Sun, Nov 22 2009
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Girls often live what they learn In today’s society, many girls need positive role models. By TRAVINA COLEMANPress Staff Writer “They see these models and young girls growing up way too fast,” she said. “Instead they need to realize it’s their mothers, sisters, grandmothers, and even community people who are the ones they need to be paying attention, too.”
Rose admits when she was young she had to learn the same way others do. “Young ladies take a little more time to realize these people are actually a lot smarter than they thought they were,” she said. “It’s harder for young ladies these days than it was for me. They are constantly accosted with images from all different sources than just TV. They have the Internet and cell phones and it just goes on and on.” Rose said that no matter what kind of influence popular culture has on these children, she believes if you show you truly care about them, they will listen. “I have been working with teens for a long time,” she said. “They realize you are not judging them, instead you are helping them, and they do listen.” Other studies issued by organizations such as the National Eating disorders Association, Temple University and the Girl Scout Research Institute show that girls are consistently faced with negative messages in pop culture. Whether it’s the unattainable body image or teaching them to be submissive, it affects the ability for young women to feel strong enough to do things on their own, or be OK with who and what they are. This is in stark contrast to real-life positive role models like Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Meg Whitman (the candidate for governor of California in 2010), and, of course, Oprah Winfrey. “Parents and teachers need to provide adolescent girls with reading material that will empower and excite them, by showcasing female characters to whom they can relate,” Hoffman said. “Unfortunately, there aren’t enough books like this.” Hoffman, who is the author of “Curse of the Shamra,” incorporated a strong female character who takes control of her own life rather than being defined by her make or other hierarchical or social relationships. 
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