On August 10, 2009, many people tuned in to watch the Teen Choice Awards that aired on FOX. Lots of famous entertainers were slated to perform, but there was one particular tween sensation that stood out from the rest. Performing her song "Party in the USA", Miley Cyrus emerged from a trailer in short shorts and leather boots. With her Beyonce-like butt bounce and Britney Spears look, Miley put the icing on the cake when she got on top of an ice cream cart complete with a pole.One might think that the pole was just to help her move around the stage, but that wasn't all. Miley then proceeded to "drop it like its hot" on the pole and thrust her hips like Michael Jackson. After the performance was over she recieved a standing ovation from her father. Does anyone find aything wrong with that? One lady watching the show with her 12 year old daughter responded "we saw her come out of the trialer and were completely shocked".
It is this type of performace that makes me wonder why people think that it is okay for children to look up to girls who dress and act inappropriately for their age.
After her performance, Miley presented Bitney Spears with the Ultimate Choice award and called Spears her own "personal hero". First of all, the fact that Britney Spears is a person Miley Cyrus looks up to is very alarming. Mentally, the once before Mickey Mouse Musketeer has been off her game, though she claims to be doing better.
Apart from her risque performance on the Teen Choice awards and eyebrow-raising MySpace pictures, Cyrus also shows that it is okay to make fun of her peers. In a video on youtube Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez, who are probably the most suitable role models out of Disney right now, made a video talking to fans.Miley and her friend Mandy decided to mock fellow Disney castmates in a video of their own. (I would have inserted the video but had trouble doing so).
Is that the kind of person we want to look up to? What kind of examples is she setting for younger kids watching her? She is letting them know that what she is doing and how she is dressing is okay, but it is not. Miley is sixteen and should act like the young lady she could be.
But Miley Cyrus is not the only Disney star to grow up too fast. Famous names such as Lindsay Lohan, Vanessa Hudgens, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera are among the female "role models" that have displayed inappropriate behavior and were at one point being closely watched by young girls who wanted to be just like them.
Whatever happened to looking up to Disney princesses? Lots of them were portrayed as strong leaders who didn't always need a guy to come to their rescue. Raven Symone and Hilary Duff are even suitable enough role models from the Disney channel. But no one likes a "good girl".
A role model is a positive influence on one's peers and is someone for somebody to look up to and aspire to be. I don't think we want Miley Cyrus or Linday Lohan clones running around. Young children need to have positive influences to watch and behave like. If they have to look up to someone in the media, let it be Natalie Portman or Alicia Keyes. Emma Watson from the Harry Potter series is even acceptable. Those girls are educated or either educated bound. They have goals and other aspirations. What is Miley Cyrus' aspiration? To be a nutter like Britney Spears.
If you can, try to be a leader for your children, nieces, cousins, neighbors and small friends. Give them a real, positive person to look up to instead of a "just out of puberty" teen on t.v.
-Kiersten Williams
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