Following the revleation that Rihanna has returned to an abusive relationship with Chris Brown, the media has simply been asking why, Rihanna, why?
Some women talk show hosts have lambasted Rihanna for being a poor role model for young girls. Here is this beautiful, talented, successful woman who is sending out the message that being is an abusive relationship is 'cool' and even 'desirable'.
Observers have also commented that Chris Brown has shown very little remorse for beating Rihanna 'black and blue'. He 'served the time for the crime' but does not seem to be genuinely sorry for what he has done.
Most tellingly still both Rihanna and Chris Brown are products of 'abusive homes' where their father or 'step-father' would beat both them and their mothers; hence they both perceive seeing a man beating up a woman is normal.
Feminists are asking what kind of a message this is sending out to vulnerable young girls who adore Rihanna and buy her CDs and see her as being the epitomy of style? Will young girls see being with a man who physically bruises them as being acceptable and even desirable?
Rihanna is being seen as a traitor to her sex and subliminally sending out messages that it is okay to be a victim and to let a man 'beat you up'. Critics have said that Rihanna with all her millions in the bank has the resources to 'cope' with Chris Brown's abusive relationship. Other women who are not in such a favourable position are unable to employ body guards to intervene if their partner becomes violent. It has been said that Rihanna sould never have returned to her abuser and that she must be a victim of 'Stockholm Syndrome'.
Pyschologists who are familiar with the 'cycle' of women return to a violent man as being caused by low self esteem. Poor Rihanna must really suffer from self-hatred if she returns to a man who has beaten her senseless. In reality many women return over and over again to a man who abuses both them and their children. The woman's psyche has become so badly damaged that they perceive themselves as 'worthless' and they have become an automatom with no will of their own.
It is sad that girls from every social class return over and over again to their abuser and they even seem to be prepared to defend their man.
Many show biz types are questioning if Rihanna is getting some weird 'kick' out of Chris Brown's violence; it is rumoured that she is in to 'kinky' sex.
With role models like Rihanna and Lady GaGa young women are being served with very poor role models. It is painful to watch her in Chris Brown's company and wonder what 'car crash relationship' will happen to her in the future?
Project forward by five years and Rihanna might have become a mother and will have toddlers who might witness their mother being beaten. Will the whole sorry 'cycle' be played out again with future generations of her family?
