What is a Role Model?

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A ‘role model’ can mean something different for everyone.  I’d say a general definition is someone who people look up to, who serves as an example and, sometimes, who people want to imitate.

Is this the same for the women celebrities of our world?  Would we say we look up to Miley Cyrus, Rihanna and Lady Gaga?  Do we want to imitate them? 

Celebrities don’t sign up to be role models.  It’s not part of their remit.  Yet for some reason, they are, and there are a lot of people who expect them to be.

Though at the moment, people aren’t looking up to these women for their singing voices and their music.  They are looking up to them because of their image.  And some girls even want to imitate this image.  Right down to Miley Cyrus and her twerking, and Rihanna and her crotch-grabbing.  Not to mention how very few clothes they seem to wear in their music videos…

But hold on a minute.  These women are all young, beautiful and independent.  They’re allowed to enjoy life and they can make their own decisions.  A role model has never been part of their job description.  So they can easily justify their actions by saying that they are simply living their life.  Just like they can easily justify their lack of clothes by saying that they are expressing their sexuality.

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This is all fine and well, because it doesn’t really affect me.  Along with many other women, I’m at an age where I know my own mind.  Everyone is individual and has their own outlook on life.  But there are many young girls out there who are still growing and learning. 

To put it bluntly, if I had a young daughter who I saw ‘twerking’, I’d do my best to make sure she never did it again.  But that’s the problem isn’t it?  How do you stop your young child from watching videos of these celebrities, who ultimately, they greatly admire?

So is it not, on some level, a responsibility of the celebrity to monitor their behaviour in some way, for the sake of their younger admirers?

I don’t know.  I think it is unfair to expect a young woman who wants to pursue a career in entertainment to be a perfect performer and to also be a perfect role model for young girls.  Yes, some of their actions I disagree with; however, I believe it is ultimately up to the parents to ensure they are teaching their children the right lessons in life, the lessons they believe in.

We can look up to these women for their determination, hard work and independence.  But their image and sexuality?  I don’t think so.  There is so much more to women than just sexuality.  And hopefully, we can all continue growing to see how many ways we can show our beauty and strength, no matter what age we are.

Do you think female celebrities are good role models for young girls?



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