Teenage Role Models

Very recently the man behind Simund, Carl and Alfred and I were discussin role models for teenae irls. He reminded me that he wrote a post in which he stated:

We want our dauhter's role models to include women who elevate culture, society and the world we live in. It is just becomin harder to find those women in popular culture.

Do you aree? Is it difficult to find role models in popular culture? Who would you suest is a ood role model for teenae irls? 

Comments

[Raehan]

I am not a popular culture expert, but I can't think of a good teenage popular culture rold model.

That will force us to turn away from popular culture, I suppose, and look to rold models in our own lives like our mothers or grandmothers. Our perhaps literature.......

I believe the man behind SC & A both are parents of a daughter (or two in my caase) and therefore have a common interest in this.

What about men? Are there good teenage role models for them?

[kenju]

I MOST definitely agree. Good role models are hard to find; most of the girls/women our pre-teens and teens admire and emulate show more of their bodies than their brains. A the moment, I cannot think of a good role model, but I'll be back later.

[Jennie]

In popular culture, it would be very difficult. What's popular could never emcompass what's good, unfortunately. Popularity is fun and exciting and those things are confused with "good". Here's what Goethe says - Reason can never be popular. Passions and feelings may become popular, but reason will always remain the sole property of a few eminent individuals.

Role models for anyone, I think, are usually and most effectively found in one's real life. Because real life is the "role" we need modeled, not NBA basketball playing or pop diva song singing or blockbuster movie acting, just being someone in real life. And that comes from those around us, who raise us and spend time with us, I believe, someone we know in full. Some famous people or their role may spark something within someone, but we don't "know" these people we only read about and see on tv, so the role those people be modeling to the public would be shallow and mostly irrelevant as only a fraction of a whole picture. We're all role models to each other.
I have looked at a star and thought, "what a shame that people are modeling after her" but really it just means that I have to do my best role modeling every day to truly teach my kids or nieces what being a woman's all about so they can hopefully touch good and truth in real life and recognize and throw out the popular stuff eventually as junk.

[Megan]

How about Oprah Winfrey? Love her or hate her, she's been through hell and back and made herself one of the richest people in the world. And she did it on her own. And the Williams sisters - strong, powerful and beautiful? I'm sure there are more, but I'm at a loss. And I can't think of any that are teenagers themselves.

How sad.

[Isabella]

Julie Payette

[Sonja]

My former boss's daughter loves Hilary Duff, and I suppose she's one of the better role models of teendom out there.

[Phil]

Depends on how you define "popular culture".

If you mean, specifically, the culture centered around the likes of Spears, Aguilera, etc., then yes, it's pretty darn hard to find a good role model.

If you mean simply celebs in general, accross all spectrums of fame, then I don't believe it's all that hard to find good role models. It's just that the bad ones tend to make the headlines more.

[maryse]

how about role models in their daily lives? women and girls who have more in common with your daughters, who struggle every day without the benefit of money, celibrity.

a lot of my role models are my friends -- one who succeeded as a lawyer after putting herself through college and law school. and now is helping her sisters go to college. or my other friend who is raising 3 great kids.

women like that should be our daughters' role models.

[ccap]

I agree that there probably aren't a lot of good role models out there for teenage girls but I don't know that there were a lot when I was a teenage girl either. Personally, I agree with maryse - we need to find role models in people we know, not necessarily celebrities.

[Paula]

My daughter Diane. :)

[Blue]

I do not believe that popular culture has ever produced great role models in general, but there are a few. We must remember that these people are human, in the spotlight, so all of there insecurities, fears, and what ever elase you have is brought into focus more so thatn someone who just lives down the street.

[Pearl]

Maya Angelou? How about Serena Williams? Irshad Manji? Jann Arden? Nelly Furtado? The Queen Mother and Mother Teresa? (r.i.p)

Anyone on Forbe's list of most powerful women count as popular? http://www.forbes.com/2004/08/18/04powomland.html

You model yourself on how gracefully and kindly she handles herself day to day. There may be a local person who teenage girls can have enough contact with to emulate. There are even formal mentoring programs such as Big Sisters and e-mentoring if there are none local http://www.uic.edu/orgs/gem-set/

[Kross-Eyed Kitty]

I think Avril Lavigne sends out positive messages to other teens through her lyrics.

[Kross-Eyed Kitty]

I think Avril Lavigne sends out positive messages to other teens through her lyrics.

[Cin]

I think looking to popular culture for guidance on just about any aspect of life can set us on the wrong path. What you see on TV, on the net or in print is not even half the story of any of these folk's lives!

[yellojkt]

My wife saw Sally Ride give a talk to middle school girls about science and technology and she found it very inspiring and Sally Ride a great role model.

[Lucinda]

Realistically and as a stepmother to 12 and 14-year-old girls, I'd agree with Kross-Eyed Kitty. Avril Lavigne rocks for teen girls. She's strong and smart and makes no apologies for being herself.
I also like Raven on the Disney Channel. She's full figured and outspoken- and she's Disney's most successful starlet EVER. You go, girl!

[Utenzi]

There are very few pop culture figures that can be viewed as role models for young women--or young men. This has not always been true, and no doubt at some point in time will change back, but right now the media focus is on 'entertainers' who typically are narcissistic by nature since their craft (acting, music, or just being spoiled kids) selects for that personality type.

In the past women of more stature were media icons and at that time young girls had women of accomplishment to look up to. Those days will return, no doubt, and there's plenty of women around to serve as role models--more so today than at any time in the past. We have women in the legislature, medicine, judiciary, executives in corporations all the way up to CEOs, the Supreme Court and maybe soon even in the White House as president. These accomplished women only need to have a spotlight placed on them so young women will notice them.

[keb]

I find it difficult because even when these young girls are successful for being sweet & innocent (think Christina Agullera, Brittney Spears, Lindsey Lohan from Disney to first song hit) then they turn into sex pot partiers because that is what sells. I like Raven on Disney (and my girsl 8 and 5 love her) and sadly, the other strong females are just too out of touch for my 14 year old to enjoy. So to answer the question, yes I find it hard to chose a popular role model these days because what is cute and smart today, will be trashy tomorrow.

[Arethusa]

I've never been particularly interested in looking for "role models" in public life generally speaking. I don't think it's practical. Certainly it is useful and desirable for both adults and children to see people "like them" (however one wishes to define that) doing great things, as a confirmation of one's own possible potential; but if one wants role models we have to look to our own lives.

The problem is that our lives have become so influenced and saturated by the media that we can't be so blase about it anymore. In the past it was much easier to block that sort of thing. I don't think we're helpless in the face of it though.

[Destiny Anne]

i agree with lucinda. i love avril lavigne and raven. avril lavigne's music is real and doesn't care if people don't like her for what she believes. i just think that its sad that raven hasn't gotten nearly as much recognition as hilary duff even though her show is way better and funnier.

[Lily Bleu]

Angelina Jolie is a fantastic role model for women and girls. She is a strong woman who takes an interest in the world around her and uses her influence to make things happen. I admire her immeasurably.

Ani Difranco is another great role model for girls. She has made it through rape, school torment, and prejudices and developed her own recording studio, made many albums, and has a massive fan following. She is an incredible poet, songstress, and person on top of it all.

[better safe than sorry]

you can look for good role models all you want, it's their friends that are going to influence them the most and there is nothing you can do about it

[srp]

In the early days of our country when there was no TV, no MTV, no recording artists, no movies, not even widespread photography, role models for girls were those around them. Women in their towns, sisters, mothers, grandmothers, the women who taught them and cared for them. These should still be the true role models for our girls. These celebrity types are plastic, not real and way out of control...even Oprah.

[Suzy]

I think when we rely on the typical 'celebrity' as a role model for our sons or daughters, then we have a problem.

[pantrygirl]

Reese Witherspoon seems to be a good role model for young women. She's smart, intelligent and a family woman. She chooses roles that accentuate the power of a woman and schedules her films and her husbands around her children to ensure they have a parent (not a nanny) with them most of the time.

[Toshia]

As a teenager myself i do not look up to the celebrities but more of the people around me or the good atlethes that show what hard work and the having the willing heart to get your self there is what makes a good role model.

[Domenica Hart]

I think Kirsten Dunst is a good role model. She has inspired my 11 year old daughter to become an actress.What do you think?

[Domenica Hart]

I think Kirsten Dunst is a good role model. She has inspired my 11 year old daughter to become an actress.What do you think?

[courtney]

hahaha angelina jolie isnt the best role model considering she carried a jar of her husbands blood around. I think that teenage girls do not need role models to strive in life, and more and more young girls are learning to create their own paths in life. The only thing we need is positive guidance and support in whatever we choose to do. I believe it is unhealthy to idolise a person, as no one is perfect. Every one should just be themselves.

[chelle]

I think their are many great role models out their in the world. I myself as a teen think even pop stars and athletes can be role models. I have learned to take good sides out of people I try not to focus on the bad sides of people. Some great role models I think well for me anyway are Rosa Parks (to me she shows that even a little can mean a lot) (i'm a big person on doing little things that are good which will hopefully lead to big things),people who show a lot of courage, bravery, and strenghth in their heart for example my grandparents. I also to take characters from books and movies who show great chararistics in themselves and yet to strive farther. And to think this all came upon me when my english teacher brought this upon on us to write as much as we can about great role models in our life. BEfore this assignment I didn't really relize how much role models inspire different people and how they have such a big impact on everyone until this assignment and I am glad it came to me.

[shilpa]

i think celebirity role models suck becauuse they are about nuthin but fame.glamour and wealth and that is not good for our young teenage girls...

[christine]

jane austen is a great rolemodel for girls

[Brian]

Wow. I was just having this conversation with my wife...ironically. Anyhow, my top three picks as far as "celebrities" go:
Oprah, Raven, and Lisa Simpson :)
It's too bad that our "role models" these days are also mostly "celebritites", but alas that is what kids relate to I suppose. Maybe we should all turn the TVs off and go outside.

[Melondy Shuptrine]

She is a wonderful rolemodel for us kids she inspired me to try to become an actress!

[Brian]

Who? Lisa Simpson? :P

[Brian]

...Just kidding.
Actually (to all reading) after I started suggesting GOOD rolemodels which complimented my daughter's interests - instead of criticizing her choices - things have really turned around. Try it!

[Andy]

I say that if you want to become and actress go for it because i am 13 years old and i want to be on Disney Channel more than the world but my mom said we don't have the time don't say no to your child don't say there's not enough time cause your just saying that you have no time for them cause that's how i feel i know that when i grow up i am going to regret not becoming an actress. Any advice?

andrea

[maegan kirkbride]

hello, i am 14 year sold an di live in scotland. i love to act and do wierd things and and look and dress nice. it's all i ever do. my ambition is to be an actress and to model. it is all i ever dream about since the age of 7. please give me any advice to become and actress. please please pplease.....check out my sight and add me on msn please please xxx

[Anonymous]

I think Fran Drescher is the best role model of our time. She survive rape and cancer, and still made hilarious tv shows and persevered as an actress. She is someone I personally look up to.