Ladies, These Women Are Not Your Role Models

What is a role model?

Vibe is more than serious about  Chrissy Lampkin, Evelyn Lozada, Tamar Braxton, and Kandi Burruss covering its latest  controversial issue entitled “Meet Your New Role Models”.  They are the leading ladies behind popular reality shows: “Love & Hip Hop,” “Basketball Wives,” “Braxton Family Values” and “RHOA.”

When I first saw this, I thought it was a joke but as I continued to read the interview, I quickly began to realize Vibe was more than serious about introducing these ladies as new role models to young women.

I get it Vibe – It is a ploy to get readers to subscribe to your magazine. From Real Housewives of Atlanta, Love & Hip-Hop, to Basketball Wives, these shows are filled with fans loving to see the petty cat fights.  Yes, they have made a great deal of money doing it.  But to assert these women as role models because of the popularity of these shows, is really an overstatement Vibe. What kind of message are you really sending, especially to young impressionable minds?

Bonsu Thompson of Vibe said:

“Reality television’s vengeful, ’bow-throwing drama queens get paid to ante up, catfight and go dumb for a living. They’re also funny, thoughtful mothers, sisters and self-made businesswomen who’ve spun our thirsts for theater into bankable fame. Can they live?”

While the writer talks about the women on the bottle-throwing, cat fighting, he insists that we should give them the benefit of the doubt.  Really? Role models?

Okay, I will give an exception to Kandi Burruss. She seems like the only one in the group who has some sense, tries to avoid the fights, and has clearly shown her entrepreneurial endeavors on the show. Tamar is pretty harmless herself, but the rest?

When asked about Star Jones’ recent petition to ban reality shows, this is what they said:

VIBE: Star Jones started a petition, lashing out against women and violence on reality TV. What’s your reaction?

Evelyn: [Bursts into laughter] I think she’s going to have to get a whole lot of names. Actually, I like the petition and I like the controversy because I’ve learned controversy is good. But I think she’s irrelevant. And she’s using our coattails to get relevant again. Nobody gives a f–k about her.

Chrissy: Whatever Star Jones is feeling is a little deeper than what she sees. I think she has her own issues.

Kandi: She may not be violent, but I’m sure she goes off on people in her day-to-day. I just don’t think it’s fair to block somebody from getting money.

 

When asked whether or not they see themselves as role models for young women:

Chrissy: I guess if somebody is afraid to speak their mind and wanna stand up for themselves, then yes. I want people to realize that they can have whatever they want. You can be respected in your relationship exactly the way you want to be. It’s up to you to go get it. Some of the stuff is a little heavy, but you’re not going to be exposed to crazy situations in life just by watching reality TV. You can go to the corner store and see crazy sh-t going on. You can go to school and see crazy sh-t. Don’t put it all on me.

Kandi: You would never imagine how many people come up to me on the street: “How could you be a part of that? It’s a disgrace to Black people.” I’m on a show called Real Housewives and I’m not married so I guess I represent single mothers out there who are handling their business and trying to take things to the next level. So when people say, “You shouldn’t be on the show, it’s like, “Well, who do you want to go on there? More people you don’t like?”

Evelyn: As a parent I didn’t raise my daughter to look up to somebody on TV as a role model. I want her to look up to her mother, her family as role models. Also, I have nieces who watch the show and love it. So I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place because I’m being me but now I’m coming to the realization that I can’t do… I wouldn’t want my nine-year-old watching this, but their parents do. So I said to myself recently, “Young girls are watching the show. I really need to check myself.” Before reality TV was what it was, I had full control over my daughter’s television because you never know what they’re showing. Every parent isn’t like that. It’s not for me to judge but we’re talking a lot about sex; sometimes there are sexy scenes. I think it’s a little inappropriate, but regardless, I don’t think children should be looking up to reality TV stars as role models.

Young women – Oprah, Michelle Obama, and other influential black women are your role models. I want you to take a look at an article we just posted of three African American’s  earning their doctorate degrees in Chemistry.  That is what you call impressionable.

Sadly, many young women are looking up to and intimating these women behaviors. As much as you love the entertainment, and I will admit I catch a glimpse from time to time, these ladies are not your role models. If these are our new role models ladies, then we are in serious trouble.