The teenagers who have committed suicide because they were forced to do things they did not want to do where blackmailed and bullied - I am very sad for every young girl and boy who has died because of being bullied and terrorised in such a shameful way, but I do not think it has very much to do with SH. These boys and girls were forced into exposing their body and doing things that are not in line with their moral values and the way they have been brought up and taught by their parents.
If a woman decides to do nude pictures or participate in certain films as a job (or just for fun) it is her free choice. If it is ok with her own values and self-image, it is alright, everyone knows what is best for them and what they want in life. I just don´t like it when such women (Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton etc.) are presented as role models that we (girls and women in general) should aspire to follow. It is quite annoying that they are constantly in the media, instead of acchieved,intellectual women who have done something valuable and meaningful with their life- like doctors,scientists,writers,politicians,journalists,lawyers,human rights activists etc.
When young girls constantly see that women are most succesful when they expose their body,date a rich guy and look pretty, I am afraid it is teaching them values that are not going to serve our society very well.
(Not that posing for pictures,looking pretty or dating is a bad thing - but this should not be a "career choice"!)
I wish to see more role models like CP Mary,Q Maxima or even women like CP Mette-Marit and CP Letizia. They are behaving decently,discreet and they have proven to have a very caring,compassionate nature-they did not actively seek out the limelight, but they have adjusted to their new public role with dignity.
Both CP Mary,Q Maxima and CP Letizia were highly educated and succesful in their job,they have travelled the world and they are representing their countries in a positive way. Even CP Mette-Marit was working and supporting herself-I do not look down on her because she was working as a waitress,but I rather see her as a young single-mom who has succesfuly managed to raise a young boy and teached him to be a good person.
She is a great role model for those young girls who believe that their past mistakes will define their life forever-because she has managed to live up to the challenges and consequences of her actions and changed her lifestyle to become a responsible,active,positive member of society.
There is a highly interesting study that has researched the effects of so-called "reality" TV-shows on young girls, I believe it is very important to look at these studies and take them seriously.
Here is a link to the study (PDF version):
Research | Publications | Real to Me
Ashley Bush and Raphaela Sapire: What Has Reality TV Done to Young Women?
This article picked up a few points from the Girl Scout-study. Short excerpts from this article:
Among girls who watch reality TV, 72% say they spend a lot of time on their appearance, versus 42% of non-viewers.
Many girls -- 86% -- believe these shows "often pit girls against each other to make the shows more exciting" and 70% say they "make people think it is ok to treat each other badly."