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From WAGs to witches
Thursday 2 December 2010
Categories: Media Influence, Role Models, Self-esteem
It’s very heartening that 87% of teenage girls in a survey by ASDA would rather be like Hermione in Harry Potter than Cheryl Cole. Hermione, at least in the early books and films, has bad hair and buck teeth. And she is most definitively her own woman. She works incredibly hard at her witchy studies, usually beating the boys; she challenges them, standing up to them fearlessly, unconcerned as to whether they will like her less. Her morals are impeccable; she is clever and tenacious, loyal and feisty. Harry and Ron admire her for her brains rather than her looks. But am I being a little cynical when I wonder whether these teenagers would be quite so enamoured of her if the actress Emma Watson looked a little less stunning on the red carpet and the front cover of Vogue?
Parents and teachers are utterly depressed by the number of young girls who want to be famous without having the least idea of what they want to be famous for. The apparent dominance of glamorous women who are famous, and rich, simply through being appendages to their even more famous and rich partners sends out the message that if you can catch the right man your fortune is made. But let’s be honest…‘twas ever thus. Throughout history canny women on the make have sought out men with money, power or fame. We never hear whether they are content with the life they have claimed. After all even in fairy tales the story ends with the wedding and “happy ever after” is assumed.
So let’s give two and a half cheers for ASDA’s girls and urge them to be the best they can be, to become their own woman by valuing themselves for their abilities, honing their talents and skills and by not conforming to some spurious image that is the current dictate.
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