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News: Kids don't look up to Miley Cyrus
Member Since: 5/18/2012
Posts: 20,576
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Kids don't look up to Miley Cyrus
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"Who's your celebrity role model these days?" I asked my 11-year-old daughter, Alice, the other night. She thought for a moment.
"Um – Taylor Swift?" she answered unenthusiastically.
"Oh, really? Why's that?" I asked.
"Because she's not crazy."
So there you have it, fellow parents. The bar for tween role models these days sits at "not crazy". Could it be any lower?
But prepare to be impressed. If you think Hollywood is ruthless when it comes to jettisoning celebrities, today's girls (and probably boys as well) are even quicker to show no mercy. In addition to Alice, I have a 16-year-old, Molly. And in conversations with both of them over the past few days, I realized that showbiz is not where they go for examples on how to live their lives.
Miley Cyrus, who both my daughters watched for what felt like decades of their youth, and whose autograph they were once lucky enough to score, is now finished. It's not that girls disapprove of her, it's just that they're unimpressed. They're over it. Yes, Molly and I had the twerking conversation last month. But in a typical summer, we've also had conversations about Cory Monteith's death and Amanda Bynes' mental breakdown. Kids see these tragic events at one remove – as if happening to the characters the actors play rather than real people.
Alice came home the other day with the news that Zac Efron was now in rehab "for alcohol abuse" (it was actual drugs). Obviously, this is not the headline you want to be discussing with your child. But Alice and her posse had already moved on. No time for the bad boy. They'd already jettisoned Amanda Seyfried too. Why?
"She's a mean person," came the 6th grade verdict. "She has a curse word tattooed on herself."
Katy Perry is still all right because she "seems to be a good person" (ie she came across well in her recent documentary). She got much sympathy from the kids when she cried at being left by Russell Brand. But feeling sorry for someone is not the same as admiring her. How deep is their love for her? Put it this way, the Katy Perry Halloween costume is being easily outsold this year by the Whoopee Cushion.
Lady Gaga is way too out there for them, even though she went to school at The Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City, where we live. They like her music, but her clothes are just too weird. Never underestimate the conventionality of an adolescent peer group.
The older teens are keen to see Demi Lovato re-invent herself this season on Glee. They liked her in Camp Rock and think Glee needs a shot in the arm anyway. Yes, she's been to rehab, but hasn't everyone on TV?
The characters of Girls are of no interest to the teens. They don't watch the show and barely know who Lena Dunham is. On the other hand, they love Kristen Wiig, Amy Poehler and Melissa McCarthy. They watch New Girl rapturously. But they know the difference between actresses who make them laugh and characters they want to emulate. You can see the difference in their response to the show, Dance Moms.
Both my girls LOVE the kids from Dance Moms. (Although, "NOT the moms," Alice was keen to point out.)
Alice spent the summer watching every show she could about children dancing professionally or competitively. She loved their passion and dedication. She felt for them when they failed and cheered when they won.
For three months she practiced twirling on the beach and in the garden. This November she's finally plucked up the courage to try out for the middle school musical, which is a big deal for a shy girl. This development made me remember last year, when Olympic champion Gabby Douglas was all the rage, and Alice did nonstop cartwheels and handstands everywhere she could. That's are the kind of role model you want for your girls.
Earlier this year, Molly was given Lean In to read as part of a sociology program. It seems to have made no impression at all.
"Could Sheryl Sandberg be a role model?" I asked Molly this morning.
"Who's she?" said Molly. Ouch.
It takes a lot to impress a 16-year-old, but a good teacher can. Molly has teachers who are constant role models. She emulates their work habits, their thoughtful ways of evaluating a situation and (hopefully, one day) their reluctance to judge.
Which brings us to the Most Important Role Model of All question…
"What about me? Aren't I your role model?" I asked both girls.
The identical, immediate eye-roll that greeted the question was highly familiar.
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This is true, when I was their age, I wasn't looking up to celebs. And they were far worse then, than now. Hopefully, this stops those crazy housewives from attacking everyone.
Source
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 9,153
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The first paragraph is so sad but true 
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Member Since: 8/11/2012
Posts: 7,715
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Who cares.
Artist grow, so do the fans.
If kids look up to artist as opposed to their parents then we have a bigger issue here.
/closethread
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Member Since: 5/18/2012
Posts: 20,576
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Quote:
Originally posted by AuraOfPinkslam
Who cares.
Artist grow, so do the fans.
If kids look up to artist as opposed to their parents then we have a bigger issue here.
/closethread
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Umm, did you read the article? Its saying teens don't actually look up to celebs as much as we think they do. It seems that they look to close people for inspiration.
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Member Since: 11/17/2011
Posts: 528
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Well, if your kids need to see the need to look up to celebrities as role model, moral standard and inspiration... then I guess parents shouldn't really blame the kids nor the celebrity but perhaps themselves.
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Member Since: 8/6/2012
Posts: 20,242
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Quote:
Originally posted by ****TheMorning
Well, if your kids need to see the need to look up to celebrities as role model, moral standard and inspiration... then I guess parents shouldn't really blame the kids nor the celebrity but perhaps themselves.
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This.
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Member Since: 8/31/2013
Posts: 13,040
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Well they're wrong for not doing so. 
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Member Since: 11/23/2011
Posts: 46,048
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Miley doesn't offer any reason for kids to look up to her so kids should definitely pay no attention to her and her recent crass behavior.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 16,407
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It's not Miley's job to be a role model anyways .
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Member Since: 10/17/2009
Posts: 5,464
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Nor should they. Miley is the worst role model possible.
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 16,461
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Member Since: 1/1/2013
Posts: 17,232
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wait so kids need an entertainer who isn't crazy to be entertained?
such a shame society raise them this way
kids should love whoever they want, not because they are or act crazy or not
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Member Since: 8/31/2013
Posts: 13,040
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Quote:
Originally posted by HausOfCarlos
wait so kids need an entertainer who isn't crazy to be entertained?
such a shame society raise them this way
kids should love whoever they want, not because they are or act crazy or not
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Yassss sis, preach it!
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 21,846
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Who wrote this? Looks like they just drew their own conclusions on the entire child population based on the opinion of their two daughters 
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Member Since: 10/2/2009
Posts: 18,322
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Quote:
Originally posted by ****TheMorning
Well, if your kids need to see the need to look up to celebrities as role model, moral standard and inspiration... then I guess parents shouldn't really blame the kids nor the celebrity but perhaps themselves.
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What kindda flawless drag doee
And not the kid being Molly 
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 12/7/2011
Posts: 27,655
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Quote:
Originally posted by ****TheMorning
Well, if your kids need to see the need to look up to celebrities as role model, moral standard and inspiration... then I guess parents shouldn't really blame the kids nor the celebrity but perhaps themselves.
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Member Since: 8/6/2012
Posts: 20,242
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Quote:
Originally posted by Samuel
Who wrote this? Looks like they just drew their own conclusions on the entire child population based on the opinion of their two daughters |
There's this too. This article isn't doing any favors in trying to prove that kids don't look up to celebs.
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Member Since: 12/17/2010
Posts: 5,517
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"Lady Gaga is way too out there for them, even though she went to school at The Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City, where we live. They like her music, but her clothes are just too weird. Never underestimate the conventionality of an adolescent peer group."
Teaching kids to judge other's clothing at a young age. I see.
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Member Since: 6/2/2011
Posts: 28,055
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None care what this mom and her average, unimportant daughters think. Artists are free to do whatever the **** they want and nobody should have to tailor themselves to be a good role model to kids.
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Member Since: 8/1/2012
Posts: 25,037
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Miley is getting her coins and that's all that matters
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