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snoggedAfter some lovely discussions about role models on ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lilbreck's LJ, I decided to go hunting the web for articles.
I found this and found it really interesting.
Soraya Roberts at AOL Cananda took a look at women in primetime drama that the general public has been quick to emulate as role models but at a second glance, are not what they are cracked up to be.
Here's a link to the article itself: http://entertainment.aol.ca/article/ent-worstfemalerolemodelsgall/119/
But I'd like to share the list with you all because I find it interesting
1. Carrie Bradshaw ("Sex and the City") - "She may know how to dress, but Carrie Bradshaw is sorely inexperienced at, well, everything else. While she constantly seeks support from her friends, she rarely provides them with any. Meanwhile, she claims to be a strong woman who commands her sex life, yet is forever at the beck and call of the whimsical Mr. Big."
Honestly, this is one of the reasons why I despise this show. I don't feel like it's empowering to women at all.
2. Angela Chase ("My So-Called Life") - "Oh, Angelika, how flawed you are. Everyone's favourite brooding teenager dropped her square best friend to hang out with a promiscuous drug addict and her gay best friend, because, like, she had to, or something. Then she dropped the druggie after she slept with Jordan Catalano, but, for some reason, she found it in her heart (pants?) to forgive the blue-eyed beauty."
This came out before I was at an age where I could appreciate it
3. Marissa Cooper ("The OC") - "The queen of Newport was super pretty and well-dressed but beyond that she was a big mess. Drink, drugs and ill-advised sex were her various uninventive ways of "acting out." Pouting around and blaming her mom and Ryan for her various problems, we couldn't help but be a little glad when she kicked the bucket."
How could anyone think of this person as a role model based on that description alone?
4. Meredith Grey ("Grey's Anatomy)- "We still can't believe an entire show revolves around the wisp that is Meredith. Supposedly smart and sassy, she is the least interesting of Seattle Grace's brood. Mer follows McDreamy around like a love-sick puppy and can't seem to forgive her own family members despite being highly flawed herself. It's too bad the hospital's powers of resuscitation are so good."
I think this is a little on the harsh end but I can't deny that there is truth to it. Not that Cristina or Izzie are really any better.
5. Patty Hewes ("Damages") - "Smart and ruthless are two characteristics that make up a good lawyer - but there is a limit. On 'Damages,' Hewes uses people like toilet paper with little care for the consequences. She may be rich and influential, but when she starts crying it's hard to care."
I'm not familiar with this show.
6. Jen Lindley ("Dawson's Creek") - "Ever since she walked out of that taxi in all her stunted glory, Jen's position as a strong woman was questionable. The girl who "moved way too fast" in New York suddenly became born-again straight edge and would not shut up about it. Then, about a year later, she just went back to her old ways. Then she died. Apparently, liars never prosper."
I never saw her as a role model.
7. Susan Mayer ("Desperate Housewives") - "Wisteria Lane's resident stick insect is the most difficult 'Housewife' to swallow. With her cutesy "what, me?" demeanour and her penchant for jealousy, she is the most deluded of the lot. Add that to the fact that her daughter is more mature than her and you really wish she'd move somewhere else."
Oh god. I couldn't agree more.
8. Ally McBeal - "Before Carrie Bradshaw, Ally McBeal was doing a pretty good job of pushing the woman's movement back a couple decades. The woman who regularly hallucinated and made a career out of plumping out her lips may have been a high-powered attorney, but we could never understand how the men around her were able to stand her histrionic personality."
Just plain yuck.
9. Felicity Porter ("Felicity") - "You really only have to mention that Felicity chose her university based on a guy who didn't know she existed to realise that she isn't the best role model. Not to mention that fact that she was forever trying to attain Ben's affections even while dating other guys. It's hard to believe such an emotional moron was valedictorian of her high school."
Agreed
10. Brenda Walsh ("Beverly Hills 90210) - "As the star of the first "real" teen drama on TV, Brenda Walsh was one of the first characters girls could model themselves after. Unfortunately, she was a complete jerk. She wasn't much of a substance abuser but she was a major people abuser, at one time alienating every member of the '90210' clan. When she left for Paris, we all breathed a sigh of relief."
My sisters watched this show. In turn, I had to watch it as a young girl. Talk about a bad role model.
Any more you think should be added to the list?
I'm thinking Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus is going to be one of them.
lilbreck's LJ, I decided to go hunting the web for articles. I found this and found it really interesting.
Soraya Roberts at AOL Cananda took a look at women in primetime drama that the general public has been quick to emulate as role models but at a second glance, are not what they are cracked up to be.
Here's a link to the article itself: http://entertainment.aol.ca/article/ent-worstfemalerolemodelsgall/119/
But I'd like to share the list with you all because I find it interesting
1. Carrie Bradshaw ("Sex and the City") - "She may know how to dress, but Carrie Bradshaw is sorely inexperienced at, well, everything else. While she constantly seeks support from her friends, she rarely provides them with any. Meanwhile, she claims to be a strong woman who commands her sex life, yet is forever at the beck and call of the whimsical Mr. Big."
Honestly, this is one of the reasons why I despise this show. I don't feel like it's empowering to women at all.
2. Angela Chase ("My So-Called Life") - "Oh, Angelika, how flawed you are. Everyone's favourite brooding teenager dropped her square best friend to hang out with a promiscuous drug addict and her gay best friend, because, like, she had to, or something. Then she dropped the druggie after she slept with Jordan Catalano, but, for some reason, she found it in her heart (pants?) to forgive the blue-eyed beauty."
This came out before I was at an age where I could appreciate it
3. Marissa Cooper ("The OC") - "The queen of Newport was super pretty and well-dressed but beyond that she was a big mess. Drink, drugs and ill-advised sex were her various uninventive ways of "acting out." Pouting around and blaming her mom and Ryan for her various problems, we couldn't help but be a little glad when she kicked the bucket."
How could anyone think of this person as a role model based on that description alone?
4. Meredith Grey ("Grey's Anatomy)- "We still can't believe an entire show revolves around the wisp that is Meredith. Supposedly smart and sassy, she is the least interesting of Seattle Grace's brood. Mer follows McDreamy around like a love-sick puppy and can't seem to forgive her own family members despite being highly flawed herself. It's too bad the hospital's powers of resuscitation are so good."
I think this is a little on the harsh end but I can't deny that there is truth to it. Not that Cristina or Izzie are really any better.
5. Patty Hewes ("Damages") - "Smart and ruthless are two characteristics that make up a good lawyer - but there is a limit. On 'Damages,' Hewes uses people like toilet paper with little care for the consequences. She may be rich and influential, but when she starts crying it's hard to care."
I'm not familiar with this show.
6. Jen Lindley ("Dawson's Creek") - "Ever since she walked out of that taxi in all her stunted glory, Jen's position as a strong woman was questionable. The girl who "moved way too fast" in New York suddenly became born-again straight edge and would not shut up about it. Then, about a year later, she just went back to her old ways. Then she died. Apparently, liars never prosper."
I never saw her as a role model.
7. Susan Mayer ("Desperate Housewives") - "Wisteria Lane's resident stick insect is the most difficult 'Housewife' to swallow. With her cutesy "what, me?" demeanour and her penchant for jealousy, she is the most deluded of the lot. Add that to the fact that her daughter is more mature than her and you really wish she'd move somewhere else."
Oh god. I couldn't agree more.
8. Ally McBeal - "Before Carrie Bradshaw, Ally McBeal was doing a pretty good job of pushing the woman's movement back a couple decades. The woman who regularly hallucinated and made a career out of plumping out her lips may have been a high-powered attorney, but we could never understand how the men around her were able to stand her histrionic personality."
Just plain yuck.
9. Felicity Porter ("Felicity") - "You really only have to mention that Felicity chose her university based on a guy who didn't know she existed to realise that she isn't the best role model. Not to mention that fact that she was forever trying to attain Ben's affections even while dating other guys. It's hard to believe such an emotional moron was valedictorian of her high school."
Agreed
10. Brenda Walsh ("Beverly Hills 90210) - "As the star of the first "real" teen drama on TV, Brenda Walsh was one of the first characters girls could model themselves after. Unfortunately, she was a complete jerk. She wasn't much of a substance abuser but she was a major people abuser, at one time alienating every member of the '90210' clan. When she left for Paris, we all breathed a sigh of relief."
My sisters watched this show. In turn, I had to watch it as a young girl. Talk about a bad role model.
Any more you think should be added to the list?
I'm thinking Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus is going to be one of them.