From the infamous stripper pole, to anti-Asian photos and some pornographic outfits, I don’t blame Miley Cyrus for being considered a questionable role model. I blame parents for continuing to hold her to that standard.
Earlier this week, blogs across the world blew up chastising Miley Cyrus for using a “stripper pole” during her performance at the Teen Choice Awards. In reality, all she did was use a pole to balance on, but everyone immediately came down on the multimedia star because of their public perception of her.
At her core, Miley Cyrus is a 16 year old billionaire. Imagine when you were 16 years old if you had the kind of fame, money or responsibility that this girl has. She’s responsible for the livelihoods of probably thousands of people who work on her TV show, albums and tours. Everywhere she goes she hounded by paparazzi, fans, and when she wants to unwind, she can’t have any privacy or a drink. Heck, she wasn’t even able to drive until recently.
That’s a whole lot of pressure to put on a kid. If she stops working, parents stop making money and kids stop eating. When a normal 16 year old lashes out at their parents, rebels, gets a tattoo or goes out for a wild night of partying, we just notch it up to growing up. When Miley does it, though, everyone comes down on her like she’s a bad person. She’s not a bad person, she’s just trying to be normal.
The main problem though is that, despite her obvious need to rebel and be a normal teenager, Cyrus still has to keep making money for everyone. So she stays with Disney. She just started a new season of “Hannah Montana” and is touring with a new album of pop songs and the money keeps rolling in. Those things pretty much necessitate that she be a goody two shoes in public because the parents who spend their money so their kids can watch the show or listen to the music want a role model.
And four years ago, that made total sense. But now, Cyrus is simply growing out of that role. She’s growing up and obviously wants to move on but her obligations deny her from doing so.
What parents need to do is let Miley go. Try to wain your kids off of her. Sure it will be difficult, but Disney always has a new, fresh crop of role models for you to buy and sell. But it will be good for you, your kids, and especially Miley if you stop thinking of her as a role model and more as just another teenage girl.
Comments
lindsey
August 18th, 2009 - 8:01:57 PM
I read Sarah M.'s post regarding Miley first, and the comments, and now yours--- Good thing you did make two points on here! I see the logic and reasoning in both to an extent. I can appreciate both viewpoints and not be bitter that either of you feel the way you do. good work :)