Female Role Models

[DaisyLynn]

Nancy Brinker

Samantha Smith

 

[MulanUSAF]

I don't think these ladies have been mentioned so far:

J.K. Rowling - author of Harry Potter books, went from poor single mom to richest woman in the UK, surpassing even the Queen by her sheer talent and hard work

Dr. Sally Ride - first female American astronaut, also a physicist and CEO of her own company

 

[kirbsam]

zenyatta

 

[Planogirl]

I don't get picking random celebrities and people in history to be your role models. Your role models should be people like your family etc. For example- almost everyone has family that came through Ellis Island. Most did not even speak English. Yet- they worked hard and made good lives for their families. Look how far we have come from that. What about your own Mom? Or Grandma, or Aunt, or Cousin etc. These are the people in my opinion who should be a young girl's role models. Not some person they read a book about. Your own family should be inspiring you to become all you dream of. YMMV.

I agree with you to a point. However I think that a well-written book can tell you more than some word of mouth stories.

For example, my grandfather was a Dutch Jew. His whole family was killed in the war except for one aunt. I suggested Anne Frank because the book of what she and her family went through can teach much about bravery and faith. I can't teach that as well because I've heard the stories but don't really know what it was like. Does that make sense? Maybe it would be best to offer both.

 

[luvmy3]

I don't get picking random celebrities and people in history to be your role models. Your role models should be people like your family etc. For example- almost everyone has family that came through Ellis Island. Most did not even speak English. Yet- they worked hard and made good lives for their families. Look how far we have come from that. What about your own Mom? Or Grandma, or Aunt, or Cousin etc. These are the people in my opinion who should be a young girl's role models. Not some person they read a book about. Your own family should be inspiring you to become all you dream of. YMMV.

I think is important, especially for girls, to have something to aspire to.
I can support my dd and inspire her to be all she dreams of, but I want her have big dreams, I want her to be inspired by women who have done remarkable things. Its my job to make sure she knows she can do the same, thats part of being one of her role models.

 

[C&G'sMama]

I very much value the women in my life that I know or at least have a connection to, my mom, my grandmother, who died before I was born etc. But I truly believe in the value of historical role models. How did we get to where we are today?

Someone mentioned Laura Ingalls Wilder. Her life story has always intrigued my . And there were probably a lot of Laura Ingalls out there but she represents all of them.

In 1940 my mom was forced to leave her job when she got married (not by my dad but by her company, her cousin got married in secret so she could work a couple of extra years). Here I am almost 70 years later in a job that wouldn't have been available to most women at that time. Again, the famous people are a representation of the not so famous. We all have a hand in history but it's nice to know where it all started and how we got to where are today.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Hillary Clinton
Gloria Steinem
Margaret Thatcher
Angelina Jolie
Susan B Anthony

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I would add Carol Burnett to my list. She faced crazy adversity as a child, but grew up to be one of the higher-respected actresses for both stage and film.

 

[leagirl12]

I don't get picking random celebrities and people in history to be your role models. Your role models should be people like your family etc. For example- almost everyone has family that came through Ellis Island. Most did not even speak English. Yet- they worked hard and made good lives for their families. Look how far we have come from that. What about your own Mom? Or Grandma, or Aunt, or Cousin etc. These are the people in my opinion who should be a young girl's role models. Not some person they read a book about. Your own family should be inspiring you to become all you dream of. YMMV.

Unfortunately not everyone has that person in their family. My mom for instance did not...her mother was horrible...it is amazing that she became the woman that she did. I can say without a doubt my role model is my mother. The girl scout troop that my sister leads is for her step daughters and honestly my sister is an amazing role model to her stepdaughters which is fortunate because their mother is not. You have to wonder who would these girls look up to if all they had was their mother...that is how sometimes celebrities and people in history become role models.

As I type this though it makes me think about what are the things that shape us because while my mom is amazing her mom was not. My sister is amazing and her mom is not. We have the same dad but different moms and dsis's mom is a total whack job yet she has become this strong independent woman.

 

[Let'sGoFlyAKite]

I'm gonna have to go with Mulan, and Belle.....What??! OH! These are REAL people we're asking about?? sorry.....

 

[leagirl12]

I'm gonna have to go with Mulan, and Belle.....What??! OH! These are REAL people we're asking about?? sorry.....

ITA....MULAN!

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Nancy Brinker

Samantha Smith

OMG, I didn't even have to click on the Samantha Smith link. I adored that girl. Had a book about her and everything. I was devastated when she died. There was only a few years difference between us and I thought she was so beautiful and so smart.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

Interesting choice. She led a life of promiscuity, died broke, addicted to drugs and in legal problems.

A wonderful talent who led a pitiful life.

In deed

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

Josephine Baker

 

[TinklednPants]

Sarah Palin.

 

[DaisyLynn]

OMG, I didn't even have to click on the Samantha Smith link. I adored that girl. Had a book about her and everything. I was devastated when she died. There was only a few years difference between us and I thought she was so beautiful and so smart.

I just love her story... and honestly, what a great role model for young girls - a girl, around the same age as them, who had something to say and was actually taken seriously.

 

[Sorsha]

It totally depends on what's important to you. I wouldn't want my kids looking up to Gloria Steinem. I'd much rather they emulate someone like Sandra Bullock who can laugh at herself and show grace in a terrible situation then someone who supports and fights for things that I don't agree with.

Everyone's answer will be different, for different reasons. I also think that it's more important to talk about role models in general instead of separating them into male and female categories. Understanding why you respect someone is more important in my opinion than caring what their gender is.

Totally agree.

I would never want my children looking up to Sarah Palin, for instance (and they are WELL aware of it), but would totally encourage them to look up to most facets of Gloria Steinem's life and beliefs.

Everyone has their own notion of what makes a role model. My mom is my biggest role model. Hilary Clinton is another. Others include important females in the fields of science, reproductive freedom, atheism, and women who were historically "firsts" to enter male-dominated fields.

To each their own, as long as your reasons for your beliefs are well thought out and things you hold true and important.

 

[tvguy]

I think every person has serious character flaws if you dig deep enough. That's a really important point. I think its necessary to show young girls great women in power but also point out where these women fail. Gloria Steinem has been very oppressive and openly transphobic in the past. But she is also a major fighter for reproductive freedom. Her failure in one realm doesn't undermine her victories in another. It shows that she's a human and you shouldn't try to be her, you should be yourself but know that you can accomplish great things because of the women who came before you and paved the roads.

And Mother Theresa wasn't the saint we all thought she was, which came out after her death. Apparently she was having a huge crisis of faith and wanted no part of any of it when she died.

As for Princess Di and JKO, they were able to maintain their dignity in the face of much adversity and maintain their composure during the most trying times. I also think they were wonderful mothers and since everyone else is saying "mom" why don't they count?

Point taken. I guess we all look up to people for different reasons.

 

[Bareacuda]

I have to add my 2 cents here...

I have to start with my Mom:
She loved me always, taught me that I really could do anything with a willing heart. She taught me life skills that no famous person could do.
My grandmothers taught me to be a lady in life, manners, some cooking and sewing by machine and by hand. They taught me to be a great hostess, and be kind in bad situations.
My neighbors(ladies/moms) taught me to be a kind person in society, to play fairer, and live within a "crazy" neighborhood. Being a member of each family on our street which we had a divirse families, mexicans,phillipinos, hawaiians,jews, and a newly arrived russians.
They all taught me that I could go finish my college education when I was past my 30's, because most of them did too while we were in school.
I could be anything, and became the best Mom and now,a wonderful grandmother... just ask them.

Credit goes to the women in my life... all of them.

Ann

 

[kydisneyfans]

This may be a stretch, but if my daughter looked up to Carrie Underwood, I wouldn't mind. Here is a lady who followed a dream, became successful, yet has kept her head from swelling and letting success get to her. She hasn't forgotten about her roots, donates time and money, and gives thanks to the lord daily for the opportunities given to her.