Role Models

Ok I wasn't sure what catagory this fit into but I will put it into politics. If you think it belongs some where else let me know and I'll edit this.

So, today I was checking my emails through the MSN homepage and I noticed an article on role models. I decided to have a look and see what it was about. It was basically saying that teenagers will always find a role model to look up to. Some one who they can admire for what they've done, or copy for their styles and try to be like that person. This is true, I know that I have role models who I look up to and sometimes I try to be like them and do things that they would do.

Role models are an important part of growing up - and how parents wish that teenagers would aspire to be like Marie Curie or Sir Winston Churchill. (I don't know who would really want to be like Winston Churchill, but to each his own)

It then goes on to say how teenagers prefer to choose different role models than their parents would like them to. That's true enough. What I don't agree with is what they went on to say next.

Consequently, current role models for teenage girls are people like Peaches Geldof, who's one of Tatler's 2006 Top 10 Fashion Icons and has her own fan club. Yet she is famous for little more than her parentage and partying lifestyle.

Alot of this sort of thing is mentioned; girls like Peaches Geldof, Coleen McLoughlin and Victoria Beckham being the main role models for teenage girls. I agree, these women are unsuitable role models and they are all famous for the wrong reasons but who are these people to say that we idolize them? I have many different people that I look up to and respect and none of these are any of them. Infact I can't think of anyone who would idolize them. I mean, why would you?

Just 3% saw Beckham as a good role model for the young and only 1% thought this was true of McLoughlin - unlike many of the younger female generation

How do they know this? Did they go around asking all the teenage girls if they thought they were bad models? I doubt it.

My point is that people are constantly blaming women like this and basically saying that all teenage girls are mindless, self-obsessed bimbos who copy Victoria Beckham's every move. They also blamed these sort of celebrities for all the anorexia/bulimia nervosa sufferers. Perhaps they need to concentrate more on the fact that it's the media shoving the whole idea of "skinny means beautiful" down our throats.

Commenting on the survey, relationship psychologist and life coach Corinne Sweet says: "Role models are absolutely essential - from the age of about two, children start copying their parents, and they are the most important role models.

"But as they become teenagers, role models move from heroes to sex objects or people who look good. They want them to be noble and heroic too."

But that doesn't explain the popularity of girls like McLoughlin and Geldof, and Sweet explains: "At the moment young teens are all looking to celebrities - they're the new gods.


This woman has no idea what she's talking about. At the moment young teens are all looking to celebrities Well she's very wrong there because I know loads of girls who are not "looking to celebrities". These people are portraying us as stupid and easily influenced.

My heroes/role models whatever, are people who have made a difference to the world, changed things for the better and acheived somthing in life. Not a size zero, footballers girlfriend.

Thanks for reading =]

Posted on June 7th, 2007 at 12:21pm

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