This week the Momversation panelists tackled the subject of the media’s apparent “obsession” with the downside of motherhood. Check out the video to the right and let ChitChatMom know what you think. Does the media make motherhood out to be a war zone? Why do so many of the stories have to have a negative tone? Do you feel the media stories about motherhood are fair or do you think they tend to stereotype parenting?
As I have yet to be fully initiated into motherhood (this should happen around mid-August) I can’t give my two sense as someone who has experienced it, but I can say “yeah” I do think the media gets worked up over little things and often ignores the bigger issues. Take for example the media obsession this week with the Gosselin family. ”Is Jon cheating? Did Jon cheat? How will Kate handle it?”
I admit to being a fan of the show, Jon & Kate Plus 8. I don’t set my TiVo to record it, but if it’s on I will often tune in to watch an episode or two. I enjoy watching the kids interact with one another and seeing that at the end of every episode Jon and Kate have survived with eight kids. It makes me feel confident that I can handle one just fine. (Hold the phone. Why would I think I can’t handle one just fine? Hmm… maybe I have the media to thank for that sudden lack of mommy confidence.)
When a certain tabloid mag “confirmed the fact” that Jon was having an affair it caught a lot of people’s attention. When it all was said and done and I had read just about every story on the web there was to read about it, (I admit it, I did, I got caught up too) I was frustrated to see that Kate seemed to be getting a bad rap. Not that Jon was getting off free and clear, (whether he’s truly guilty of cheating or not) but there was some insinuation that Kate might deserve this. That somehow because she corrects Jon’s grammar in episodes of the show or because she has a “take charge” attitude that maybe she pushed him to seek out “greener pastures”. I gotta say mamas, this is bupkis. You don’t cheat on your wife whether you’ve got eight kids or zero kids. If you want out… you get out. You don’t “sneak” out.
When you put the media hype about Jon and Kate Gosselin’s relationship into the context of what the Momversation moms were saying in the video… you get just another example of how the media likes to show the downside of mommyhood. ”Don’t have eight kids. You’re husband will leave you.” Instead of praising Kate for being a mom to eight kids they had to make fun of her hair, question her motives for doing the show and suggest that maybe she was the reason Jon got himself in this mess in the first place. Thanks media, you’ve done so much for motherhood this week, considering that tomorrow is Mother’s Day and all.
Be sure to check out the blogs of all the Momversation panelists that contributed to the video; Alice Bradley – Finslippy, Asha Dornfest – Parent Hacks, Dana Loesch – Mamalogues, Giyen Kim – Bacon is My Enemy and Karen Walrond – Chookooloonks.
Let ChitChatMom know what you think? Is the media in line or way out of whack? Leave a comment!
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