Madonna by name, Madonna by nature

Youth Voice: The latest accessory is a designer baby.

What is the latest fashion accessory for celebrities? The most recent Manolo Blahnik shoes, Jimmy Choos or perhaps even the latest Versace gown? We are bombarded with magazine covers that instruct us ‘what is hot and what is not!’ but what exactly is that coveted item???  

The latest accessory is a designer baby. 

However this designer baby doesn’t involve manipulating genes or any such craziness, it involves adopting a child. Not just any child of course, the ultimate designer baby is preferably from Africa, Ha got huge big eyes and is preferably an orphan. (Note to Madonna- this was your mistake.)  

The trend seemed to really kick off when Angelina Jolie adopted her son Maddox from Cambodia. She then followed with a daughter Zahara, adopted from Ethiopia. She has also said that she wishes to add more nationalities into her family. 

Madonna is the latest person to have jumped on the bandwagon, however Madonna’s attempt has been hit with much criticism. She has just returned from Africa where she was on a mission to publicise the plight of over 900,000 orphans in Zambia. She has generously pledged around $3M to the campaign which vows to help the orphan children many of whom are infected with HIV. 

So why the criticism? Surely she is doing a good thing? Well, the child in question is not really an orphan but is in the orphanage as his father is too poor to care for him following the death of his wife shortly after childbirth. As the boy’s father is still alive and has regular contact with the boy would it not be more beneficial to the boy to reunite him with his father and provide enough money for them to survive together?  

Although I think it is wonderful that Madonna is taken an interest in the Malawai orphans I think it would be more worthwhile to support this child from afar without removing him from his home environment. Yes, the western culture is richer and would allow the boy a life of comfort but who is to say that this would be better for him? Do the majority of celebrity kids not end up in rehab by their early 20’s, if not before? Yes they are rich, spoilt and have everything they want but are they really happy?  

Another problem is that Malawai law forbids any foreigner from adopting their children, so how did Madonna manage to bypass such laws? I guess it would be foolish to say that being a rich celebrity does not help or that a ‘donation’ of $3M does not influence a government. But has she gone too far in adopting a child whose parent is alive? The negative criticism suggests so. Time will decide. 

By: Marie Duffy

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