One of Lindsey Lohan’s first major films in 2004 was “Mean Girls”. In it there was a scene where one of the main character’s pre-pubescent little sister is dancing in front of the television imitating a pop star in a music video. Booty shorts and all, the little girl tries her very best to get the strokes of her non-existent hips right and her mosquito bites of breast pushed up to look like the video vixen.
She’s a far cry from the days when little girls played dress up to look like ladies.
The media has given us so many what-the-hell-is-this-world-coming-to moments in the few years. Especially with the influx of celebrity sex tapes, we’ve been able to view absolute untalented buffoons grow into mega stars. It’s no wonder why young girls would rather be like Draya Michele than Michelle Obama.
“Black girls are not seeing positive images of who they are and what they can be,” said Carolyn West, associate professor of psychology and the study of prevention of violence at the University of Washington. “Looking at the sexual imagery really impacts on the functioning of teenage girls. It sets the foundation for future victimization and causes teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases,” she added.
People are a product of their environment, think about how you and your friends were raised. If your children are surrounded by positive images, a variety of interesting careers and attainable goals there’s no limit to what they’ll choose to do.
In the past we were taught that lawyers, doctors, teachers and preachers were four solid careers, but there are so many interesting jobs that are specific to your child’s interests. There’s nothing wrong with becoming a model, but knowing your worth beyond a pretty face allows a window of opportunity to come in. Go to the library with them, find after school art programs, etiquette classes, expose your child to as much as your resources can accommodate.
Ask family members and friends in different cities about opportunities and events going on that can open up their mind. If exposed to a plethora of interests, being in some rappers video will seem less intriguing.
Kenya
6/28/10, 14:05:pm
Thank you so much for this article. I will be mentoring young women in the city of Detroit this summer.
There is hope. Parents just need to stop finding scapegoats and take it upon themselves to be a decent parent. Quit allowing BET, MTV, VH1 Reality, rap videos and R&B booty-shaking divas to raise and entertain your kids! This generation is on the brink of disaster!
Lisa
6/28/10, 14:40:pm
It is disturbing at how many young girls are aspiring to be video vixens and strippers nowadays. They are being taught to use their bodies instead of their brains, and that is a dangerous path. And a lot of these parents are not ‘real parents’, but are ‘criminal parents’ because they teach their kids how to get out here and make fast money. It’s a sad state of affairs we are in.
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6/28/10, 14:47:pm
[...] Stop Your Daughter from Having “Video Vixen” Dreams « Madame Noire [...]
Ayman
6/28/10, 15:45:pm
The problem is that most of the parents (especially fathers) just making children.
They don’t raised them, the father comes after work and watch Tv he don’t wanna talk with his children………. I livin’ in France and i advise my freinds with children to teach them english sooner as they can, just let their children at 3 years old watchin’ Tv in english. And he will speak english. That’s simple but nobody cares !!!
My father did nothin’ wityh me, he cheat on my mom, he is viloent……… Thanks GOD i’m n ot alcoholic or drug addict, i ‘m learnin’ Islam…. but i got some psychological damages: i don’t have any self confidence, a lot of basics things afraid me like pick up the phone for a job……… plus depression……..
Most of parents jsut having children they don’t wanna be moms & dads. They procreating like animals what if human being needs to make babies, we gonna be 9 billions in 2050 so we don’t need no more children, please stop havin’ babies to ruin their life. Like Malcolm X said it’s easy to have a child but not to be a father.
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6/29/10, 00:43:am
[...] Stop Your Daughter from Having “Video Vixen” Dreams « Madame Noire [...]
STOP YOUR DAUGHTER FROM HAVING “VIDEO VIXEN” DREAMS « NWMASS - When Hollywood Needs A Reality Check
6/29/10, 13:37:pm
[...] Source [...]
This isn't new
6/29/10, 15:01:pm
Dr. Stephens breaks down the history of the sexual scripts that African American teens are bombarded with.
http://www.whataboutourdaughters.com/2008/11/how-african-american-girlswomen-become-freaks-gold-diggers/
Audrey
6/29/10, 19:50:pm
This is the most non-article I’ve ever read. There is no content whatsoever, all you do is state the obvious (girls should be exposed to positive role models, being a video vixen is a vapid and superficial profession) and loosely tie in a scene from mean girls that doesn’t particularly have anything to do with black women and role models, and you tagged it “mena girls”. Sh*t, this comment is written more articulately and informatively.
Aundre Glover
7/10/10, 09:07:am
@ Audrey, Please, please, PLEASE! If you are not a part of the solution, then you are part of the problem! You have the nerve to even combat the content of this article? So I guess you are happily satisfied with the way this society is displaying itself? You have got to be one of the devil’s greatest assets! All I see is a bunch of gold diggers and soon to be out-right call girls walking the streets; Hell, they have even spilled into the colleges with the same attitudes as the uneducated portion of the population that rule the streets (to a degree)! Booty shorts that barely, if at all, cover the butt! Cleavage that is displayed all the time! In-descent exposure is rampant, & respect for self is at an all time low these days! You have got to be the one of the most articulate, dumb asses I have ever heard! I am so tired of the young men as well; Running around with their pants strapped up with a belt, wrapped around their thighs! I call it like I see it; Advertisement for homosexual recruitment! Why don’t you go and watch BET, or as I like to call it NET, and enjoy yourself! Stay your “Love for degradation” ass away from blogs that are trying to bring about awareness like this one!