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Newsroom
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsroom
Reality TV's Achilles' heel
Reality TV's summer of love ended with laughter, celebration and cheers but no amount of fireworks could make up for what's arguably been Love Island UK's most controversial season. Misogyny, sexist comments, and bullying behaviour – producers have been inundated with complaints about some of this season's contestants. One episode in particular prompted more than 1,000 complaints and a call from Women's Aid UK. Today The Detail speaks to senior entertainment writer Tara Watson about the show's problematic history, and Jane Herbert, an associate professor in developmental psychology from Wollongong University, about the wider implications of reality TV. 'We learn through just watching and observing the things that are in our world,' Herbert says. 'When we've got lots of programmes … presenting these extreme views to people, they start to see those behaviours as 'It's in my environment all the time, this must be the way that we're supposed to act',' she says. Shows like Love Island are premised on creating as much drama as possible, and one issue that arises is bigotry – when an individual has such a strong view on something that they refuse to even acknowledge another view. 'We're not understanding what we might call a theory of mind, that people have other opinions that might be different from ours and that it's worthwhile listening to those opinions,' Herbert says. It's important to note that Love Island UK isn't the only reality TV show with problems. Most recently MasterChef UK fired two of its hosts after separate allegations of racist remarks and sexual misconduct were substantiated. The host of another reality TV show, The Repair Shop, has recently been charged with two counts of rape. Ultimately it is up to individuals to choose what they watch and how much they consume, but Herbert says the widespread popularity and tactical evening release time makes shows like Love Island UK difficult to ignore. And with the rise of social media and online streaming, access to these kinds of shows – whether that be through full-length episodes or short social media clips – is easier than ever. 'It's changed a lot from when we were younger, and we only had a couple of channels, and everyone watched the same thing. 'Now our viewing is very individual. We can pick and choose when we watch it, we can be watching it sometimes when we are in very vulnerable states and we can also share snip-bits with people as well and present very distorted views,' she says. Herbert doesn't think we should get rid of reality TV, arguing it can actually bring up important discussions. 'Number of partners, or what things we enjoy in sex, there might not be a normal conversation and watching shows like [Love Island] might be helpful for getting some of those views out; but when it becomes unhelpful is when you only hear one side of the story or one becomes very dominant,' she explains. It's a genre that despite all its flaws remains incredibly popular. After facing a slump in previous years, this season's viewership of Love Island UK rose to over 2.6 million for the first episode. 'It feels like it's reality,' Herbert says. 'These shows, they draw us in because we don't know exactly what's going to happen next. But the target audience for these ones [Love Island] are vulnerable people who are just learning about relationships … so we need to think about the way we support people when they're watching these sorts of shows.' Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here. You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
The Detail: Reality TV's Achilles heel
Love Island logo Photo: Love Island Facebook Reality TV's summer of love ended with laughter, celebration and cheers, but no amount of fireworks could make up for what's arguably been Love Island UK' s most controversial season. Misogyny, sexist comments and bullying behaviour - show producers have been inundated with complaints about some of this season's contestants. One episode in particular prompted more than 1000 complaints and a call from Women's Aid UK. Today, The Detail speaks to senior entertainment writer Tara Watson about the show's problematic history and Jane Herbert, an associate professor in developmental psychology from Wollongong University, about the wider implications of reality TV. "We learn through just watching and observing the things that are in our world," Herbert said. "When we've got lots of programmes... presenting these extreme views to people, they start to see those behaviours as 'it's in my environment all the time, this must be the way that we're supposed to act'." Shows like Love Island are premised on creating as much drama as possible and one issue that arises is bigotry - when an individual has such a strong view on something that they refuse to even acknowledge another view. "We're not understanding what we might call a theory of mind, that people have other opinions that might be different from ours and that it's worthwhile listening to those opinions," Herbert said. It's important to note that Love Island UK isn't the only reality TV show with issues. Most recently, MasterChef UK fired two of its hosts , after separate allegations of racist remarks and sexual misconduct were substantiated. The host of another reality TV show - The Repair Shop - has recently been charged with two counts of rape . Ultimately, it is up to individuals to choose what they watch and how much they consume, but Herbert said the widespread popularity and tactical evening release time made shows like Love Island UK difficult to ignore. With the rise of social media and online streaming, access to these kinds of shows - whether that be through full length episodes or short social media clips - is easier than ever. "It's changed a lot from when we were younger and we only had a couple of channels, and everyone watched the same thing. "Now our viewing is very individual. We can pick and choose when we watch it, we can be watching it sometimes when we are in very vulnerable states and we can also share snip-bits with people as well, and present very distorted views," she said. Herbert didn't think we should get rid of reality TV, arguing it could actually bring up important discussions. "Number of partners or what things we enjoy in sex, there might not be a normal conversation and watching shows like [ Love Island ] might be helpful for getting some of those views out;" she explained. "When it becomes unhelpful is when you only hear one side of the story or one becomes very dominant." Despite all its flaws, the genre remains incredibly popular. After facing a slump in previous years, this season's viewership of Love Island UK rose to over 2.6 million for the first episode. "It feels like it's reality," Herbert said. "These shows, they draw us in, because we don't know exactly what's going to happen next. "The target audience for these ones [ Love Island ] are vulnerable people who are just learning about relationships... so we need to think about the way we support people, when they're watching these sorts of shows." Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here . You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter .
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'I already want to cry.' Undocumented parents prepare for the unthinkable: Giving up their kids
Sonia's son has been anxious lately, crying and asking why their neighbor had been picking him up from preschool instead of his mom. She doesn't know what to tell him. At just 4 years old, he's too young to understand the truth. Sonia has lived in the U.S. without legal status for 25 years, harvesting squash, cilantro and tomatoes in the fields of Riverside County. But she can no longer risk leaving her house to pick up her child for fear of being detained or deported by federal agents. She has begun preparing for something far worse than a missed pickup — the possibility that their separation could become permanent. Last week, Sonia visited the offices of TODEC, a legal center in the Inland Empire serving immigrants and farm workers, to fill out the forms that will allow her sister to take over the care of her three American citizen children — ages 4, 7, and 10 — in the event that she and her husband are deported. "I already want to cry," said Sonia, who requested that her full name not be used to protect her. Since June 6 — when the Department of Homeland Security began widespread raids throughout the Los Angeles region — the number of immigrant parents making emergency arrangements for their children's care has skyrocketed. Parents have flooded legal rights organizations in person and on Zoom for help filling out the forms that will designate another adult to take over responsibility of their children, many of whom are citizens, if they are detained or deported. An estimated 5.62 million American children have an undocumented household member, and nearly 2 million of them are under the age of 6. More than half of these children do not have a parent with legal status, according to a report from the Brookings Institution. It is not clear how many parents have been detained or deported during the recent raids. Since 2018, however, about 60,000 parents of U.S. citizen children have been deported, according to data provided by ICE. Data on what happened to their children isn't readily available, but those who were American citizens most commonly stay in the U.S. if only one parent is deported, said Tara Watson, who directs the Center for Economic Security and Opportunity at Brookings. Read more: Will mom get detained? Is dad going to work? Answering kids' big questions amid ICE raids Parents who are detained by ICE are "asked if they want to be removed with their children, or ICE will place the children with a safe person the parent designates," Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. "DHS takes its responsibility to protect children seriously and will continue to work with federal law enforcement to ensure that children are safe and protected." McLaughlin said that parents in the country illegally "can take control of their departure" with a the CBP Home Mobile Application, an app with services provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "The United States is offering illegal aliens $1,000 and a free flight to self-deport now," McLaughlin said. "We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return." Some families choose to take their children with them to their country of origin. One study estimated that from 2014-2018, there were 80,000-100,000 U.S. citizen children in Mexico as the result of parental deportation. Legal advocacy groups in California are encouraging families to prepare for the possibility of separation and are helping parents fill out the requisite forms that designate another adult to care for their children in their absence. Although some want to shift legal guardianship to another adult, that process can take several months, requires a judge's approval, and involves giving up their parental rights. Many more are instead filling out a simple form called a "Caregiver's Authorization Affidavit" that permits another adult to enroll their child in school and authorize medical care. Demand for help filling out these affidavits has increased exponentially. What used to be the occasional workshop for 20 parents has become a regular series of Zoom and in-person meetings that have reached more than a thousand, said Andres Cifuentes, an attorney at Bet Tzedek Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm in L.A. 'We've heard about children having nightmares about the possibility of being separated," he said. "We encourage parents to have this conversation in a very calm manner as if preparing for an earthquake or a flood." Luz Gallegos, executive director of TODEC, said most people are seeking help virtually because they are too afraid to leave their homes. And it's not just an influx of parents who are living in the country without legal status. For the first time, Gallegos said TODEC is seeing parents with DACA, green cards holders, and even naturalized citizens preparing for possible deportation. TODEC also runs a youth leadership and development program for the children of immigrant parents called "Monarcas Luchadoras," where they are learning how to help their families create preparedness plans and packing groceries for members of the community who are too afraid to leave their houses right now. TODEC recommends that parents pick someone who has citizenship or legal permanent residency, so they are not at risk. Gallegos said she has personally been asked by so many families to serve as caregiver that she has lost count. 'I feel like if you say yes to one, you have to say yes to all of them.' Instead, she tries to help parents think through their safety nets. Many families end up selecting teachers, child-care providers or people from their faith communities, rather than family members who are also likely to be immigrants. Susan, an immigrant from Guatemala who lives in L.A., has been a nanny for 18 years. She has a strong community of other immigrants but asked her former employer whose child she cared for during the pandemic and who is white, to be her three children's caregiver if she is deported. Susan requested that her full name not be used to protect her. "I know that her and her husband's word will be respected," Susan said. "If a Guatemalan citizen goes to fight for my children, obviously their rights won't be respected." Read more: Child-care providers brace for a painful scenario: What if ICE comes knocking? Susan, who is in her 30s, has lived in the U.S. for half her life, and her husband has been here for 30 years. During the pandemic they were essential workers, she said, providing child care, cleaning houses and doing construction. "And now we are criminals," she said. Signing the caregiver forms was "one of the most difficult decisions that I've had to make as a mom, because I feel like I am giving away my children. But I don't want them to be taken by the government if I have to go with immigration." But parents like Susan "understood that they were in the country illegally, and that this could potentially happen," said Ira Mehlman, spokesperson for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which favors stricter immigration controls. "It is unfortunate that the kids are put in this situation, but like any other parent, they are responsible for the consequences of their decisions on their kids." He said parents of U.S. citizen children should not be given special leniency for exemptions from deportation. Mehlman favors the elimination of birthright citizenship, which President Trump called for in an executive order. A federal judge last week prohibited the order from taking effect anywhere in the U.S. Numerous studies have found that the deportation of a parent can have a profound impact on a child, including long-term developmental and behavior issues, depression and academic decline. "Following deportation of a family member, children demonstrate numerous emotional and behavioral challenges, such as eating and sleeping changes, anxiety, sadness, anger, and withdrawal," according to a 2018 policy statement from the Society for Community Research and Action, a division of the American Psychological Assn. "Even if the family is ultimately reunited, the consequences of their forced family separation often remain." For very young children in particular, separation from a parent is "tremendously traumatizing," said Sherry Berg, a clinical psychologist at Para Los Niños, which runs seven Head Start programs in Los Angeles County. Separation anxiety — the fear of being separated from the primary caregiver and something happening to them — is a normal part of early childhood development; a parent's actual deportation is "their worst nightmare." Sara, a Guatemalan immigrant from South-Central L.A., said she is thinking of self-deporting with her 9-year-old son, who is a citizen. They haven't left their apartment in weeks, except for the occasional errand to a grocery store and a quick trip to the post office to secure a passport for him. Her son does not want to move to Guatemala, a country he's never been to. "What he's told me is that in October when classes start, then hopefully the raids will have calmed for school," said Sara. In Riverside, Sonia said she's tried to shield her 4- and 7-year-old children from what is happening. But her 10-year-old has been asking about what's going to happen to his family. "Before summer vacation, the teacher called me and told me that she was going to have him evaluated, so that they could give him psychological help because he is very anxious," she said. Both she and her husband are from Michoacan, Mexico, a state fraught with drug cartel violence. She said they fear the conflict there, and work is hard to come by. If only one of them is deported, the other will stay in the U.S. to raise the children. If both are deported, she wants her children to stay in the U.S., where they are safe and have opportunities — at least until the parents figure out whether they can make a new life for the family in Mexico. Undocumented children whose parents are deported often stay under the radar by going to live with other family members, said Watson said. But those who come under the purview of ICE are often transferred to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which may place them in institutional settings while looking for a sponsor. Maria, a home child-care provider in Highland Park with 20 years of experience, said she was recently asked by the mother of an undocumented 11-year-old at her day care if she would be willing to adopt her — permanently. 'I could feel her pain. She was saying, 'She's going to be yours. I'm not going to ask for her back," said Maria, who requested that her full name not be used to protect her. "I was speechless. It was a very drastic decision.' The mother was from Honduras, where her nephew was recently murdered, and she was terrified for her daughter's safety, Maria said. "I could see her fear in her eyes and her tears.' Maria had been caring for the girl for five years, and agreed to see a lawyer to discuss the options. But before they were able to go, she said the mother and child were picked up by federal agents. 'I was heartbroken," Maria said. "I would have adopted her." This article is part of The Times' early childhood education initiative, focusing on the learning and development of California children from birth to age 5. For more information about the initiative and its philanthropic funders, go to Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
One year, four babies and a 'Village' of love: Edmonton quadruplets' family grateful for outpouring of support
When raising kids takes a village and a large, in-depth spreadsheet, you're likely parents of quadruplets. Last year, Tara and Tommy Watson welcomed four precious babies into the world and on Thursday at the Laurier Heights Community League, they celebrated the quadruplets' (two boys, two girls) first birthday in front of their 'village' of supporters of more than 100 people. Friends. Family. Friends of friends. Even some strangers, who've now become friends, have all teamed up to help the Watson family after the quadruplets arrived on July 8, last year. After giving birth to their daughter Emmy Lou in 2022, they're now parents of five under the age of three. 'It's been really special, and something very humbling for all of us,' said Stephanie Perry, a neighbour and family friend of 11 years, who lives down the street from the Watsons. 'Everyone at this party today is the embodiment of people who took a look around to see what needs to be done and step in and do it.' From going on clothing and diaper drives and helping with home renovations before the quadruplets were born, to the early stages of changing 50 diapers a day, to now seeing all four babies celebrate their first birthday — it's been an incredible ride. The Watsons' 'village' has done everything they can to help lighten the load and make the chaotic days of taking care of four babies just a little less chaotic. 'Because I live so close, originally I was put on SOS duty to help with emergency moments. If someone cancelled or there was a snowstorm and someone couldn't make it, I stepped in to help. But now I'm doing Monday afternoon shifts and Wednesdays,' said Perry. 'A lot of us that are in the helper group are moms who have been through (parenting) already, and a lot of us have older children. Being able to see these little ones become who they are from the very beginning, is so special.' Heather Rootsaert recruited her 17-year-old and 14-year-old daughters to help, and they're known as the 'Thursday-Saturday crew.' 'To see it and be a part of it, it's absolutely unbelievable. It's awe-inspiring,' said Rootsaert, who's known Tara for 13 years. 'Many of us have formed a special bond through this experience. There have been amazing moments and there have been some trying times, and some of us have to go over there at 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. to help out, but everyone rallies.' If you were to poll members of the 'village' and the Watsons, Max is likely to be the first to walk. Theo is the fastest crawler. Sydney loves books, and Kenna says 'No' the most. While they may be quadruplets, their personalities are quite different, as seen in their reactions to four flaming birthday cakes, as everyone belted out Happy Birthday to them at the party. Max cried. Theo was very hesitant. Kenna wasn't sure about all the commotion, while Sydney couldn't wait to dig in and start eating her individual birthday cake. 'You could assume they would do a lot of things at the same time, and hit their milestones together, but it's such a perfect acknowledgment that every baby is so different. They're going to do things on their own time,' said Tara. 'We get to see it every day. We get to see who's crawling first, who got their first tooth. You might think they're so similar, but we're finding they're even more different than they are similar.' The Watsons said this year has had its share of challenges, but it's also been filled with many blessings and surprises. As parents, you're always forced to adapt — sometimes on the fly. But imagine going through an absolutely life-changing experience of raising quadruplets. This year, they've welcomed roughly 100 people into their home, who signed up wanting to help. That can't be easy. 'They're doing amazing,' said Perry. 'Take the stress of becoming a parent, whether it's your first time or not. It's not just multiplied by four, it's multiplied by a thousand. The joys are that much bigger, but the catastrophic thinking can be so much bigger. 'It takes a special vulnerability to open yourself up and ask for help the way they have, and to open your home to a steady flow of people all the time. Their lives have really opened up in a beautiful way, because they've been willing to be so open.' While the Watsons celebrated Max, Theo, Sydney and Kenna's milestone first birthday in a big way, it was also a way for them to recognize and thank their 'village' of friends and family and others, who are helping them through the journey of raising quadruplets. Members of their 'village' helped with major renovations to prep for the quadruplets' arrival. They cooked meals and baked goods, so Tara and Tommy didn't have to worry about cooking meals for the first few months. They cleaned the house, and mowed the lawn, and shovelled snowy sidewalks. 'The theme of today, 'Friends 4 ever' wasn't chosen because we have four babies, and not because they're going to be built-in best friends for life, but because of all of you,' said Tara in a speech to all who attended the celebration. 'This community, this village, you are our friends forever, and stuck with us now, whether you like it or not. Some of you I didn't even know a year ago. Some are friends of friends, moms or sisters of friends, neighbours, I may not have ever crossed paths with again, if I had just one baby last summer like we planned,' she continued. 'But life had other plans. Four little miracles that chose me to be their mom, and Tommy their dad. In doing so, it's brought all of you together, and you are now forever part of our family. 'I can't wait for the day when we can pay it all forward and give the same love, generosity and support to someone that you've given so freely to us.' The Watsons and their 'village' made it through the first year, and can look forward to whatever comes their way next in Year 2 and beyond. No matter what, the Watsons are forever grateful. 'We feel like we won our lottery,' said Tara. 'We have the most special and incredible healthy babies and we have everything we could ever ask for. I'm so grateful for them, and my family and friends who keep showing up.' 'Can't believe the blessing we have': Edmonton couple will give birth to quadruplets in July Adorable Hythe quadruplets remain delightful social media sensation You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post, and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun
Mint
20-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Migrant labour force withstands mass deportation push
President Trump's mass-deportation push has instilled widespread fear among migrants. What it hasn't done, so far, is stop many from showing up for work. While data covering immigrants lacking permanent legal status is fragmentary, what's available shows no broad pullback from the labor force. In the three months since Trump took office, employment has continued to grow. That includes many industries reliant on workers lacking legal status: construction; the category that includes janitorial and landscaping services; food-manufacturing and restaurants; and staffing firms. As of April, there were 31.8 million foreign-born workers with jobs, up 0.1% from January and 4.4% from a year earlier, according to a monthly Census Bureau survey of households. The data doesn't distinguish between workers in the U.S. legally and those without legal status. 'In general it's surprising to me," said Tara Watson, an economist at the Brookings Institution who studies immigration in the economy. 'We haven't heard stories of big chicken shortages or [higher] construction costs." A Kaiser Family Foundation survey published May 8 said 41% of U.S. immigrants—including naturalized citizens—worry that they or a family member could be detained or deported, up from 26% in 2023. But many workers without legal status say they have to keep working out of economic necessity. Some have lived in the U.S. for years or even decades and have families, homes and cars to pay for. The certainty of falling behind on bills often outweighs the unquantifiable risk of being detained by federal authorities, some migrants say. In April, federal agents detained at least 10 people in the parking lot of a Los Angeles Home Depot, where many migrants solicit day jobs helping with light construction. Two days later, one Mexican man, a father of three, was in the same parking lot looking for work. 'Of course there is fear," said the man, who has been in the U.S. for 25 years without legal permission. But with car insurance, rent and other costs rising fast, he added: 'What alternative do we have?" Trump has promised the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. During his first 100 days in office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ramped up arrests but deported fewer migrants a day than under former President Joe Biden in 2024. A much larger effect would come from the administration's push to remove more than a million migrants who have temporary permission to live and work in the U.S.—which for now is tied up in courts. That effort won an incremental victory Monday when the Supreme Court allowed the government to strip up to 350,000 Venezuelans of temporary protected status while a lawsuit plays out in lower courts. So far, Trump's main impact is at the southwest border, where crossings fell to an average of 391 people per day in February, March and April—down from a peak of 9,741 per day in December 2023, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Economists believe that decrease will, over time, leave a far bigger hole in the labor force than deportations. From 2021 to 2024, roughly 12 million migrants came to the U.S., about two-thirds of whom entered either illegally or by requesting some form of temporary status, such as asylum or parole. Some of them say they are increasingly resigned to leaving and want to save as much money as possible before that. On a side street in downtown, Washington, D.C., a group of Venezuelan food-delivery drivers gathered at their usual spot on a recent Monday despite warnings of planned immigration raids in the city, disseminated via messaging groups that migrants use to share such information. 'What we need to do is work, work, work and earn, earn, earn, because we don't have much time," said one driver, a 29-year-old Venezuelan who hiked through the treacherous Darién Gap jungle path and crossed the U.S. southern border last June. He has a refugee claim pending but isn't counting on it succeeding under Trump. He said he drives for Uber Eats from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. most days, earning between $1,300 and $1,500 a week. He took English classes at a local charter school but declined to re-enroll at the beginning of this year. 'With this political situation where they don't want migrants, I'm not going to keep learning English just so I can go back to Venezuela and speak English to the animals," he said. Migrants working at a farm in Homestead, Fla., in April. In the days following reports of immigration enforcement activity across Washington, the side street was largely devoid of delivery drivers. A recent survey of employers by law firm Littler Mendelson found 58% had some concern about staffing challenges as a result of Trump's immigration policies. But there are as yet no reports of widespread labor shortages, even in migrant-heavy industries. The National Association of Home Builders has received only 'anecdotal reporting of some limitations" related to labor supply, the group's chief economist, Robert Dietz, said. A spokeswoman for the American Farm Bureau Federation said while some farmers report employees afraid to come to work, 'we are not aware of widespread interruptions in farm operations due to employees' absenteeism." Undocumented migrants' role in the labor force is hard to measure reliably, as they are often wary of providing information to government agencies. The Census Bureau's monthly survey of households, which is used to compute the unemployment rate and other key labor market data, has seen a sharp decline in responses from segments of the population that include many migrants who entered illegally. In April, it received 1,196 responses from noncitizens with a high-school diploma or less, down 16% from August and the fewest in 21 months, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of census data archived by IPUMS at the University of Minnesota. Overall responses declined 4%. Write to Paul Kiernan at
