Jennifer Aniston Not 'Destructive,' Say Parenting Experts

By Catherine Donaldson-Evans Posted Aug 12th 2010 09:01PM

Bill O'Reilly may think that Jennifer Aniston is "destructive to society" and sending kids the wrong message because her new movie, 'The Switch,' is about a single woman having a baby without a man. But parenting experts say the host of FOX News' 'The O'Reilly Factor' is out of tune with modern families.

"It's unrealistic and not in touch with how family is changing," social psychologist Susan Newman, author of 'Parenting an Only Child,' tells PopEater. "The traditional family that we have always known as mom, dad and two kids is no longer the traditional family."

O'Reilly took on the 41-year-old actress after she made comments while promoting the film, which co-stars Jason Bateman and sees Aniston playing a woman who decides to have a baby using a sperm donor and artificial insemination.

"Women are realizing more and more that you don't have to settle, they don't have to fiddle with a man to have that child," Aniston said. "They are realizing if it's that time in their life and they want this part they can do it with or without that."

Some speculate that the currently single Aniston may have been offering a hint about her own possible plans for motherhood. But O'Reilly said the star's remarks were irresponsible because she's a role model to children.

"She's throwing a message out to 12-year-olds and 13-year-olds that, 'Hey you don't need a guy. You don't need a dad.' That is destructive to our society," he said.

Studies say otherwise and have shown that isn't the case, according to Newman.

"Children of single parents do just as well as kids who have two parents," she says. "There's nothing in the research that says having a baby by yourself is a terrible thing."

Another parental advocate says younger kids probably didn't even hear Aniston's comments.

"I don't think 12- or 13-year-olds are paying attention to what Jennifer Aniston says or even know who she is for that matter," Beth Feldman, founder of Role Mommy, tells PopEater. "Jen's message is meant for 30- and 40-something women who haven't yet met the love of their life -- and she's right on target."

Later in his diatribe, O'Reilly lambasted the actress for dismissing dads.

"Jennifer Aniston can hire a battery of people to help her," he argued. "But she can't hire a dad. Dads bring a psychology to children that in this society is under emphasized. Men get hosed all day long in the parental arena ... The fathers that do try hard are under appreciated and diminished by people like Jennifer Aniston."

Feldman says the TV personality was out of line and over-the-top when he attacked Aniston.

"Bill O'Reilly went overboard in his condemnation of Jennifer Aniston," she says. "Dads definitely play an important role in the lives of their children, but if a single woman ... wants to raise a child without the support of a man and if that woman happens to be Jennifer Aniston, then I say go for it. In the end, that baby is going to be the luckiest boy or girl on the planet!"

About 41 percent of newborns have single mothers, according to the Pew Research Center. Newman says that if there isn't a father in the picture, a woman can make sure male role models play a significant part in the child's life.

Parenting expert and psychologist Carl Pickhardt says that while fathers are important, even more crucial to a baby's well-being is "the quality of parental commitment to raising that child after it is born."

"It is a prejudice that single parents -- mostly moms -- are deficient parents," he tells PopEater. "In fact, they are among the strongest and most resourceful parents I see."

No matter what O'Reilly thinks about women having babies alone, he needs to accept it, according to Newman.

"It's actually a reality -- it's what's happening in society," she says. "Women are more independent, they're waiting longer to have children and they don't necessarily have to wait for Mr. Right because they have the family and financial support they need."

But though about 80 percent of single parents are mothers, having a man around is key to a child's development too, according to Pickhardt. In his book, 'The Connected Father,' he outlines the ways dads can contribute, especially during the difficult teen years.

"If the movie asks the question, 'Why shouldn't a woman make a child without having a father in the picture?' there is only this: An involved father can enrich the family life of all concerned," he says.

In the end, O'Reilly and others acting outraged by the movie and its lead actress may be taking it all just a little too seriously.

"I think everybody is missing the point. This is a romantic comedy," says Newman. "It's for laughs and for fun and it's a good story. I don't think she's sending messages that everybody should go out and have a baby as a single woman."

Tags: Bill OReilly, jennifer aniston

Comments

(85)

Thursday 12 August

By justme

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Parenting experts? Who gave them is title? I think these experts should let the family courts know of there expertise beliefs because rather or not the father is a dead beat dad or whatever they will tell you that the father has every right to see their child. If they pay support or not. They will tell you no matter what the parent is like good or bad the child benefit from having them involed and will order that they have vistation rights. If this law changes please let me know. My daughter has a dead beat father for her son and I would love to have him out of my grandsons life. I work in an inner city school where most of the kids even if they know who their father is some don't want a father in their lives.

By Frank

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You are wrong the whole thing is a joke

By teak

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Gosh are you all idiots...it's a movie. Jennifer Aniston doesn't claim to be a parenting expert. She was hired to do a job and did it. Would you want to be called on the carpet for everything you need to do at work! For those concerned...worry about your own kids and mind your business.

By larry

Didn't Bill O have to pay Andrea Mackris millions of dollars to keep her from telling us in court what a phone sex pervert Bill O is in a law suit she filled against him???? He paid her off quick..... I don't think we need moral advise from a phone sex pervert like Bill O..........

By B.P. Dumas

Yes, of course you don't need two parents for a woman to have children. Oh,by the way, why has the government over decades been funding all this dopey medical research into infertility.
O'Rielly is right, Aniston is a goofhead whose desperate for a rugrat at 41 years old.
Hasn't she ever heard of adaption. I guess not.
Never mind that all children of all these single woman are more likely to be child molestors, rapists, criminals and terrorists in general, gang members, etc. Never mind all that.

By eliza

Fran..if you feel the need to re-post your argument so many times...something is wrong with your argument!
Yeah,look at how great all these kids are turning out without the benefit of fathers...our society is regressing daily!
MEN and FATHERS are IMPORTANT, boys NEED fathers to teach them how to be GOOD MEN! Children WANT and NEED fathers to protect, teach and guide them. I adored my father and my children adore their father, who also happens to be my HUSBAND!

By Dean

Its hard to believe anyone would pay any attention to phone sex Bill.

By ebicious

No one is taking Bill O'Reilly's "word on parenting", they happen to agree that a family should have a father and a mother. Just because the world has gone crazy and values have gone out the window doesn't mean everyone has to support and agree with it. Bring back the traditional family and you'll see a lot more stable, well-developed children.

By Vinny

They are correct about one thing . The traditional family we once knew is not the traditional family of today .And that's a damn shame .

By amanda

I am a child of divorced parents, and even though our mother did a good job of
raising us, we certainly missed having a father. Every child does I'm sure. And I'm sure most single mother's would love a good man who is a good father.

By Dj Neg

Who cares what Jennifer Aniston has to say about anything.

By jgarciajr6317

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I think if these parenting experts want to conduct a realistic survey they need to visit the prison system.

By Eileen

Considering Bill's soul mates are serial husbands Newt and Rush, it is rather silly for him to be picking on Jennifer Annison...but lets not forget the innocent woman he jumped at to get fired a few weeks ago, Still waiting for that apology!!!!!!!!!!

Friday 13 August

By shawn

He did apologize - the very next evening. And btw he wasn't the only fooled. The NAACP threw her under the bus and the Obama administration fired her based on the same evidence that duped O'Reilly.

By jane

JAnniston talks about things she knows nothing about. Its best she stays with what she is best at, B movies. Anyone that is too selfish to have children before they are 41 because of their "career" obviously thinks she will be young and beautiful forever. People that are self-consumed, make LOUSY parents, male or female. Just check out most actors. (FArrah Facett's kid for example). Too much time trying to be beautiful, not around for the child. SIMPLE STUFF

By Bev

Jane, You sound so silly. What is wrong with a woman working on her life. Do you think women are "Selfish" for not getting pregant before they are ready to be a mother? What a crazy way of thinking. Do you think a woman is defined by getting pregnant?

By tori

I don't know where these so called "Experts" get their information but children that have a loving mom and dad are apt to be much better balanced people! I've been lucky enough to have both and wouldn't of changed it for the world!I've also spoken to alot of my sons teenage friends whose parents are divorced or their isn't a father in the picture and not one who didn't have a dad had wished it that way!

By Chappel

If the "traditional" family produced Bill O'Reilly then we should definitely be looking at alternatives.

By Barb

Why would anyone take Jennifer Aniston's advice on anything (especially kids or relationships) or listen to her views? She is just an uneducated actress who cranks out bad movies and gets dumped monthly. I hope she and her money will be very happy together - oh, and bless Courtney Cox who must be sick of her whining by now.

By KRAZZZ

We don't know Jennifer Aniston. Why are you and so many so critical of her? How would you like to have the messy details of your broken marriage strewed all over the media, endlessly? Do you really know just how devasating it was to her? I think she has done a remarkable job of picking herself up and moving forward. We only know what the media tries to shove down our throats, which they love to twist and turn everything little thing into "gossip". How could you even believe any of that crap for a moment? Leave her alone and spend more time being a better person.

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