In the End, Rihanna Hurt Women Everywhere
March 6th, 2009
My title may seem a little dramatic, but this CNN piece echos my exact sentiments about this Rihanna/Chris Brown situation.
While it may be unfair that she has to bear the burden of being a role model for young girls in her personal conduct — jeesh — I can’t help but think that she’s setting a terrible example, and is setting back the decades long campaign against domestic violence. I hope moms around the country are telling their daughters that the talented young singer is making a very dangerous choice.
There are girls — probably thousands of girls — who consciously or subconsciously look to women like Rihanna as a role models. On average, these girls will now be just a little, tiny bit more likely to stay in abusive situations. After all, if the rich, beautiful Rihanna took her abuser back, why shouldn’t normal people like them do that too? Some of them will be beaten for it. Some of them might die for it.
She had a chance to be a hero for women everywhere. She didn’t do it, and has thus contributed to the problem.