Role models for Women, have we taken a step back

As i come to turns with turning 30 i must say, in a way, im glad i was born when i was, because i think role models for young people have disappeared.  I remeber all the amazing female atheletes  like gabby reece, lisa anderson, mia hamm, lisa fernandez, and even celebrities like brooke shields, janet jackson, heck even madonna (before she got all kaballa and preachy).  I see so many young girls today obsessed about being thin and looking great.  They have shorter childhoods, more pressure to be beautiful and less inspiration and support for building confidence.  What happened?  Is it just me?  

>.> really?? .... I thought the world is great and everyone is happy... Oh .. wait... that was my dream XD

I think a lot of people share your sentiments. Your comment on madonna (cracks me up) I totally agree.

The earth rotates, human civilization channge for progress or regress, people adapt and adjust, the world is not static. And with dynamicity comes things that both good and bad. Ah yes, life.....

No, it's not just you.  I am 32 and have made similar observations.  The difference is that today's girls are completely inundated with mainstream media at every turn.  Even very young girls are taught that it is fun to be 'sexy'  - step inside a children's clothing store or the "girls" toy isle at Target and you'll see what I mean.  I think we had some of these same influences when we were girls, but the role of the media in our day to day lives was much less.  

Maybe we've lost a few women athletes, but we've gained Christiane Amanpoure, Hilary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, tons of other women politicians, women soldiers like Tammy Duckworth, Oprah--one of the richest people in America. So young women actually have more role models than my generation did (born in '67). When I was in high school I had to look abroad to find inspirations like Indira Gandhi and Maggie Thatcher (never mind that our political views are almost exact opposites). 

Yes, but all that means to me is that I either have to find one that isn't a celebrity, or be my own. I do wish we lived in a better world, though.

I totally agree, i'm 18 and a part time nanny, one of the kids I take care of is a 12 year old girl.  The other day I was driving her to her mothers house and she asked me if I thought she was fat (12 years old 5'2" 98lbs!) I was totally taken back by this comment, I couldn't believe she was asking me, I'm 6" shorter than her AND WEIGHT 40 POUNDS MORE! I felt terrible that she was even thinking about "how she looked" I totally blame the so called role models now adays......and I'm sorry if this ticks people off but Paris Hiltion is NOT  a role model, neither is Britney Spears, Hillary Duff, or Lindsay Lohan!

I think it just depends on where you look. Of course if you watch E! or read Cosmo you're going to find poor examples. Even in this world full of celebutants and strippers who die and get more press coverage than the war, you choose what you expose yourself to. And until your children leave your care, you choose who you expose them to.

There are many great women out there doing good things. Instead of focusing on the bad, seek them out!

My childhood role model was and is Liv Tyler. Her, and Angelina Jolie. I have many, but those two stuck with me since I can remember.

I've often talked about how girls are taught to strive for "pretty" at a young age.  Little girls are always told that they "look soooo pretty" and "you're so cute," etc. We really should strive to compliment girls for being smart, figuring out things, achieving something.   

Worse still, the definition of pretty is becoming sexier - look at those disgusting Bratz dolls...  

Well, just look at the posts about role models or "inspirational" people on this site. There are so many young girls who reply to those threads and who do they admire? Skinny celebrities who haven't done anything worth talking about to be famous.

So, it is not just you. I am 32 and I find it frightening. Hopefully they'll grow out of it.

Something scary I saw once was a mom coming out of VS with her 2 daughters who were probably around  9-10 years old. The daughters were carrying VS bags, so I assume they got something for themselves. Who goes to a store like that with 10yos? Even if they bought PJs, it's not a place I'd take my kids

Saturday I went out to lunch and there was a little girl. 9 or 10 and she had her hand on her hip and was swinging it while she walked.  It would be good if mom's stepped up and were the role models to there girls.  I know my mom was.  She went to college when I was around 12 and she would sit around and read the dictionary.  She also told her girls we could become whatever we wanted to be.  Life was never about having the latest fads.  I am 45 and actually Barbara Walters was a big deal for me.  Now I find Oprah and Queen Latiffa as role models.  Oprah because she makes me feel like if I have a dream I can achieve it with hardwork and determination and Queen Latiffa because she is big and she is beautiful and confindent about who she is.

julie me too, my mom and even more my dad would talk to me about how i could be anything i wanted.  Even more my dad who works in human resources would always discuss the real challanges women still face and that it meant I needed to work even harder and not let people get in my way.  i feel like today parents think everything is ok and dont instill those values in girls and in reality those barriers still exist. 

My current role model: Nicole Blonsky

She is the star of Hairspray, and I just love that fact that here is a larger girl who is dancing around as good, happy and healthy as the thin dancers. I love that film, it's so inspirational.

Do role models have to be "famous" people or people in the media?  I have plenty of real women in my life that I consider my role models. 

The only time I remember having a "role model" that was someone famous was Dorothy Hamill.... and that was because I liked her haircut, and had my hair cut that way when I was a tiny tot.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who got the wedge cut!  ;-)

Her and Sally Ride were my childhood heroes.  It does seem that we've taken a step back, but I think that it may be an illusion because of all the hype that media puts on celebrities trying to convince the public that they are something they're not.

How many girls today know about Wangari Muta Maathai or Shirin Ebadi?  They would have to have been lucky enough to see the 5 minute blurb at the end of the evening news about Nobel Prize Winners to even hear the names, right before seeing the latest edition of Access Hollywood or some other gossip show.

There are plenty of real female heroes out there if you look for them.  It's our job to educate young girls about them instead of letting them get all their info from People Magazine.

I think media coverage of strong women is important.  I too have role models in my own life, but lets face it, young people are into celebrities and atheletes.  I just feel right now there isnt a lot out there for young girls and thus I see all these preteens wearing tons of makup, stick thin, literally sexualized and i think its sad and scary.  There seems to be a mix up between beauty and sexy.  Women are all beautiful and we should be emphasizing the inner qualities rather then this superficial exterior.  Granted when i was young i was also concerned about looking good and fitting in, but i can tell you i would have never been exposing the types of stuff that these girls do nor would my mother let me.  Its not like im some old fashion kind of person, i just think something has been lost in this generation.  since the 60s women have been moving foreward and i feel like recently we have stumbled a little. I hold parents responsible for that stumble because they are the real instillers of values. 

I will probably have children of my own in the next 5 years or so and I can tell you right now it will be different.  There will be no cell phone for my kid when they are under ten.  When they do get one it will only call me or 911.  there will be weekend chores, and if they want to have xbox, unless its christmas they are going to have to start mowing lawns like my brother or babysitting like me.  I will also expect them to do some sport, I dont care if its ballet or hockey but they will be physically active.  There will be no makeup before 16 and I will have big discussions on self respect.  Most importantly I am going to do everything in my power to see they regain their childhood (i think much has been lost).  I want them to go to sleep away summer camp, i want them to have free time to play  in the yard.  I am not going to let them become overscheduled maniacs because it isnt fair.

jeez, sorry about the rant, i just get so upset about all this.

Healthyhtide: Your ideas of raising children sounds exactly like how I was raised...just thought that was funny lol. I will probably raise my kids the same too if I ever have them...I don't care if all their little friends have cell phones and ipods and video games...if they want one they will buy it themselves. Lol I'm reminding myself of the stereotypical old grandma right now: "When I was your age, we had to walk to school 10 miles, uphill both ways...." But as far as I'm concerned - If I survived without it, so can they. I only just got a cell phone for my first time a year ago lol...I guess that makes me "old fashioned" now these days haha...

If I ever have children, for safety reasons I will allow my child to have a mobile phone. But one thing any little girl of mine WILL NOT have is a bloody Bratz doll.

Seriously, why would you want your child to play with something called a "Brat" in the first place. Oh and lets remember they are dressed as total sluts, even the baby bratz.  I know people have issues with Barbie?s, but at least she was always fully dressed. I was looking at one of my nieces Bratz, and it was wearing a micromini skirt and see-through underwear, and my 8 year old niece thought this was fashion!?!?!?! I know people are probably thinking it's just a doll and I shouldn't take it so seriously, but if you can blame tv, and celebrities and video games, then toys should be involved too.

Deff. Toys are a leading cause of the "fashon" issues we have today.  I know that my kids (when it comes time for me to have my own) will at a very VERY early age know what is acceptable to wear and what is not.  I'm conservative but I'm not against wearing VS underwear, so long as what should be covered up is covered up.  I love some of Victoria Secrets clothing but I cannot stand when I see girls under about 14 in there underwear shopping, I mean seriously! Parents have next to no control over their children any more and it is driving me nuts! Kids need more of an understand of two things 1) not everyone needs to look like Paris Hilton.  She's NOT healthy and 2) Dressing like a slut isn't cool, its stupid, girls that dress like that are only looking for attention from the men..oh I'm sorry boys and the boys that will give them the attention are not the boys that they should WANT the attention from because all they're after is what's between their legs or under their clothes in general.

wierd i think your right those dolls do have impacts on kids.  I had barbies but they were not trashy looking.  In fact my favorite was worker barbie whose outfit went from business suit by day to evening gown by night.  if my kids get a mobile phone it will be the kind that can only call me and have gps tracking so i can say, i thought i told you to come home. 

I am not sure how many of you live in the us, but there is this commercial on ALL the time for this car.  These two kids are in it watching movies and the dad comes in and says hey i just built this great tree house and the kids are like does it have a dvd player and the dads say no and they say no thanks and close the door in his face.  I feel like this embodies kids today.  Here how i would treat that same situtation.  hey kids i just finished this tree house wanna see it.  they ask about dvd and speakers and i say. GET OUT OF THE CAR.  DID YOU PAY FOR THIS CAR? I OWN THIS CAR AND IF YOUR NOT CAREFULL I TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND HAVE THE DVD PLAYER REMOVED NOW GET UP IN THAT TREE HOUSE AND STAY UP THERE AND PLAY AND YOU BETTER LIKE IT AND DONT COME DOWN TILL I SAY SO.

LOL 

OMG, HealthyHtide, I am ROFL....

You stay up in that treehouse and like it!!  That is so me.