Key takeaways

• Media portrayals are infused with traditional, lasting gender expectations
• Sexism and gender norms continue to linger in and beyond 2025

Dating after divorce: Pitt and Brady vs. Jolie and Bündchen

A great example of the double standard in dating after divorce is Brad Pitt vs. Angelina Jolie. Brad Pitt was linked to several women after his divorce, including models Nicole Poturalski and Emily Ratajkowski. The media generally portrayed him as a “desirable bachelor” back on the dating scene. On the other hand, dating rumors about Jolie were met with intense scrutiny, and she was often painted as a “difficult” or “dramatic” ex, blamed for the divorce from Pitt, and portrayed as being desperate to get back with him.

After divorcing Gisele Bündchen in 2022, rumors of Tom Brady dating models like Irina Shayk were met with excitement, and he was seen as a “catch” moving forward with his life. When Bündchen was linked to her jiu-jitsu trainer, the media mocked her for settling or speculated she had moved on “too fast.” There were even jokes along the lines of, “Imagine your stepdad being Tom Brady and your dad being a trainer nobody has heard of.”

Most marriages end in midlife

This is one of the interesting findings of the first large-scale study focused on women who have started dating after a divorce, with more than 1,700 American women nationwide taking part. The rockiest years for marriage are the ages of 35-44, with 42% of those surveyed divorcing in those years of life.

Midlife is when most marriages break up, with 28% of women divorcing between ages 45 and 54. 22% of women divorced at 34 or younger, and just 9% were over 55.

Women are feeling free to move on, with 65% starting to date within the very first year of divorce or separation. 68% report feeling excited about dating after divorce, and 40% say they feel confident. Many women experience mixed feelings. Another 68% report being scared of the prospects of dating.

Double standards for “serial dating”

Leonardo DiCaprio has famously dated women in their early 20s for decades, yet he’s faced very limited criticism for only dating much younger women. It’s often in the form of a joke, ex. “DiCaprio has lost interest in the Titanic because it was released more than 25 years ago.” Taylor Swift, on the other hand, has been shamed for dating multiple men, with the media painting her as a “serial dater” and claiming all of her songs are about her relationships.

Pete Davidson has been praised for dating high-profile women like Ariana Grande and Emily Ratajkowski, with people joking about his charisma. On the other hand, Kim Kardashian has been labeled as someone who “hops from man to man,” with people scrutinizing her relationships in a way that male celebrities don’t face.

Future has multiple baby mothers and a long list of past relationships, yet he’s rarely criticized and is instead admired for his “player” persona. Lori Harvey, who has been in relationships with Damson Idris, Michael Jordan, and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, tends to inspire no admiration. Rumors continue to circulate despite her not publicly dating anyone as of 2024.

FAQs

What is another example of double standards for male and female celebrities?

When Chris Evans accidentally leaked his nude photo, reactions were overwhelmingly comforting, and people wiped away tweets that could further violate his privacy. A few weeks later, Cardi B accidentally leaked a nude picture, and judgments proliferated across social media, with a lot of body-shaming. The public was quick to bash Billie Eilish for her imperfect body when a photo of her in a tank top and shorts went viral.

What is an example of ageism in Hollywood?

Research reveals a lingering double standard for aging male and female characters. There were 73% major male characters compared to 27% major female characters. Most males were in their 30s and 40s, and most females were much younger (20s). Men aged 40-60 were more likely to wield occupational power and play leadership roles than their female counterparts in that age group.