Middleagedmum.com: Where are the role models?

 
A whole day on the sofa with teen daughter (she's sick too) and virtually no energy to argue about viewing choices, means I have spent a day in the world of the 21st century teenager. Well, a day in the world of the MTV teenager that is! And what a frightening place it is too.

We start watching Keeping up with the Kardashians, a name I am familiar with, as I do from time to time peruse the odd gossip magazine (purely in the interests of research, obviously!). I have often wondered who these raven haired harridans are, and it seems they are a cross between the Hilton's (that's Paris and Nicky) and our very own Katie Price. 

Kris the matriarch 'momager' is the driving force behind this Hollywood dynasty and manages the girls 'careers'. What they actually do apart from attend parties and go shopping is questionable, but it seems Kim starred in a few B movies and an episode of CSI, and Dad Bruce is the face of the Wheaties box (it doesn't get much bigger than that people!). Along with their hordes of other sisters (it's difficult to tell which is which) they share their lives and dramas with us, minute by dull minute, day by depressingly shallow day. 

OMG I am loosing the will to live!!!

We move onto Teen Mom, which documents the ongoing stories of teen pregnancies and the inevitable stresses this puts on the girls, their families and their relationships. I feel hopeful that this may provide some kind of encouragement to viewers to avoid pregnancy and do something with their lives. But despite the often depressing stories, I fear the girls featured, see themselves as reality stars, rather than tragic and old before their time!

We flick channels and catch 10 minutes of Kendra, featuring one Hugh Hefner's ex Playboy bunnies. She previously starred in The Girls of the Playboy Mansion, which has to be seen to be believed. Kendra is now about to marry American football star, Hank Basket (made up name, if ever I heard one) and we are allowed a fascinating (excuse me while I throw up) insight into their world.

I finally can take no more and demand to watch something, 'that doesn't involve girls who are famous for shopping, sleeping with old men, being plastic or stupid.' Of course, teen rolls her eyes and thinks I'm on another of my 'feminist rants'! Which of course I am, but where are the positive role models for our teenage daughters? Where are the feisty characters with passion and determination that my teenage son watches on MTV. Life of Ryan, Rob and Big, Pimp my Ride, Orange County Choppers, may not be the most high brow TV, but at least the lead characters have some passion and meaning in their lives and actually do something. 

I feel sorry for young girls who see the perfect body and porn star looks as the passport to marrying a rich man, and ultimately an easy life. Reality TV is creating a generation of wannabes, who aspire to nothing more than money and fame, without any of the hard work and passion needed for success. Who are these people making these programmes and why do they think it's ok to feed fertile young minds with such inane rubbish?

What they need is a day on the sofa with a ranting feminist middleagedmum. I could easily ensure they never want to have sex or go shopping ever again!!

Comments

[Fashionistable]

Very strong post and I totally agree with you. I find it very worring that a whole greneration of girls/young women are being pumped with this crap.

[Isabelle]

I have to confess I have a soft spot for Kendra, she is not from this planet.

But yes, I'm trying to think who I hold up as a feminist icon, and I cna't think of anyone except for my close friends.

Should have taken her to this when it was on:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23791576-get-naked-on-stage-its-feminism.do

It was a hoot, and standing naked next to Lynn Barber singing Jerusalem was one of the best things I ever did!

[msmarmitelover]

I do agree...the pornification of young women, the way it's become so general is very worrying.
We are basically back to objectifying women again.

[Osnat]

Reality TV is the cheapest form of entertainment and I somehow think that our kids are smarter than that and know that this land populated by fake plastic brainless young women or men for that matter is just what it is....cheap entertainment. I hope they do anyhow, my kids do not watch TV hardly at all, they prefer their computer or video games or a DVD. I think the nature of broadcasting is changing and those are just the last few desperate attempts to capitalize on something that soon will not exist. When you can download almost anything you want for free these days why bother with crap TV.

[Melissa]

Thank you for addressing this. I wonder about some strange media plan to push women backwards, and to keep young women manipulable (sp?). No, I'm not usually paranoid, but this horrible agenda seems so consistent and invasive.