Daughters need more than moms for role models

In response to the article published in the Sept. 5 Acorn, "Teen girls still choose their moms as best role models," the article was extremely misleading. Do young girls think about the world they live in? Of course, the answer is "yes."

But to downplay the impact of society (and what images the media puts forth for young women to model themselves after) is ignoring the fact that these young girls have very few positive role models in today’s world.

Just because a woman is a mother does not make her a good role model.

Most teenagers do not have the maturity or courage to stand apart from the crowd. Copy, copy, copy. These girls want to "fit in," so they copy. Is what they are copying a positive influence?

Even on a subconscious level, media images of near-naked Brittany Spears and magazine articles of Brandy boasting about her "on-schedule" pregnancy impinge upon these young girls’ psyches.

We have 14-year-old girls showing up at doctors’ offices with STDs. Why? Because feeling good about yourself only happens when the boys accept you? Where are the role models encouraging these girls to have self worth by emanating it them themselves?

As the author of "I AM before I Do," I suggest that all women take stock of what image they are putting out to the world that may be having an effect on a young girl’s mind and future.

Ranee A. Spina

Studio City