Children are growing up thinking marriages are not meant to last because so many football and pop stars have high-profile affairs and bust-ups, an expert warned yesterday.
Alleged infidelities by England internationals like Wayne Rooney, John Terry and Ashley Cole hit the headlines in 2010 and received acres of coverage in newspapers.
Reg Bailey, leading a government review of the sexualisation of childhood, is expected to consider the issue in a report. Mr Bailey, chief executive of the Mothers’ Union charity, told the Daily Telegraph sportsmen and women had an influence on children’s behaviour.“The sexualisation of children is clearly a concern. Many people simply associate that with girls. I don’t think it is. It impacts both boys and girls and the review will take account of that.
The newspaper also quoted Jamie Murdoch of relationships support charity Relate: “Young people are growing up in a media-influenced culture where they perceive that having an affair is normal and a marriage that lasts is something which even many successful people can’t aspire to,” he said. – (Reuters)