Ashley Viera/Contributing Writer
Feminism and women’s rights are trending topics that seem to be prevalent nowadays.
This brings up the issue of women in the media or spotlight today and just how well of an example female celebrities in particular are setting for young teenage girls.
As an older teenager who is a soon to be 20-year-old, I know just how important it can be to have strong female role models in the media as well as the immense impact they make on a young girl’s life.
[pullquote]We are sending a message to young teenage girls, saying that “twerking” and dating countless men to no avail is acceptable.[/pullquote]
Lately, it seems as if the amount of young female role models is nearly nonexistent with only a few truly commendable celebs in the forefront.
With young female stars such as Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift, there is not much mentoring going on but the exact opposite, I would suggest.
We are sending a message to young teenage girls, saying that “twerking” and dating countless men to no avail is acceptable as long as you have the money and glammed, madeup face to do so.
To bluntly put it, this is a confusing and outright bad example to be endorsing to young girls.
Some stars, however, have outspokenly made a positive impact, one of the relatively younger ones being Demi Lovato.
Demi Lovato has made an astounding as well as surprising impact on young girls with her past history with bullying and eating disorders. The 21-year-old has become very vocal about her challenges in coping with these issues and how she has been able to overcome them.
She has been very open about her struggles and she has encouraged others just like her to speak up and get help for their issues.
As a brief background, it all reached a terrible turning point for Lovato when she violently struck and hit one of the crew members while on tour with the Jonas Brothers. At the advisement of close friends and family, Lovato decided to seek help in a rehab facility in which she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Lovato has undoubtedly and impressively turned her life around since then with much success, including releasing two albums as well as starring in X-Factor and now Glee.
Since her recovery, Lovato has done numerous interviews speaking about her experience with childhood bullying and eating disorders, advising those currently dealing with them to tell someone and seek help as soon as possible.
Due to her positive mental health message, Lovato won the Mental Health Award in the 2013 National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on May 7 in Washington, D.C.
There needs to be more inspiring and gutsy role models just like her out there for young, maturing women to aspire to and learn from.
opinion@fiusm.com
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