Overheard behind me in the line, spoken by 3rd or 4th grade age boy.
Oh look Britney. Why did she shave her head Dad? Did she have cancer or was she just drunk and crazy?
My first thought was how sad, he knows about that. I felt certain, Brittney, Ashlee and all those other girls have no idea about the example they are setting for all the kids who look up to them.
Then, I remembered how my son was chanting Miley Cyrus, Miley Cyrus this week. I asked him if he knew who that was, he said she was the girl from Hannah Montana. I cringed because I didn't turn of the Today show early enough one day last week and we caught the "news" story about her Vanity Fair pictures. I didn't pick up the remote fast enough, I don't really want my kids thinking that is the way to be. Plus, I don't think he knew who she was before that.
On one hand I can understand why people are concerned about the over sexualization of young girls, but how many grade school age kids read Vanity Fair? Many more may be sitting around the morning watching the Today show with mom.
On the other, I think we are way too invested in the lives of celebrities. Not that I want to excuse bad behavior but how would most of us fair under that kind of microscope. I can guarantee you I would flip out at some point, say something stupid, do something wrong or wear the wrong dress to the wrong event. Thank God no one was following me around as a teenager.
While at times I would really like to solely blame the media, I have to find fault with myself too. I used to click on those little stories on the bottom left of the MSN Homepage too. A while back it occurred to me that I was part of the problem, I was reading it. Those advertisers on those pages were targeting me. I highly suspect if more people were turning the channel every time a bit of celebrity gossip or really unnecessary story came on they would be fewer in number. Just a thought...
