[NEWS] Why Jennifer Aniston & George Clooney Are in the Same Boat

article by: Karren Brady

SUN COLUMNIST.com
"No one pities poor childless Oscar-winning actor George Clooney...so give Jennifer Aniston a break. Every time the poor woman enjoys a rather large lunch, the world's press get together to speculate when the baby is due - maybe one day she will give birth to a burger and chips! She recent submitted an essay to the Huffington Post stating, "I'm NOT pregnant. What I am is FED UP!" But seriously, I can't imagine the immense pressure she feels being under the world's watchful, not to say pitying, eye all the time. It's like this woman's under a microscope and we have to over analyze her every change.

You know the thing: "Poor Jennifer Aniston. Even though she is one of the world's most highly paid and successful megastars, happily married to a gorgeous guy (screenwriter/actor Justin Theroux) - with a body to die for - she must be miserable."

Why? No kids of course.

(2015) People magazine: Jen's Dream Wedding!

(2014) People magazine: George & Amal Our Wedding Album!

This is why both Aniston and Clooney are in the same boat: both are successful award-winning sexy actors, who are highly paid (Aniston has a net worth of $150-million, and Clooney has a net worth of $180-million), with equally successful and attractive spouses (Jen married Justin August 5, 2015, and George married  human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin September 27, 2014). I guess that is why she felt the need to write an essay challenging the notion that women are somehow incomplete, unsuccessful or unhappy if they're not married with children.

She was quoted saying, "Yes, I may become a mother some day...but I'm not in pursuit of motherhood because I feel incomplete in some way."

George Clooney hasn't come under the same scrutiny. You don't see him feeling the need to defend himself regarding his paternal or marital status since marrying Amal by writing a strongly worded essay regarding body shaming - yet isn't it a shame the Jennifer actually felt that the circumstances got SO bad that it had to come down to stating so publicly?

Jennifer & Justin Theroux

Yes it used to be the case that women who didn't want to get married or have kids were going against the norm. But we need to realize the norm has changed. Basically, the world needs to wake-up and smell the coffee. Modern women are changing. Women in 2016 are more independent, more capable of making choices setting their sights on so many different ambitions.

The old cliches and roles for women are changing too, so we need to get used to it. And people need to really examine this sense of suspicion about women who don't have "natural" maternal urges, or women who choose not the have children.

First of all, it's important to remember that it's NOT necessarily a choice for some women, who try their hardest to become a mother to no avail. But most importantly, we need to start accepting that some women DO choose not to become mothers. And that's OKAY. However, sometimes having a family doesn't fit in with people's dreams and plans, or it's not a priority for some other reason.

George Clooney & Amal Alamudding

Some women just don't fancy it. Or they don't meet the right partner. Or they feel they are here for a different reason than maternal sacrifice (because it has to be said that, as well as the gift that keeps on giving, motherhood does involve sacrifice.)

Yes motherhood does make you a different person. It can teach you patience, sacrifice, and you'll always have unconditional love. The women who aren't mothers are much freer to pursue their own dreams and goals, and despite the progress that has been made for women, there's certainly no doubt for some women in certain careers, having children is seen as an obstacle that will hold them back.

Meanwhile, of course men just aren't judged in the same way on whether they have kids or not. And Jennifer has stated this before: "A man would never be accused of choosing a career over having kids," said the actress in an interview with Vanity Fair magazine. Sure, we might speculate about why, but does anyone pity George Clooney for not having managed to reproducer?

(1997) People magazine: Sexiest Man Alive

(2007) People magazine: Sexiest Man Alive

Nope. George is portrayed  by the media as being sexy (he was named the Sexiest Man Alive in 1997 and 2006), suave, and ambitious. Which is an accurate observation as well as all true, but it still doesn't justify the fact that Jennifer is under pressure for her maternal and marital status and George is isn't."