Everyone seems to talk about the negative on the media- women who are bad influences to other women and young girls. What about the women that are positive influences? Where are the women that young girls should look up to? 19-year-old Taylor Swift has been recently filling the media with her sweet, darling innocence. She just won four County Music Awards, including Entertainer of the Year. At the American Music Awards on Sunday, Taylor won a total of five awards, including Artist of the Year. She’s an admirable young woman who writes her own music and is an inspiration to so many young girls.

I’m sure anyone that watches any bit of television is familiar with what happened at the MTV Music Awards in September. After winning Best Female Video, Taylor is interrupted on stage by the infamous Kanye West during her speech. He blatantly states that “Beyonce had the best video of the year.” This incident drew so much media attention and resulted in spoofs on almost every late night talk show.

Taylor reacted professionally and very maturely after Kanye’s rude interruption. Two weeks ago she hosted and starred as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. She made a joke of the VMA incident in her “Monologue Song La La La) singing, “you might be expecting me to say/ something bad about Kanye/ but there’s nothing more to say/ everything’s ok/ I’ve got security lining the stage.”

Taylor swift exudes sexiness in a professional way that doesn’t involve being half-naked. Her lyrics are targeted to a teenage audience, therefore she’s not singing about topics that are well beyond her age as some other young female artists are. She’s a great influence to young girls and there’s no telling if she will keep her sweetheart image or suddenly transform as so many other artists have done. Her songs are sweet, but how long can one continue to sing about being “Fifteen”, and “I Heart Question Marks”?  

The interview with Diane Sawyer was Rihanna’s first public discussion of the incident. I remember hearing about this in February. Rihanna (20) and Chris Brown (19) were portrayed as a young and famous idealistic couple. When the press released the police report along with the photo of the aftermath…

… myself, as well as so many others, were in total shock. Rihanna told Diane that a verbal argument began in the car after viewing a text message on Chris’s phone from a former girlfriend. She claims Chris denied any association with the ex, although she was staring at the proof. After Rihanna’s refusal to back down from the situation, Chris got violent. Her head was slammed against the window. He reportedly punched her, bit her, and placed her in a headlock, which made it difficult for her to breath. Rihanna attempted to call the police, but Chris threw her phone out the window. The couple happened to be in a residential area, and Rihanna’s screams were heard by a neighbor, who then called the authorities. What’s even more shocking than this is that only three weeks after his arrest, Rihanna actually went back to Chris.

This is where it get’s interesting. Once it was reported that Rihanna and Chris were back together, Rihanna was receiving messages from fans confessing their own domestic violence situations. In my opinion, Rihanna only left Chris because she was in the media spotlight. What would it have done to her career if she had stayed with an abuser? What kind of messages would that be sending to young girls and adult women?- That the abuse is okay? That all can be forgiven?

Sadly, I think that if Rihanna wasn’t a huge superstar, she WOULD have gone back and stayed. If it wasn’t for the media breathing down her back and criticizing her judgment she, just as so many other non-famous women, would have found herself stuck in this abusive relationship. In this case, she’s lucky to have the corporate media influence, because it possibly saved her from more abuse.

You can view the full 20/20 interview on www.youtube.com. It is broken into parts, but it’s all there.  

As a mother, I do strive to be one of these “SuperMoms”, but how realistic is it? I’ll admit, I sometimes put my daughter on the school bus while I’m still in my pajamas. My house is not as organized as I feel it could be. And I have no time whatsoever to go to the gym. Where are these moms on television commercials? Is it because we secretly want to see this object of “perfection” to make us think that it is possible to be like “her”?

I really get a kick out of the Bounty commercials. I remember seeing one where the mother is actually having a water fight with her child in the kitchen using the sprayer to the sink! She’s laughing have a grand old time, because those Bounty paper towels will fix anything. And then there’s those commercials where the mother has just cleaned her house and it’s sparkling- in come the kids tracking mud on those newly cleaned floors. She doesn’t yell, nor does she even frown. She puts on the perfect SuperMom smile and cleans it right up!  I can’t even tell what my reaction would be, but it’s far from a smile. Does that make me awful?- No.. it makes me normal.

While browsing through photos of so-called SuperMoms, I actually came across a SuperMom action figure! Yes, for $14.95, you can have your very own!

 http://www.happyworker.com/supermom/makingof

Well, although these commercials annoy me and make me chuckle at the same time, they still give me someone to admire. As much as I want to be that perfect SuperMom, my car will always be messy and I’ll always be a few minutes late for my daughters dance class, and that is perfectly okay with me.

 This is where I would insert and intro music. As the show goes into its ninth season, things will be a little different without Paula Abdul sitting at the judge’s table. However, I think we’re all in for a treat to have the very funny and original personality of Ellen Degeneres taking her place.

It came as quite a shock when I heard the news of Ellen becoming the fourth judge. Being that American Idol is a singing competition, my first thoughts were- Ellen has no experience whatsoever in the music industry. What can she possibly bring to these aspiring contestants? But in all actuality, aside from the auditions, the “judges” don’t technically judge the contestants. They basically give their opinions of the performance and then America decides. I think having Ellen Degeneres as a judge was an excellent decision. She’s your average fan, who will give a whole-hearted opinion on the performances.  Plus, it doesn’t hurt that she is hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2tqMCEHeWc

Ellen began doing stand up comedy in the 1980′s, and she was named Showtime’s Funniest Person in America in 1982. In, 1994, she starred in the sitcom, Ellen. In the third season, Ellen declared her homosexuality on the show to her therapist, played by Oprah Winfrey. Following the reveal, Ellen, had a decrease in ratings and the show was cancelled after its fourth season. Despite the controversy of Ellen’s public announcement regarding her sexuality, her career did not falter. She has since hosted two Emmy Awards ceremonies, as well as the 79th Academy Awards. She was the voice of Dory, in the very popular, Finding Nemo (2003). Ellen launched her daytime talk show, The Ellen Degeneres Show, in 2003, which is now in its seventh season, and has won an astonishing 29 daytime Emmy Awards.

Now adding another accomplishment to her career, she will be the fourth judge of American Idol. I can’t wait to see what kind of enthusiasm she brings to the show. Will we get to see her dance? And what kind of relationship is she going to have with the oh so lovable Simon Cowell? I suppose we’ll find out in January!

Sources

“Ellen Degeneres.” People 25 Oct. 2009  <http://www.people.com/people/ellen_degeneres/biography/0,,20011878_20,00.html>

 The Ellen Degeneres Show. 23 Oct. 2009. WAD Productions. 25 Oct. 2009 http://ellen.warnerbros.com

I’m sure everyone remembers Who’s the Boss?

Who’s the Boss aired from 1984-1992. Angela Bower was the wealthy and very successful business woman who was also a divorced single mother. She was the owner of her own advertising agency in Manhattan. She hired a male housekeeper, Tony Micelli, to care for her home and son while she continued to build her company.

Now, lets move into the 21st century. In 2005, Showtime aired a show called Weeds.

This picture says a lot about the main character, Nancy Botwin. Nancy is a widowed mother of two sons. After the death of her husband she runs into some financial trouble and begins selling marijuana in her wealthy quiet suburban neighborhood. Throughout the seasons Nancy Botwin has exposed her children to her illegal business, including all of the violence that comes along with it.

Angela Bower and Nancy Botwin are both career driven women who find great success within their businesses. But, can you even imagine Angela Bower growing marijuana plants in her bathtub?

I myself have been sucked into the wonderful world of Weeds. Just as most hit shows today, it is full of drama, violence, sex, drugs- all things that should not be inspirational in any way shape or form. However, Nancy Botwin has this persona about her. She’s strong, and stubborn, and a definite bad ass. She builds this business for herself, which is primarily male dominated, and makes it look almost simple, as if any woman could do it. Is it that we think we can be pot dealers or just that we can do anything we put our minds to?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhVE-lhJk-g

Your parenting style may suck Nancy Botwin, but you’re fun to watch and somewhat of an inspiration, despite the drug dealing, guns, and gangs.

Over the weekend, I was watching one of my favorite channels, The Food Network. I can watch different cooking shows over and over absorbing ideas, watching some remarkable women, as well as men, make these amazing creations. While watching, it really got me thinking…

Fifty so years ago and prior, women were expected to be in the kitchen. It was considered their job. More women stayed home to cook and clean, doing all of the “normal” woman jobs. Feminist groups fought to get women out of the kitchen and into the working world- to be career oriented and independent.  To break that stereotype of domestication. Ironically, we now have these incredibly successful women such as Rachel Ray, Paula Dean, and Giada de Laurentiis making millions of dollars doing exactly what these groups didn’t want.

Some may get angry when I say this but, I honestly believe that women should know how to cook. Whether you’re single, married, or have children. Shouldn’t it be in our genes? Believe me, I think that men should also know how to cook, the basics at the very least, but as women, we are naturally warm and nurturing, just like food!

I found this article while browsing online:

 http://www.alternet.org/reproductivejustice/77084/

I actually laughed out loud, with the mention of Carrie, from Sex and the City, using her oven as a shoe cupboard- and that CitiCard commercial?! I tried to find the video but I was unsuccessful. Are women actually doing this? The article mentions that there’s something sexy about a man spicing something up in the kitchen, “but women seem stuck in Leave-it-to-Beaver-land when they step in front of the stove “. From my personal experience, any man who I know will tell you that there is only one thing sexier than a woman who cooks, and that’s the dessert.

 Juno, released in 2007, stars Ellen Page,  a 16-year-old, who has unprotected sex with her fellow outsider friend, Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera), and ends up pregnant. Juno’s character is independently self minded and full of wit and sarcasm. Her amusing humor seems to take the seriousness out of the matter. Juno considers abortion but decides on adoption. This movie, although absolutely hysterical, given the subject matter, is rated PG-13. It’s basically saying it’s okay to have unprotected teenage sex. The movie not only portrays pregnancy as easy but also makes light of the adoption process.

Secret Life of the American Teenager,is an ABC Family drama show, that features lead character Amy Juergens, played by Shailene Woodley. Amy becomes pregnant at 15 after being pressured into having sex with character , who is not her boyfriend, Ricky Underwood, played by Daren Kagasoff.

Why are these movies and shows promoting teenage sex and pregnancy likes it’s some kind of new trend? Is the media to blame? Time Magazine thinks so:
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1855842,00.html

Teenagers are so easily influenced and with characters like Juno using phrases such as, “This is not a food baby all right? I’ve taken like three pregnancy tests, and I’m forshizz up the spout,” they are relating and seeing this behavior as cool and acceptable. Whatever happened to promoting safe sex? Sex used to be seen as a sacred act and in both Juno,  and Secret Life, neither pregnant characters were attached to the fathers at the time of conception. There is “forshizz” something wrong with this picture.