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Jennifer Aniston’s Commends Single Motherhood. Is She Wrong? Traditionalists Think So.
Jennifer Aniston recently stated that men are optional in child raising. While this statement could be seen as supporting single mothers, there is always the other side. There are plenty of people who think that her comments showed an “unrealistic perception of what it really takes to raise children alone,” according to FOX News.
Nathan Burchfiel of the MRC’s Culture and Media Institute told PopTarts, “(Promoting single parenthood) might be the norm in the Hollywood, but the rest of America believes children deserve and need a mother and a father. Life is extremely difficult for single moms, with about one quarter of them living below the poverty line. But of course Jennifer doesn’t have to worry about that given her financial resources.”
Wendy Wright, President of the conservative political Christian action group, Concerned Women for America. “Hollywood celebrities have long been in the forefront of mocking social norms, to their own detriment and the shattered lives of those who follow their example.”
Lynda Powell of the Bethel Foundation, a non-profit organization that seeks to support single moms attain housing also thinks that Jennifer is trying to glamorize a situation that many struggle with.
“Jen needs to come back to the real world of where the average, everyday mother does not begin to make the money to provide adequately for her children,” she said. “We work with single mothers everyday where the father is absent and we see the sadness this brings into the family. From my own experience as a single mother, I know that having a positive male in the family unit makes a huge difference in that child’s life.”
But is she really trying to embellish or diminish the work that goes into single motherhood or do people simply feel that anything Jennifer says lends itself to luxury because she is a celebrity? While single motherhood is no doubt hard, many women do it and find joy in raising a child by themselves. With divorce rates over 50% the nuclear family has dissolved and been replaced by something less traditional, but not necessarily less meaningful or supportive for the child.
Jane Mattes, Director and Founder of Single Mothers By Choice has said, “It is terrific that, in today’s world, women have the choice to start a family when they are ready, and that might be before, or after, they meet the person they want to marry. It’s a big decision and needs to be given careful thought, but it is definitely do-able if the woman has the emotional and financial resources to support herself and a child on her own.”
What do you think? Are Jennifer’s comments misleading and detrimental or are they empowering for modern women?
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10 Comments
YoureABigStupidDumbFvck commented on Aug 10 10 at 4:30 pmPshaaaaaaw! Empowering? Jennifer Aniston? Puleeze! If huvane didnt tell her to say it, it wouldnt come out of her mouth. Trust.
Evelyn commented on Aug 10 10 at 6:49 pmI chose to have a child as a single mother. Best choice I ever made. I was 41 when I gave birth, college educated and have built a terrific support system. I no longer buy myself things or take great vacations and that’s ok because I did the right thing for me. Its not for everyone so you do have to think long and hard about it.
Kim Oppy commented on Aug 10 10 at 11:58 pmAs a single mom (not originally by choice) I am inspired by the idea that Jennifer Aniston thinks single parenting is a pefectly good idea. Seriously, the more people see it as good (single parenting) the more I see it as good. I am honestly happy being a single mom (although I hadn’t chosen it beforehand) and when others aspire to do the same it reaffirms my belief that its good and makes it easier and more pleasant of an experience for me. The last thing I want to hear is people telling me how hard it is and crap. That just makes me depressed and makes it harder for me to accomplish all I need to accomplish each day. So thank you Jennifer Aniston for your constant optimism and graciousness. And to those who want to bemoan how hard it is- thanks for feeling bad for me…but it doesn’t actually help, just makes me worry more.
ablek commented on Aug 11 10 at 4:12 pmAre you kidding me? That is a large part of the problems that kids are having today; lack of two parents.It is not about me me me it is about the child and wether or not you want to believe it, children NEED two parents.
MikeG53 commented on Aug 11 10 at 4:19 pmAniston misses the real issue here. Technically a woman can conceive, give birth, and raise a child without having a man around. But that doesn’t mean that is what is best for the child. All we need to do is look around to see the impact of the fatherless family. Our society is on the decline and it’s related to attitudes such as Aniston’s.
Kris commented on Aug 11 10 at 5:20 pmAniston comments are irresponsible. What kind of message is she giving to our teenage daughters and others. She may have the finances to raise a child alone but that child will be missing out on the support and needed love and influence from a father. She should have thought before she spoke. We need to send a positive message about families to our younger generation not a negative one.
mwa commented on Aug 11 10 at 8:19 pmCan’t understand why people like Jennifer don’t understand how important Fathers are. She is close to her own father. While single parenthood is necessary for some, to set out to be a single parent as a goal is ridiculous. Most of the people writing here in support of single parents say that “it was the best decision for them”, but that is the point. They are making the decision for themselves, and not what is best for their child. What is best for the child should always come first.
Lorette Lavine commented on Aug 12 10 at 10:25 pmAs a social worker I see very difficult situations with single parents as well as couples.
Certainly a single mom or dad can raise a child and very well but it is very difficult to do without help. Anyone who has raised a child or family as a single parent I am sure will attest to this.
I think what is not credible here is someone making such a comment who has no financial problems and can hire help any time they need it. The other point to be made here is that this is great publicity for Jennifer’s new movie!
Make no mistake raising children really does take a “Village”
chuy leon commented on Aug 23 10 at 9:06 pmthe best choce is having both parent around to raise a child speaking as someone whom was raised by a single mother,& whom said mother by her own admition stated that there were somethins she could not dobecause she was not a man. i love3 and miss my mother to death and she did a woderful job, but i needed a male role model, good fathers show by egsample to sons how to be and daughters how a man should be. all these people with money can afford to express their opinion and make certain decitions in their lives because they can AFFORD IT ($). so half of the time the make comments without thinking, and since they are public figures i think they should spend more time thinking what they are about to say to the public . they have more responsability for being public figures
Rebecca commented on May 12 12 at 12:56 pmI don’t get what the problem is. My mom was a single parent and I was fine with it. I had my grandfather as well as other male influences. I remember my mom asking me if I wished I had a dad, and honestly I really didn’t care. Having one parent is better than having none.
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