Anybody else often feel major pressure from friends and family to settle down with a man and start a family (as if these things can be purchased and accomplished quickly…)? Rashida Jones spoke in The Guardian about the idea that marriage and motherhood equals out to the the highest form of happiness for a woman and the only thing that matters in her life. Jones almost walked down the aisle in the past. In the late ’90s she dated actor Tobey Maguire for almost four years, and in 2003, she was engaged for a time to music producer Mark Ronson (brother of DJ Samantha Ronson and designer Charlotte Ronson, twins), but their relationship ended a year after the engagement began. At 37, and less than a week away from 38, she said that she’s finally become comfortable and okay with the idea that she isn’t married and doesn’t have a child, and she’s happy either way:
“I had the full princess fantasy: the white horse, the whole being saved from my life, which is ridiculous. What do I want to be saved from? My life’s great! But it’s just this weird thing that’s been hammered into my head culturally: that’s the only way to succeed, that’s the only thing that counts for a woman. I’m happy, but the fact that I’m not married and don’t have kids – it’s taken me a long time to get to a place where I actually am OK with that, where I actually don’t feel like I’m some sort of loser.”
Kudos to Jones for her honesty, because I think many of us do equate happiness with the home with the white picket fence and Prince Charming and baby inside of it from childhood. There’s nothing wrong with feeling some type of way about not having these things, but not being married and not having kids definitely shouldn’t define your joy or make you think negatively about your life. Check out her full interview over at The Guardian and be sure to share your thoughts.
Can you relate to what Jones is saying?
