Young stars who pledge their "purity"

[indigo]

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Story?id=4560089&page=1

I enjoyed this article. It talks about how young stars use their supposed "purity" as marketing tools, because then moms see them as role models for their young daughters. One of the current stars using this tactic is Miley Cyrus, but one from a few years ago was Britney Spears.

Extrapolating from this, I think that when the "role models" let kids down parents should remember that SOMETIMES they (the parents) bear some of the blame because they bought into the "purity" marketing angle in the first place and encouraged their young daughters to idolize these stars.

[kokoro]

I feel sorry for star kids when they make this pledge because at a certain age I think it is easy to make a pledge like that while a few years down the line things will probably look very different for them. I think they are being used by managers, etc or just exploited by media, etc. I always think, 'that is going to come back to bite them later' whenever I hear a celeb teen make this type of pledge.

Most people in this country have sex before they marry so odds are it isn't going to work out for these kids and I don't think it is too bad they will have it thrown back in their faces one day, esp by people who mostly also had sex before they were married.

[Tracy]

I think it's wrong to portray these children as something like manipulative people marketing their "supposed" purity. Let's remember that these are kids we're talking about here and not adults. If anyone is "Marketing" these kids it's the adults in their life. I don't doubt for one minute that when girls are 13, 14 and 15 and making comments about their intentions to save sex until marriage, that they believe that's possible. Actually, it is possible and who knows, maybe they will, maybe they won't but I don't believe that they are intentionally lying to "market their supposed purity."

Also, I know quite well that some people find it distasteful that there are parents whose children look up to these young Disney kids as we've had this conversation before. My kids love Miley Cyrus. I don't "encourage" them to like her for Pete's sake, they just do...And I can live with that. There are a lot worse things to worry about. I could start with my daughters 12 year old EMO friend who rubs her arms raw with an erasers because it's "like cutting".....Ya, I'll take Miley Cyrus. :p

[indigo]

I think it's wrong to portray these children as something like manipulative people marketing their "supposed" purity. Let's remember that these are kids we're talking about here and not adults. If anyone is "Marketing" these kids it's the adults in their life. I don't doubt for one minute that when girls are 13, 14 and 15 and making comments about their intentions to save sex until marriage, that they believe that's possible. Actually, it is possible and who knows, maybe they will, maybe they won't but I don't believe that they are intentionally lying to "market their supposed purity."

Also, I know quite well that some people find it distasteful that there are parents whose children look up to these young Disney kids as we've had this conversation before. My kids love Miley Cyrus. I don't "encourage" them to like her for Pete's sake, they just do...And I can live with that. There are a lot worse things to worry about. I could start with my daughters 12 year old EMO friend who rubs her arms raw with an erasers because it's "like cutting".....Ya, I'll take Miley Cyrus. :p

Oh, I agree that it's the adults in their lives doing the manipulation. It's no secret that child stars are often seen as a commodity by the adults who profit from them.

As for finding it distasteful that kids idolize these stars, I don't find it distasteful. But I also feel bad for the kids when they're (almost inevitably) let down because they have bought into a marketing ploy. I do agree that pretending to cut one's self is worse, though!!

[Anne]

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Story?id=4560089&page=1

I enjoyed this article. It talks about how young stars use their supposed "purity" as marketing tools, because then moms see them as role models for their young daughters. One of the current stars using this tactic is Miley Cyrus, but one from a few years ago was Britney Spears.

Extrapolating from this, I think that when the "role models" let kids down parents should remember that SOMETIMES they (the parents) bear some of the blame because they bought into the "purity" marketing angle in the first place and encouraged their young daughters to idolize these stars.

I object to and reject the whole idea that sexual activity somehow makes a person impure.

[gfrach]

Yep this is where I sit. I'm just not at all sure why it's even needed. :-( I mean--seriously, why do I want to even know whether these kids intend to stay chaste before marriage or not?? (But then I don't have a kid who idolizes any of them, so that may affect my view. We're just not into stars here really anyway.)

My big teen idol was Shaun Cassidy (oh, I can't believe I'm admitting this!). Anyway, why didn't he have to speak out about how he was going to save himself for marriage? Or is it only the female stars who have to do that?? (I don't really pay attention to the news--YAAPS is my news source.)

[Sarah]

I object to and reject the whole idea that sexual activity somehow makes a person impure.

THIS! Yes, thank you. *sits with Anne*

[indigo]

I object to and reject the whole idea that sexual activity somehow makes a person impure.

I agree. I don't actually understand the concept of "purity."

[Ahnyx]

I really don't see what is objectionable or even hard to understand about anyone ascribing to their faith's teachings on sex only being sanctioned within marriage.
This is certainly not an exclusively Christian notion; other faiths teach and believe that sex is for marriage. Of course, I'm not questioning why anyone who does NOT ascribe to these beliefs would reject them, but it's really just like any other belief.

I feel like I'm not being clear, so I'll attempt a (probably flawed) analogy. Some people believe that eating certain foods can affect one's spiritual status; that's not a personal belief of mine, but I wouldn't think it was strange or puzzling if they stated they were determined to stay "pure" in that way.

Is is just the language-purity, impurity, etc.? If so, would the phrase "sexual purity" be more agreeable? I don't know any one of any faith that thinks that simply abstaining from sex until marriage makes one *wholly* pure.


-Melanie, mama to X and G.

[indigo]

I really don't see what is objectionable or even hard to understand about anyone ascribing to their faith's teachings on sex only being sanctioned within marriage.
This is certainly not an exclusively Christian notion; other faiths teach and believe that sex is for marriage. Of course, I'm not questioning why anyone who does NOT ascribe to these beliefs would reject them, but it's really just like any other belief.

I feel like I'm not being clear, so I'll attempt a (probably flawed) analogy. Some people believe that eating certain foods can affect one's spiritual status; that's not a personal belief of mine, but I wouldn't think it was strange or puzzling if they stated they were determined to stay "pure" in that way.

Is is just the language-purity, impurity, etc.? If so, would the phrase "sexual purity" be more agreeable? I don't know any one of any faith that thinks that simply abstaining from sex until marriage makes one *wholly* pure.


-Melanie, mama to X and G.


Honestly I do have a hard time understanding the concept of "purity." I'm not sure what it means. Maybe it's because it's not something that was taught to me as a child? And, yes, it's true that my religion expects sex to be in the context of marriage, but it was never taught to me in a way that indicated that if you did have sex outside of marriage that you were then "impure." It was just an act that wasn't supposed to happen. It didn't affect your soul. Same with dietary restrictions. I grew up keeping Kosher but was never taught that NOT keeping kosher made a person "impure."

I mean, maybe it's part of Jewish doctrine somewhere but it wasn't what I was taught.

I just really can't wrap my head around it. Not to say that it's not a valid part of many religions. But I'd be lying if I said that I truly understood it.

[sarahs]

Well, here's a fat dose of irony. My oldest e-mailed me that she wants one of these rings. Yes, my 14 yo who was recently hanging with the 18 yo. My 14 yo who is Jewish. My 14 yo who has been raised in a home where sexuality is discussed freely and virginity at marriage has never been preached and who has never had Disney heroines held up as role models.

Apparently she saw a Youtube video of a couple of the Disney girls talking about it and thought it was cool. I'm not sure what to think. We have taught her that sexual activity should be between two loving, committed, respectful people but obviously that lesson could use a little reinforcement! Given her recent experience she may see the ring as a reminder that she doesn't have to settle, which is a good thing. I think she does admire people in show business who appear not to have fallen into self-destructive habits.

I am no doubt over-thinking this but it struck me as so incongruous! And its a reminder that in so many ways she is still a little kid.

[indigo]

Well, here's a fat dose of irony. My oldest e-mailed me that she wants one of these rings. Yes, my 14 yo who was recently hanging with the 18 yo. My 14 yo who is Jewish. My 14 yo who has been raised in a home where sexuality is discussed freely and virginity at marriage has never been preached and who has never had Disney heroines held up as role models.

Apparently she saw a Youtube video of a couple of the Disney girls talking about it and thought it was cool. I'm not sure what to think. We have taught her that sexual activity should be between two loving, committed, respectful people but obviously that lesson could use a little reinforcement! Given her recent experience she may see the ring as a reminder that she doesn't have to settle, which is a good thing. I think she does admire people in show business who appear not to have fallen into self-destructive habits.

I am no doubt over-thinking this but it struck me as so incongruous! And its a reminder that in so many ways she is still a little kid.

LOL. She's rebelling against her open upbringing! I love it! Next she'll rebel by becoming a Republican. (No offense to Republicans here but you've gotta see the irony.)

[sarahs]

LOL. She's rebelling against her open upbringing! I love it! Next she'll rebel by becoming a Republican. (No offense to Republicans here but you've gotta see the irony.)

Hey, lets not get carried away!:p

I am reassured that she had to write an analytical essay for English and chose to argue that Adam and Eva were unjustly punished by God for seeking knowledge. So she hasn't completely gone over the edge.

[Anne]

I really don't see what is objectionable or even hard to understand about anyone ascribing to their faith's teachings on sex only being sanctioned within marriage.
This is certainly not an exclusively Christian notion; other faiths teach and believe that sex is for marriage. Of course, I'm not questioning why anyone who does NOT ascribe to these beliefs would reject them, but it's really just like any other belief.

I feel like I'm not being clear, so I'll attempt a (probably flawed) analogy. Some people believe that eating certain foods can affect one's spiritual status; that's not a personal belief of mine, but I wouldn't think it was strange or puzzling if they stated they were determined to stay "pure" in that way.

Is is just the language-purity, impurity, etc.? If so, would the phrase "sexual purity" be more agreeable? I don't know any one of any faith that thinks that simply abstaining from sex until marriage makes one *wholly* pure.


-Melanie, mama to X and G.

I think the terms pure and impure, whether or not you use sexual in front of them, imply that sex is somehow dirty--and it is not. I think putting oneself out there as "sexually pure" or as an example of "sexual purity" sets people up to feel unnecessary shame and guilt when they "fail."