the Informer

After winning an Oscar for Best Actress, Sandra Bullock seemed to have everything she ever wanted.

She had a blossoming career, a husband to come home to and the respect of film critics across the industry. With the world at her feet it was almost inevitable that one aspect of her life would come crashing to pieces. Rumors started swirling of her husband, Jesse James, having an extramarital affair with Michelle “Bombshell” McGee, a tattoo model.

James aired his dirty laundry and confessed to Bullock and the world that the rumor was indeed true. He then followed Tiger Wood’s infamous footsteps right into sex therapy.

Throughout the history of the Oscars many women have won best actress yet lost their significant others as quickly as they could say “I’d like to thank the Academy.”
Hilary Swank, Kate Winslet and Reese Witherspoon, among many others, have all been subjects of this unkind curse of the Oscars, yet this leads me to believe that this unfortunate legacy isn’t only a standard of the Oscars but many other professions as well.

I question if men are intimidated by the successes of their partners, this is the only way I could rationalize a reason for any man leaving these gorgeous and intelligent women after having won one of the film industry’s highest honors.

Take Martha Stewart for example, the woman is a mega-mogul; she has enough money to fix the national deficit and yet she was divorced by her husband of 28 years during the rise of her empire.

I know what you’re thinking, of course Martha Stewart would be divorced, but the fact of the matter is that her marriage started going down the drain as soon as her company started taking off.

Let’s take a look at the most influential woman in the world currently, Oprah Winfrey. She has been engaged to her longtime boyfriend for 14 years but why haven’t they taken the plunge, is he nervous that he’s going to be the one cooking the bacon instead of bringing it home, or have they just not had a chance to set the date? Whichever one it is, it still leaves Oprah as the boss and him bringing up the rear.

Through these examples it’s clear to see that these extremely successful women are having a terrible time at keeping their partners happy while they’re achieving career greatness. These women have everything to make a partner happy but their significant others just must feel inadequate in comparison.

This is a horrendous thought, men being frightened of powerful women. It seems like the most ridiculous sentiment but when it comes down to it, the trend provides substantial evidence.

When a woman reaches the peak of her career before her husband, many times he starts to feel emasculated. Do we still live in a time when the man needs to be the provider and if he isn’t then he feels useless?

We’ve moved far beyond the 1930s, but it sure doesn’t look as though men are realizing the potential benefits from having exceptionally affluent wives.

For now I would like to think that these men are just intimidated by the spotlight that surrounds these moguls and actresses that I have named, yet I question how long it will take for these men to deflate their enormous egos and accept the fact that women are just as capable of providing for a family as they are, and they shouldn’t be intimidated.

As for any successful woman planning on marrying a man who seems as though he’s frightened by her power, she should probably remember to have him sign a prenuptial agreement before anyone says “I do.”