February 16, 2007: Newsweek's Bad Girls. Lessons for All of Us?

I don't want to let the week go by without commenting on Newsweek's cover story Girls Gone Bad: Paris, Britney, Lindsay & Nicole: They seem to be everywhere and they may not be wearing underwear. Tweens adore them and teens envy them. But are we raising a generation of 'prosti-tots'?

The author’s point is that these so-called bad girls reflect a girl's need for excitement. The takeaway for parents is: listen more. Understand where the need is coming from first before you condemn it.

That's fair, and in a world of snap judgments and supply-and-demand culture, taking a step back to understand "demand" before bashing "supply" is not a bad idea.

The author is insightful enough to acknowledge that she, and other concerned soccer moms, are avid purveyors of all things celebrity, which makes them part of the problem. Kids learn by example. She suggests to parents that they limit their gossip, and not make popularity the only worthwhile goal in life. She also advocates listening more to what’s behind the love of Britney, the idolization of Lindsay, and the attention paid to Paris. What are the real needs (i.e. popularity, freedom) being served vicariously?

I'd like to add that the lessons to learn are not just for teenage girls, the ones Newsweek worried over this past week. What’s applicable for all of us who read US and race to YouTube for the latest televised celebrity scandal?