the same way. It would be preferred to have a dad but it is not a necessity. Hell, how often do people have a dad and the dad sucks? If he's not a great dad than what's the point?
Sometimes having a dad can mess you up worse than not having one. If he is an alcoholic for example. Or if you had a dad then he died while you were young. Some of the world's best people did not have an involved dad. Barrack Obama for example. I mean he had a dad but if the dad is not highly involved what difference does it make? With the theory that you must have a dad, lesbians for example couldn't raise a family. The key ingredients to having kids is love and resources. Not a mom and dad.
Sorry, but I have more. What if you are a single woman and your clock is about to blow up and your dream is to have kid/s and you have waited your whole life for "the one" and now time is running out. Your desperation to have a dad may cause you to seek an unsuitable dad just for the sake of having one. Then you have a child with someone who is completely unfit or you end up in a loveless marriage that your child lives with everyday. Using the "need a dad" theory would mean those women who cannot find a good guy, and lets be honest they are becoming pretty extinct would be deprived of their right to have children.
Mike, I'm a firm believer in knowing what the arrogant twits of the world are saying. Sometimes they have a little too much sway in things.
Vinny "Bond" Marini, I would agree - being a good parent *is* the most important part of it all.
bikinfool, I am really surprised at how many people don't listen. I think it's always good practice to know where the "enemy" is coming from.
nitebyrd, I am BEYOND loss on the general public's fascination with celebrities in particular. They really shouldn't be our role models.
we're doomed, you could never be replaced by a turkey baster ;) That said, I think I feel the need for another blog post on the virtues of a modified 2-parent family.
Gina, I don't think my son even knows who Jennifer Aniston is!
Emmy, she did have quite the witty comeback, didn't she?
Raquel's World, I'm going to be respectful of your opinion on this even though you are wrong, wrong, WRONG! :)
The good news? Your comment has inspired a future blog post!!
I came by to mention Aniston's wonderful comeback to BO but so many already have
As a single parent for most of my son's life it certainly is difficult but there are friends and extended family as support
I grew up in a 2 parent HH where neither parent should have been allowed to be present, we would have better off on our own
so many variables
Like teenaged boys are going to see the switch anyway.
Nothing is getting blown up an Megan Fox is not in it
Slippery slope indeed.
I disagree whole heartedly with O'Reilly (what else is new though..).
But I also disagree with the idea that women shouldn't have children with out a 'dad' in the picture. We have evolved so much as a society. And it's empowering to know (to me) that women don't have to 'settle' anymore, just to have a child (which look where *that* can lead????). With the rate of divorce as high as it is, I certainly don't see 'marriage' being what makes a 'fabulous' parent.
Just my two cents. :)
Post a Comment