19 SINS AND COUNTING

Formerly 17 Kids and Counting and 18 Kids and Counting, 19 Kids and Counting was a reality show that aired on the TLC network for seven years until its cancellation in 2015. The show featured The Duggar family: parents Jim-Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 17 kids, which grew to 19 kids during the show's run. They were successful for quite some time, as reality shows go. So what went wrong?

Ostensibly, Josh Duggar was what went wrong for the Duggars and their highly-successful series. First, the news was leaked that Josh molested at least five young girls when he, too, was a youth - at least four of whom were his sisters. This was not information disclosed by the Duggars. In their mind, they responded in the best way possible. They sent Josh to a Bible-based rehab, and felt that the problem was handled well and now was solved. The Duggar girls never got counseling. 

Shortly after that, another big story broke - when the Ashley Madison accounts were leaked, Josh's name was leaked with them. Ashley Madison is a website for married people that want to hook up with other married people for "discreet encounters". I didn't pity him at all. He has made some very poor choices in life and now it was time to face the music. I felt bad for his wife Anna, who was pregnant at the time of this latest reveal. Apparently her family wanted her to come home and bring her children with her but she refused. I would not be surprised if the Duggar family was putting pressure on her and watching her like a hawk to make sure she wouldn't get any fancy ideas into her head, like maybe she deserved better than Josh Duggar.

If Josh's exposure teaches us anything it should be that Jim-Bob and Michelle's parenting style is nothing to be admired. This idea of the role of females throughout their lives (to support, to obey, to submit themselves for their husband's gratification whenever he is ready) is very sad indeed. And the fact that it works for some females is great, go for it. But some women want more out of life than being told how to live by a man who is in charge of his own destiny. And hers. And the kids. Some women want to embrace life - not merely as someone's wife, but as a full-fledged individual, in charge of her own destiny.