And now for Part 2.
Jessica Simpson. Jessica Alba. Mariah Carey. Beyoncé. Snooki (*shudder*). Every time I look at MSN or turn on Good Morning America or check out at Fred Meyer, it seems another celebrity has been sighted displaying a baby bump or is on the verge of giving birth…as America holds its collective breath in feverish anticipation. Maybe we just can’t wait to hear what life-scarring, idiotic name with which given celebrity will curse their child.
Why is America obsessed with celebrity pregnancy? OK, maybe that’s not fair – why are the American MEDIA and some Americans obsessed with celebrity pregnancy? (I have faith that many of my fellow countrymen and women have better things to do.) But how trivial and demeaning on so many levels. It may seem petty, but this phenomenon, which only seems to be growing, really gets under my skin. It’s another example of the decline of the American media. When I see multiple magazine covers in one check-out line with headlines speculating when William and Kate will conceive (my God, it’s already been a whole year since they were married?), I know there’s something wrong. Also, I bet I don’t have to tell you who William and Kate are – there’s definitely something wrong.
Would I be so bothered if I had not had to struggle so much to have a child of my own? Perhaps not. It is another reminder – ever-present it seems – that one more subpopulation is flourishing and can have what I have so far been denied. The infertile couple suffers in silence while the world gushes over Surie Cruise and Apple (Paltrow) Martin. I shouldn’t know these names!
Now, on the subject of celebrity adoption, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, I do believe there is a legitimate humanitarian effort going on here, even if it’s actually a side-effect of attention seeking. And it’s made adoption chic – acceptable and admirable on another level. But the average American couple cannot expect the same red carpet treatment as Madonna or the Jolie-Pitt crew. And I worry that as popular as these people have made international adoption, domestic adoption may suffer for it. Regardless, I do admire and commend ANY couple who takes a child in need into their family, home and hearts.
Given our situation, Jeff and I have very seriously considered the many sides of adoption. We feel very strongly that it is something in our future as a family, no matter what happens after our next and last round of fertility treatment – whether it happens sooner or later remains to be seen. Check back in a few months.
But I’m straying from the topic at hand. Here’s the thing – celebrities get paid thousands of dollars – HUNDREDS of thousands – for pictures of their babies. B- and C-list reality TV stars are legitimized with the hits received online or the sales of these magazines featuring bundles of joy. Food for thought:http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/fashion/the-baby-bump.html?ref=television. It nauseates me to think of the symbiotic perversion of celebrities using their children to make money – money they don’t need, by the way – and the entertainment media who drool over the prestige of being the first to publish the photos. Will someone please stop the madness?
I know it’s probably fruitless to try and analyze and rationalize the feeding frenzy that occurs if an actress or female pop star has an unflattering photo that could possibly hint at pregnancy. I suppose the bottom line for me is we could be focusing on the miracles of everyday women, or giving a voice to infertility. Does anyone know off hand of any celebrity woman who’s struggled to get pregnant? Who’s faced miscarriage? What about her courage and potential to inspire or reinforce the strength of those of us without a public platform? Now that’s a headline at which I wouldn’t cringe.
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