In my AP Psychology textbook, the authors devoted time to talk about the importance of role models. So, I got to thinking: Who in the news makes a good role model for girls?
Is it Paris Hilton with her sex tape? Is it Miley Cyrus with another scandalous photo? Is it Britney Spears? If I believed in behaviorism, I'd have little hope for any young girls to grow up and do something important.
Then I thought of Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift is a country artist whose L.A. concert sold out in two minutes, a record for the Staples Center. She has released two hit CDs with songs like "White Horse," "Tim McGraw," and "Teardrops on my Guitar." Her newest CD, Fearless, had the largest opening U.S. sales week in 2008 by a female artist in all genres of music. She's only 19 and she's already that successful.
But it's not enough for people to just be famous to make great role models. Miley Cyrus is super successful, but I wouldn't want my kids looking up to her. If I had a kid, which I don't because I'm 17, I'd stay far away from Hannah Montana. I'd buy my kid a Taylor Swift CD.
For starters, she's not releasing any dumb photos of herself that are so bad people are suing her. Miley Cyrus, on the other hand, is being sued for offending Asians.
Second, she's pretty clean cut. Taylor told Rolling Stone that she's never experimented with cigarettes or drunk even a bit of alcohol. She even lives with her parents still, in the same room she lived in when she was a baby.
Third, she doesn't put up with stuff from bullies. When people treated her rudely, she got over it and didn't let it affect her. She uses that negative energy for good. "As I was setting up my equipment to sing karaoke at the town summer festival, the kids would shout horrible things." Taylor told Self magazine, "The only thing I can do is look back and thank [those classmates]. If I hadn't been so driven to music because I didn't have anyone to hang out with, if I hadn't written songs because I didn't have anyone to talk to, I wouldn't be sitting here right now." That's something we can all learn from. I really admire that.
Taylor Swift has vowed she won't be another Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan. And, yeah, I realize all the celebrities say that, but I honestly believe Taylor Swift. Plus, she hasn't done anything bad to make it seem like she's going to the dark side. Right now, Taylor Swift is an inspiration to all girls.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Jordan Richardson
Let's hope, for the sake of young women everywhere without access to literature or art or family or friends or other sources for role models, that Taylor Swift doesn't dare make the Mistake of all Mistakes and be human.
Instead of telling my hypothetical children that someone like Taylor Swift ought to be a role model because she's allegedly clean-cut, doesn't drink, and doesn't take silly photos, I'd teach them that nothing in the shimmer and shine of Hollywood fakery is quite what it seems and that people make mistakes. Thankfully the majority of us don't have our mistakes broadcast to the entire world!
:)
2 - ~dieba~
100% agree..
with your opinion..
3 - mimi
hate Taylor Swift she´s so stupid!
4 - mimi
[Edited] what's up taylor is not stupid
5 - Jane
I totally agree. At first I thought oh here's a respectable girl. I was wrong. She has turned into a complete disaster. Taylor Swift I hope will not follow the same path many young superstars follow. She is the perfect person to look up to. Plus, I absolutely love Love Story. Best Song Ever!!!!!!
6 - camron
febuary 20th,2009 @ 13:43pm -mimi your so mean who agrees with me or mimi write her name or my name for a awnser
7 - carissa
Taylor swift is my favorite person ever because her music can relate to just about any girl and she is the best role model I know of! Would you rather have Venessa Ann Hudgens? I don't think we need nude girls running around and Taylor is teh All American Girl!
8 - kristal
if you are lookink for a actor i will do it im 10 years old
9 - anonymous
this shouldnt be for criticism of anyone, quit saying bad crap about all of them and mind your own dam buisness, all of ya
10 - anonymous
mind your own business all of you, who cares what these girls do in their life, worry about yourselves
11 - bella
I think Taylor Swift is a pretty good role model for young girls.Miley Cyrus use to be mine, not any more!
12 - marie
I am so with you! (= I never really liked country music, but Taylor Swift changed that. I absolutely adore her songs and her as well! I'm actually writing a report on her for my english class as my Influential Role Model.
<3 and btww: i love the pittsburgh steelers as well! haha sorry randomm.
13 - rdot
And I stare at the phone and he still hasn’t called
And you feel so low you can’t feel nothin at all
And you flash back to when he said forever and always
Ohh ohhh
And it rains in your bedroom everything is wrong
It rains when you’re here and it rains when you’re gone
Cause I was there when you said forever and always
---do you really think she is a good role model when she is sending young girls the message to base their sense of self worth on whether or not a boy calls them?
or:
Of all the girls tossing rocks at your window
I'll be the one waiting there even when it's cold...Can't help it if there's no one else
Mmm, I can't help myself
so in this song she is obsessing over a boy, throwing rocks at his window in the cold (a bit much?) and says that there is no one else...no more fish in the sea for taylor.
And I was crying on the staircase
Begging you please don't go,...But you were everything to me
I was begging you please don't go...Romeo save me I've been feeling so alone
I keep waiting for you but you never come
Is this in my head? I don't know what to think
the recurring theme in her songs are that she is boycrazy and needs a boy's approval to validate herself...
she is sending the message that girls should be submissive and obsess over a boy's approval
14 - Nobody
Not ALL girls. My daughter is ten and HATES I mean HATES her music. She says she would rather be in a "fatal car crash than listen to her music."(I lnow they don't mean 100% of every girl alive but still... )
15 - Nobody
Also Love Story is her most hated song.
16 - james
taylor is THE ultimate role model for the young generation
WHether or not you (or your daughter) likes her music should not affect her "role model status"/
-she is successful at 19
-she's not a drug addict of has problems with alcohol
-She's making sure that she keeps her legs closed when she gets out of cars!
-And she is just...well, normal.
"so in this song she is obsessing over a boy, throwing rocks at his window in the cold (a bit much?) and says that there is no one else...no more fish in the sea for taylor."
rdot, i think your being "a bit much". If you take the time to learn about her she had a very awkward childhood where she was not as gorgeous as she is now. She's just talking about her experiences and honestly thats about as G rated as it gets these days. 1m a 16 year old guy and i think she is one of the most respectable young person in the spotlight.
17 - Nobody
James, from what your saying because she is acting how people should is no reason for her to be role model. Sure being successful at 19(why, I have no idea)is nice, not being a drug addict and not drinking before 21 is what a lot of people do! To that keeping legs closed thing, well duh! I mean she could just wear pants, but keeping legs closed when wearing skirts or dresses is common sense! I did all of those things!(well i wore pants but still) I wasn't like super successful at 19, but I had a job and was living somewhere! From what your saying I'm pretty much THE ultimate role model for this young generation.
18 - eve
i love love taylor swift !
And i am with you all the way!
She has clean cut tune's and
does not dress badly!
Her tune's are the best in the world
so here's the a yes to taylor!
19 - Mia
She's bound to make mistakes...but I don't think it can be to the extent that other female celebrities have made. I think she is very respectable and a good role, I'm definitely thankful for that. But when you think about, a lot of mistakes made by female celebrities (paris hilton, lindsay lohan) required a lot of effort.
On a side note, I also think Hilary Duff and Beyonce is are awesome in characters for the most part, though their videos are a bit mature.
20 - Mia
I apologize for writing so poorly
21 - wo w
i hope taylor swift wont go on the bad stuff like other celeb did and that she stays being a rolemodel evan when she's 21 that she can drink i hope she chooses not to when she's that age
22 - Guytano Parks
Thank you for an eloquently written post about Taylor Swift (and quite impressive at age 17). America: In Taylor Swift, we have our sparkling young, talented yet humble, gracious and inspirational role model. Congratulations for all of your deserved success, Taylor; I suspect that we have not yet seen or heard the heights to which you will unquestionably soar!
23 - holly=)
taylor is an awesome role model for teens, and u all know it even thow yall are talking bad about her you know she is a great person. ya are all jealos thas why you dont admit how good of a person she is.
24 - emilie
Since when are you a good role model because you aren't overtly sexual, racist or rude? The qualifications should be a little higher.
25 - julia
i have to write a essay on a role model and she wouold be the best to write about.