Who's your Role Model?

Here is Draya Michele, a stripper turned famous as a result of dating the popular celebrity Chris Brown. She has appeared in a number of music videos, which may also classify her as a video vixen. Today, she is the most popular video vixen due to her sex appeal and drama on the hit television show "Basketball Wives". Even though she is not a basketball wife herself, she is the most talked about character on the show. Can you imagine why?.... As a result of her fame, many young girls look up to her as a role model because of the quick and fast money that has been granted to her due to her sexual appearance and characteristics.

It's sad that in today's society women look up to role models who are favored more by men, due to their sex appeal rather than their knowledge. This should not be praised, we should want to do better as a whole. With a conversation between ten year old Dasia Smith, I asked why she watches basketball wives and her response was "I love Draya, she's pretty" the look on my face was priceless. The fact that a ten year old knows more about Draya Michele, then Michelle Obama is frightening. I later asked "Who is your role model, and if you can tell me why, share why?" Ten year old Dasia responded by saying "Draya is my role model, I like her attitude and I think she's pretty" was the only response she gave me. It was not because Draya was educated, or because Draya is a humanitarian that helps those in need. It was solely because she liked her attitude and because Draya was pretty. That was a pathetic answer, if you asked me. In today's society media has perpetuated stereotypes that we continue to enforce as a result in entertaining these celebrities lifestyles.

In the article "Mammies, Matriarchs, and other controlling images" by Patricia Collins it gives insight to the different stereotypes associated with African American Women. The Jezebel was referred to as the hyper sexual woman who slept with the white man, and there was also the mammy who was the caretaker of the white children and not her own. As a result in video vixens being these sexual figures in today's society they do not help to eliminate the images associated with African American women. Instead, the majority of men look down upon African American women due to the ideas portrayed in the media. It is up to us to stop these belittling stereoptyes and the way society views African American women all together.

Even though Draya is trying to change her image, from the popular video vixen to an entrepreneur with her new clothing line titled "Fine Ass Girls". This will not change the way people view her as a person. But video vixens change the way society views women and beauty. The title of her clothing line is "Fine Ass Girls", now you have to ask yourself who defines beauty. Does Draya pick who the Fine Ass Girl is or is that idea perpetuated through the media and the over sexualized women in the music videos. I could not associate myself with a clothing line titled "Fine Ass Girls" because it's belittling, some may argue that its humorous but I personally take offense to the title of her clothing line.

It seems that as a result of being a video vixen it's a quick and easy way to gain fame and fortune, as a result many girls want to life this lifestyle because its easy to obtain. Some girls look down upon themselves because they do not have these unrealistic body figures, that the majority of video vixens have. I have found myself, doing squats to get a butt like Draya because I felt that without it men would not notice me. With the media continuously portraying African American women as sex goddess, this puts unrealistic standards on ourselves. Some women look down on themselves because they will never have the ideal "coke bottle" body frame. This is because the media portrays African American women to have these huge butts that are unrealistic.

Lets take Nicki Minaj for the next example. Does this body look good to you?.... Don't answer that! Nicki Minaj has altered her body, face, and hair to mimic a barbie in which she refers to herself in almost all of her records. This "role model" in today's society gives false hope to African American girls that if they do not have a body that is similar to hers they are not beautiful. Even though this may not be Nicki Minajs intentions, a young girl will see this and want it. She will not love herself the way God created her due to her wanting to be like someone she's not. This is where parenting comes in, you have to love your child and be that figure they look up to. If you don't they will continue to follow the cycle of the stereotypes that we must banish.

Here is Oprah Winfrey, an African American woman who is extraordinarily significant in today's society. Not only is she an educated African American woman, she is a BILLIONAIRE! Now this is my type of role model. Parents should mold their child to look up to a woman of virtue like Oprah. Even though she has faced hardship in her life she has not allowed negativity to hinder her from succeeding. As a result in her triumphant accomplishments in life, I am proud to say Oprah is my role model. When I grow up I want to be just like Oprah. Going back to my conversation with Dasia Smith, she asked me "who is your role model and why?", in which my response was "Oprah and Michelle Obama because they are influential African American women World Wide, not only in the black community but globally", I went on to describe their accomplishments in comparison to Draya's and other Basketball wives she looked up too.  I think my conversation with Dasia has helped her to realize what's important in life, and whose important to look up to. 

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Work Cited:

Collins, Patricia. Black Feminist Thought. New York, N.Y: Routledge, 2000. 76-106. Print.

Smith. Dasia. Personal Interview. 13.May. 2013