I’d like to pretend I have no idea who Miley Cyrus is. But can any of us truly claim to have remained immune to the deluge of media from the the pop/television star in recent years?
I think I first saw her face on a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. And then on a bottle of orange juice. And then on children’s sunglasses, packages of cookies, cans of hairspray, and ... every single magazine cover on the planet.
When the dad of a homeschooling family that doesn’t own a television set asked me one day, “Who is this Hannah Montana?” I knew that the young Ms. Cyrus had achieved the ultimate in media saturation. Which is not necessarily a good thing for her. Or us.
After her recent raunchy performance on Britain’s Got Talent, there was a media flurry of concern over the fact that 17-year-old Miley might be “growing up too fast.”
I looked at some of the video from that performance and while I have to admit that Miley Cyrus surely is doing something too fast, it is not growing up.
“Growing up” should mean gaining wisdom and maturity, taking on greater responsibilities, and properly managing the privileges and freedoms of adulthood. It does not mean undressing on stage, simulating a lesbian kiss with a band member, and later blogging on your website about how you so did not do that.
Though my kids have never been attracted to the Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus phenomenon, I am worried about the example Cyrus is setting for young girls who look up to her. I am concerned that young women will hear a message of “to be cool you need to be sexually attractive and available” in her actions.
But mostly I worry about Miley Cyrus herself, along with a series of other young female stars whom I see as victims of the Hollywood scene. The “fame machine” is schizophrenic in its insistence upon churning out an endless supply of young women, dressing them up, parading them around as young sex objects and then wringing its hands over how quickly they are “growing up.”
Hey Hollywood, what’s happening to these girls is not “growing up.” They’re being used. But you already know that. I only wish more parents who encourage these kinds of images for their children did too.
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Exactly right.
Good observation that Cyrus isn’t “growing up”. I know that it’s inconceivable for me to imagine the pressures that come with being a celebrity, yet I can’t help being disheartened at the way the go down so fast.We need more stars that are counter-cultural and stand up for the truth. Sadly, what we see so much of now is cookie-cutter celebrities who engage and endorse immoral behaviors.
I blame the parents who have become addicted to the money and fame as much as this poor girl. Will they never learn that Hollywood fame and fortune is as lasting as an ice cream cone in the sun?
God help this young woman. She is going to have issues if she keeps going down this path. Although I think what annoys me about Ms. Cyrus isn’t so much her stunts and such; it’s the fact that she still claims to be a Christian, or some sort of believer in God, even as she struts around the stage looking like Lady Gaga. So she thinks God/her “Christian” values are somehow okay with all of this, I’m assuming. Which makes even less sense than the “Can’t Be Tamed” video.
Three and four year-olds in my neighborhood sing her songs and imitate her. Marketing to children is unreal. I have no idea how to raise my children in this toxic culture without insulating them entirely. I do not homeschool, but I am very tempted.
im srry but miley is not growing up to fast the clothes she wears in cant be tamed is prob wht she means she can wear wht ever the HELL she wants no matter wht other peoples say Miley U Rock And IL ur song Can’t Be Tamed Ur reali pretty and yea
@Brianna Towns: Yes, she CAN “wear wht ever the HELL she wants”, but should she? All she’s doing is making herself a sex object. That’s not growing up. That’s a reversion, if you ask me. And I agree that’s she pretty; I just wish she would act like she’s beautiful.
I feel sorry for Miley as she probably doesn’t realize she is being used. But I blame her parents, particularly her father pushing her into situations she was not ready for and just made the problem worse. Also the producers and people who are promoting this image, who only care for what money they can get out of her.
Some things have never changed since most of these stars are being shown the same way beginning with “Madonna”.
Like many child stars, she hasn’t had a childhood, has been “pushed” into adulthood way before she is ready, and like you mentioned she is not demonstrating maturity, but sadly a sexy image that many teens will try to emulate.
I hope that later on she doesn’t get involved with “the Hollywood scene of alcohol and drugs”. Too much, too fast.
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