Blog by Sean Gehon, Wednesday, April 18, 2007
We’ve been programmed our entire lives with the idea that in order to live happily ever after we need to be rescued on a white horse by a handsome prince and prance off to NeverNever Land. After the finale of most fairy tales, we never really realize what becomes of happily ever after. Society, however, has painted us a pleasant little diagram. Once you’ve married your handsome prince, you get pregnant, have at least two children, move to the suburbs, drive a car, save the world, and do your best impersonation of Brangelina.
For quite some time the ideal couple, the idea of perfection, has been represented by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Tinsel Town’s greatest couple are not only pleasing to the eye, but they have a perfect family image. The Jolie-Pitt clan have been slowly growing to help the perfect family maintain its multicultural image. Recently, Angelina told OK! Magazine that she may not be the perfect mother we all think she is.
Angelina revealed in an interview with the magazine that as a child in kindergarten she used to make out with boys and take all of her clothes off. Further, Jolie went on to state that she was very sexual at a young age and began to lose the emotional connection during sex. Consequently. she felt the need to cut herself and her boyfriend to feel connected. Frankly, as troubled as some children are, and testing one’s sexuality is not a crime, but as a role model to thousands of young people around the world, should Angelina be promoting such behaviour?
Many children experiment with sexuality at a young age. Certainly we’ve all heard, and perhaps experienced, the ‘show me yours’ scenario, but I for one don’t think I was making out or stripping on the playground. Thankfully, the demographic that Angelina was in at the time are unable to read, or understand what she’s talking about… however, I still find it an inappropriate subject to discuss. In a society like ours sexuality is often pushed to the forefront of the media, and forced down our throats at every turn. For someone like Angelina, who has done amazing things for her family and people around the world, to come out and say things like this and seemingly promote sex, seems a little disturbing. There’s enough pressure from the media and other teens nowadays to have sex. For someone as idolized as her, the promotion of sex seems a little inappropriate. I’m not saying sex is wrong, I’m not saying we should all be prudes, I’m just saying that people who are as predominant in the public eye have a responsibility to those who watch them.
Celebrities need to be more conscious of the information they reveal to the public. I completely understand that they’re regular people just like you or I and have made similar mistakes in life. However, as role models and idols to so many people out there, they should be aware of the things they say. Angelina, for example, probably shouldn’t have told the story about how she used to enjoy cutting herself. I’m not here to make a joke or insult people who cut themselves. The fact of the matter is, for most people who cut themselves they’re doing it for something more serious than a sexual addiction. To speak so lightly of matters like this really makes me question Angelina’s motives. Perhaps Angelina is tired of her perfect image and wants to remind the world that she’s the girl who used to sleep with Billy Bob Thorton and make out with her brother. Whatever Angelina’s reasons are, I’m certainly not a fan of the way she approached it.
This world is filled with enough problems, enough heartbreak, and for this sort of behaviour to be treated as a funny anecdote really causes me to worry about our society. I have nothing but respect for Angelina Jolie, typically, but in this case I’m mildly concerned. I’m choosing to believe that she meant nothing by her comments, and at the same time, find it inappropriate that she made them to begin with. There are ways to help people, and by discussing these matters in this way, really seems irresponsible. Perhaps to make amends Angelina will adopt me and shower me with hers and Brad’s millions…
Sean (The Kids Help Phone: 1 800 668 6868 or http://www.kidshelpphone.ca/en/ if you ever need somone to talk to, not only are they a great organization, but they're more than willing to listen.)
