Last year, we had several movie stars, including Ryan Gosling and Clair Foy camped out in our neighborhood for the filming of the recently released movie First Man. When the rumors about the movie began to make their way around the neighborhood, my husband was clueless as to why all my mom friends were giddy with excitement over Ryan Gosling.
As I tried to explain who he was and why he was famous, I also realized he is really just a man just like my husband. Just like my husband, Ryan Gosling is a father, he works hard at a job to provide for his family and he is the same age as my husband. The main difference between my husband and Ryan Gosling is that Ryan Gosling is in an elite group of actors who has become famous for his ability to entertain the paying public. So why does Ryan get more credit and recognition than any other hard working father?
Over the last year I have begun to think about how much we look up to celebrities in our culture. We idolize them, we envy their lives and we are proud to be in the presence or experience some sort of connection with them. We are often eager to hear their opinion on important events, politics and other things that occur in our country. Celebrities are often featured on morning talk shows and entire segments are often focused on their clothing and accessories. Actors and actresses are often interviewed prior to a movie and praised for their great achievements of their work.
While celebrities often bring some joy to our lives with their ability to entertain us, are we giving them too much credit just because they are famous, cool and often wealthy? Should we not instead feel privileged to make an appointment to see a doctor, be awed in the presence of a teacher, be thankful to be cared for by a nurse and treat researchers like they are movie stars?
What would happen if we as wives were giddy to see our husbands every day just as we are giddy to see the Ryan Gosling’s? Would our marriages be stronger if our hard working husbands received the same praise like a movie star? If all women were praised for what they wore no matter if they are going to work or dropping kids off at school, would it help boost the self-esteem of women?
Writer Bio: Summer Bolte
I spend most of my time and days with my three kids, husband and dog. My kids frequently play near me as I garden, cook, DIY and volunteer. My most unusual paying job has to be feeding fruit flies in a research lab, and my most fulfilling job was being an oncology nurse for seven years.
