I was surfing through the Compuserve Forums today and stumbled upon a gem of a debate. I learned the following while reading the concerns of many indignant mothers:
The official Church of England magazine, Celebrate, has claimed that Britney Spears is “a great ambassador for virginity.”
The article, complete with the usual provocative photos of Spears in spandex, etc., says: “Britney is very sexy, but she has strong principles and religious views. We are trying to show readers that there are famous people who have religious beliefs.”
That’s not even the beginning of it.
In Ireland, there’s an official government propaganda campaign urging girls to “Do a Britney.” (i.e. remaining a virgin until at least 18.) Britney is dating Justin Timberlake from NSync…and guess who just turned 19?
If you’d had the misfortune of turning on MTV lately, you might have been witness to the “Don’t Let Me Be The Last To Know” video Britney just released as well…it’s like a 13-year-old’s wet dream featuring Britney, half-naked, rolling in sand, surf, and hanging out of tree.
So my question is this: Do you think that Britney is an appropriate role model for girls 9-16?
Hmmm, good question.
I just read Vulgarians at the Gates by STeve Allen, in which he mentions Madonna as being a lousy role model; publicity whore, etc.
Nothing wrong with remaining a virgin a long time, however, is something wrong with dressing slutty?
I know she’s doing it for the media coverage, but can’t women dress the way they want without having everyone assume because they dress that way, they ARE that way?
She might be a “role model” if she were out doing something GOOD, like working for cleaner air standards, etc.
Britney can dress how ever she wants, though I think it’s readily apparent that she exploits her sexuality to make money. Is that wrong? Eh. Probably not. Is that a standard we as a society want to hold up as an ideal for women or men? I personally don’t think so, as I don’t think it further advances us. Seems to me we should promote people who develop their talents rather than those who let their talents develop them.
wonders if the thread will be pushed to IMHO any time soon
If I was a boy, I’d sure as hell want to “do a Britney” (does that not have the same connotations in the UK?). I’m more lukewarm on the message to girls. On the one hand, the classic image of a virgin is someone pure as the driven snow, who is prim & proper at all times and also completely uncomfortable with sexuality in general, and her own in particular. So I think the positive aspect of Britney as a role model is that she is (or claims to be) a virgin, and yet she’s not an uptight prude. Message: you can be sexy without having sex, which to older girls must sound like a good thing.
On the other hand, Britney Spears ain’t much of a role model for any other aspect of life. She has zero talent (imho, of course), no outstanding intellectual or humanitarian skills, no real reason for being in the spotlight other than having a passable voice, great boobs, and a strong stage presence. So even though it’s unavoidable at this point, it’s sad that girls would want to be like Britney: a flash in the pan.
Oh, cripes. I scrolled up real quick to check, and I guess my eye caught the “England” in “Church of England”. I was in such a hurry to put in my sage and scathing remarks that I didn’t double-check. I rock!
I practically cringe everytime I hear a Britney song in a commercial for kids music, especially the one for Radio Disney. Seems to me that Disney would not want to be associated with Britney.
On a Compuserve forum, by some random woman. shrug Have no idea if actually true! Let me know if you hear it is, ok? That is something that should be brought to the attention of SOMEONE about how wrong it is…
As an old fashioned geezer I can’t bear this myself, however, in modern ‘Mockney’ (sic) rhyming slang a ‘Britney’ is a beer i.e. “Who’s getting the Britney’s in ?”
Mmm…At one time, critics and the public thought that Madonna was going to be a flash in the pan. She was actually regarded as a lightweight among female singers, while most people had their money on Cyndi Lauper! And now look. Not saying that Britney has or will achieve the ability to reinvent herself as Ms. M has, but it’s always possible.
You know, I admire the persistance with which Madonna holds on the pop culture…but I do not, however enjoy it. I only hope that Britney doesn’t try to act 16 when she hits 40. I’m sorry, but if I were Madonna’s kids, I’d be sick every time I saw her. “Look, my mommy dresses like a child prostitute…”
Apologies to any Madonna fans…but geez…Britney at least started out sweet and almost innocent
