BAMAPHIN 22
11-19-2006, 08:01 PM
Lady stars leaving lesser spouses behind
So now that there’s been a seismic shift in our nation’s landscape, what lessons have we learned?
No, not THAT seismic shift. We’re referring to the earth-shattering news about Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, who’ve joined a line of showbiz power couples where the successful woman leaves the underperforming spouse behind.
Just last week came the news about Reese Witherspoon, Hollywood’s highest-paid actress, and husband Ryan Phillippe. Three weeks ago it was Whitney Houston saying goodbye to Bobby Brown. Before that it was double Oscar winner Hilary Swank and her TV actor husband, Chad Lowe.
Not that any of this will change the direction of our country like Tuesday’s election, but is there something universal to be gleaned from this mini-trend in the celebrity sphere?
Actually, yes, say some matrimonial experts. They note that we can and should learn from these celebrity bustups, where the woman, traditionally the financially dependent spouse, leaps beyond the man in terms of money and power, creating inevitable fissures in the union. More practically, they say, professional women need to learn to protect their assets — as in demanding a prenuptial agreement (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) — before they head to the altar.
If they don’t, says New York lawyer Bonnie Rabin, they risk the situation that Witherspoon, who’s said to be getting $29 million for her next film, reportedly finds herself in: no prenup (unlike Spears), and a fortune that in California gets split 50-50 with her much less bankable husband.
“The world is getting educated by these celebrity separations,†says Rabin, whose firm has handled high-profile divorce cases. “The dependent spouse has traditionally been the woman. Now, you have cases where the woman is the anchor, the provider, the supporter.â€
“The interesting question is, how is society going to look at these men that are left behind (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)? Are they going to be seen as the victims now?â€
Of course, every relationship is different, and nobody knows what makes them work or fail. Still, there are common factors — and pressures — in any under-the-spotlight showbiz relationship, says Janice Min, editor of the celebrity magazine US Weekly.
“In any relationship, it’s hard, even for the most enlightened couples, to break out of traditional roles,†says Min. But in Hollywood, it’s worse. “It’s an industry built on ego,†Min says. “And we glorify the heroic male. When the dynamic is reversed, it’s tough.â€
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
So now that there’s been a seismic shift in our nation’s landscape, what lessons have we learned?
No, not THAT seismic shift. We’re referring to the earth-shattering news about Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, who’ve joined a line of showbiz power couples where the successful woman leaves the underperforming spouse behind.
Just last week came the news about Reese Witherspoon, Hollywood’s highest-paid actress, and husband Ryan Phillippe. Three weeks ago it was Whitney Houston saying goodbye to Bobby Brown. Before that it was double Oscar winner Hilary Swank and her TV actor husband, Chad Lowe.
Not that any of this will change the direction of our country like Tuesday’s election, but is there something universal to be gleaned from this mini-trend in the celebrity sphere?
Actually, yes, say some matrimonial experts. They note that we can and should learn from these celebrity bustups, where the woman, traditionally the financially dependent spouse, leaps beyond the man in terms of money and power, creating inevitable fissures in the union. More practically, they say, professional women need to learn to protect their assets — as in demanding a prenuptial agreement (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) — before they head to the altar.
If they don’t, says New York lawyer Bonnie Rabin, they risk the situation that Witherspoon, who’s said to be getting $29 million for her next film, reportedly finds herself in: no prenup (unlike Spears), and a fortune that in California gets split 50-50 with her much less bankable husband.
“The world is getting educated by these celebrity separations,†says Rabin, whose firm has handled high-profile divorce cases. “The dependent spouse has traditionally been the woman. Now, you have cases where the woman is the anchor, the provider, the supporter.â€
“The interesting question is, how is society going to look at these men that are left behind (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)? Are they going to be seen as the victims now?â€
Of course, every relationship is different, and nobody knows what makes them work or fail. Still, there are common factors — and pressures — in any under-the-spotlight showbiz relationship, says Janice Min, editor of the celebrity magazine US Weekly.
“In any relationship, it’s hard, even for the most enlightened couples, to break out of traditional roles,†says Min. But in Hollywood, it’s worse. “It’s an industry built on ego,†Min says. “And we glorify the heroic male. When the dynamic is reversed, it’s tough.â€
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.