Role Models

Dragan

This is something i am interested in but can't really comment on myself...strong role models for women! I can look at a woman in any field and see them as a role model for myself but that is simply applying things like work ethic, politics, drive, determination etc that i see in them as a person to me as a person.

I am really curious to see who posters here think are good, strong role models for women as women?

jellie

I cant think of one universally good role model, theres different role models fr different parts of life. Theres good role models for different things.

If youre looking at your career maybe theres a woman who has achieved something amazing - anyone know of any super female programmers? :P i actually cant think of a female thats big in the computing world.

If youre battling something like breast cancer, look at someone like kylie who got through it & looks as amazing as ever.

For me, it would probably be my mother. My parents separated when I was 15. my mother had to retrain and go back out to work. She works all week and still keeps the house going (admittedly i havent always helped as much as I should). Shes dealt with the drama that my younger brothers create on almost a weekly basis mostly on her own. Shes strong but not in an obvious way, and while she does sometimes let it all get to her, she pulls herself through it. Id hope I wouldnt have to deal with the things she has, but if i could handle it as well as shes done id be proud.

I've never really looked at role models, except tenzin palmo but even then I don't get too pre-occupied with her. Was inspired reading about her and seeing a documentary on all she's done for women oppressed in the tibetan discipline.

Still, back in the "real world" ... /shrug

shellyboo

Wow, no replies to this yet. Kind of worrying.

I was trying to think of one, but I guess I don't have any. I have a few people (mostly writers) that I'd admire, some male some female... but I admire them for their work regardless of their gender.

Perhaps it's just another case of women not liking women? I can't think of one woman I admire for the way she conducts herself as a woman, as opposed to some other talent/skill. Which is kind of bad.

DancingDaisy

I'm not sure how other people feel about this woman, but I think I would count Anita Roddick as a female role model.

I find that there are far more successful men in business than female, and as a business student I feel that successful women, who conduct successful business in an ethically sound fashion are hard to come by but Anita Roddick managed this.

If I could emulate a millionth of her success in my own life and still stick to my morals then I would be a happy girl.

Dudess

As a film and music fanatic, my choices would be actresses and musicians who go against the grain (i.e. not primarily concerned with being conventionally sexy etc) - e.g. Sigourney Weaver, Tilda Swinton, Bjork, Patti Smith, PJ Harvey.

Dudess

Dudess wrote: »

As a film and music fanatic, my choices would be actresses and musicians who go against the grain (i.e. not primarily concerned with being conventionally sexy etc) - e.g. Sigourney Weaver, Tilda Swinton, Bjork, Patti Smith.

Yeah, Tilda Swinton is just freaking awesome.
I do love Meryl Streep too.

metaoblivia

I can't think of any women that I would describe as role models (although to be fair - can't think of any men either). There are women I admire such as Virginia Woolf, Eleanor Roosevelt, Audrey Hepburn, Nellie Bly, Florence Nightengale, even Oprah - all for different reasons. I wouldn't call them role models though, as I don't really desire to live a life like them. I just admire the choices they made and what they were able to accomplish with their life.

Crumble Froo

heh, nice post dudess, i was just about to say that most of mine would be women musicians who are the only woman in the band, cos it's a tough industry, with tough critics and it is just so strongly male based out there. then there's the having to deal with 'but youre only popular cos people think youre hot/novelty factor', without people factoring in the fact that ye're all talented musicians or the like.

but i know when i was growing up, two of my cousins would have been my role models. one, a girl, who was the first person i knew to travel the world, which i thought was absolutely awesome, and she always had this complete sense of fun and devil-may-care about her which i loved, and the other was a guy, who got me into some good music, and helped open my mind about so many things, always made time for me and engaged me in really interesting conversations.

i'd say over here, my role model is this dude whose life revolves around his surfing and skating. rarely watches tv, spends a vast amount of his time when not surfing/skating painting and playing guitar. got a great attitude to life and i totally admire him and look up to him for it. guess he's not a female role model, but certainly something i'd strive to be more like.

pseudonym1

Ya Tilda Swinton rocks she has got true style. Audrey Hepburn Coco Channel Amelia Bloomer would be women I would hold in high regard.

I admire people who come across as strong indivduals. Not afraid to be themselves and that makes them shine imo. I am inspired by certain folk for certain things achievments circumstances dealt with etc.. I think to look at anyone and think you wish you could be like them is a bit sad really.

My Mum has always been my inspiration and shown me strenghts and how to be the best person can be in so many ways. And I know am I damn lucky.

Arcee

Not everyone would agree, but I think Hilary Clinton deserves a mention. I find her intriguing because she's so positive all the time. Anyone with that much optimism and positivity is worth looking up to IMO.

Peared

Mine is and always has been Sinead O Connor.

Talented, ballsy, and not afraid of making mistakes, she showed Irish women that they don't have to fit into a neat little box labelled 'what a woman should be like'.

She has grown up in public and f*cked up along the way, but who of us has not?

She was never concerned with the trappings of fame, just used it to draw attention to issues she felt needed to be highlighted.

She lives for her art and her children and has never been afraid to be herself, warts and all. Sometimes, that can be the hardest thing in the world.

pikachucheeks

Christina Aguilera's been my role model since I was about 14.

Aside from her sheer talent, I really admire and respect her ability to be herself.
She has her own style, her own opinions, does her own thing and doesn't let negative people hold her back.

She's self-assured, fierce and unique - Definitely inspirational to me.

panda100

Crumble Froo wrote: »

heh, nice post dudess, i was just about to say that most of mine would be women musicians who are the only woman in the band, cos it's a tough industry, with tough critics and it is just so strongly male based out there.

I was talking about this the other day with a friend of mine. I had just watched the comic relief single by 'The Saturdays'. Here's a still from the video:
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/02/13/article-1144762-0381B325000005DC-893_468x268.jpg

Empowering stuff for young girls watching Comic Relief!
Anyways,It got me thinking that I couldn't mention one band with all women in it that didn't use sex to sell their music..........Girls Aloud,The Pussycat dolls.....Why do women have to wear no clothes to sell music?
Most of my 'role models' growing up where from Smash Hits and TOTP's. I wanted to BE Baby Spice

My role model now is Kathleen Lynch,head of the Equality department in UCD. She's not famous as such but I respect and admire her very much.

amacachi

Jane Tomlinson. Amazing woman, amazing person.

Blush_01

I have always been in awe of Veronica Guerin, since I was a kid. She gave up her life fighting for what she believed in. I guess she's probably the closest thing to a role model I have.

There are many, many women I admire, but for many different reasons, and there's no one woman who I would like to emulate completely.

Funnily the women I admire most seem to be writers. Hmmm.

Barbieliveshere

My role model would probably be my little cousin who battled with leukimia and managed to survive despite being given days to live... That is strength!! Something i admire every time i see her

ali.c

A genuinely interesting question- but I honestly dont know. There are many women I admire and I have been fortunate to learn from many things from some of the fabuluos woman I know iIRL but I never have had a role model per say

Stargal

When I was a kid, my role models were mainly fictional characters - Jo from Little Women, Captain Janeway from Star Trek Voyager and the main characters in Malory Towers/St. Clare's. Yeah, it sounds a tad ridiculous now but they were all very strong women and it taught me a lot about the kind of person that I wanted to be.

As I've grown up though, my role models are mainly women who have the qualities that I really admire and am constantly trying to work on for myself: Naomi Klein, Samantha Power (foreign policy advisor to Obama), Rachel Maddow (presents the best current affairs programme I've ever seen in my life), for example. They're all whip-smart, articulate and at the top of their game.

I don't look up to them just because they're women - there are lots of men I admire too, such as Fintan O'Toole and Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein - but I guess I can just identify with them a bit more.

In real life, this might sound a bit odd but my boyfriend is probably the single most important role model to me. He's the best person I've ever known in my life, and I admire him and look up to him as much as I love him.

pseudonym1

Oh forgot one very important one Matilda!!
from Rolad Dahls book

metaoblivia

Stargal wrote: »

Rachel Maddow (presents the best current affairs programme I've ever seen in my life)

+1

I love her show.

kevmy

Have to say I never really got the whole role model thing. I mean if you can't find your own way in life without someone to look up to/follow I would kinda worry about you.

Dudess

I'd be more worried about someone who admires absolutely nobody. Seems kinda arrogant.

Stargal

kevmy wrote: »

Have to say I never really got the whole role model thing. I mean if you can't find your own way in life without someone to look up to/follow I would kinda worry about you.

You're looking at it the wrong way. It's about getting inspiration from specific things that other people have been able to do, not about living your life according to what they do or say.

GirlInterrupted

I have to say that my role model is and always has been my mother.

If I can handle what life hands me, the bad and the good, with half the grace, charm, wisdom, and humour that she has, I know I'll have become a woman worth knowing.

I'm very lucky I got to be her daughter.

cuckoo

Stargal wrote: »

When I was a kid, my role models were mainly fictional characters - Jo from Little Women, Captain Janeway from Star Trek Voyager and the main characters in Malory Towers/St. Clare's. Yeah, it sounds a tad ridiculous now but they were all very strong women and it taught me a lot about the kind of person that I wanted to be.

I think Buffy the Vampire Slayer is great. Cares for her family, faces up to fear, loves and loses - but isn't afraid to love again, maintains strong friendships and saves the world. What's not to admire?

ellenmelon

It's interesting this comes up, as it was a topic of conversation in a tutorial recently (talking about leadership in management) and I was saying that I don't find famous people inspiring as role models. I think it's because I don't have personal contact with them and converse with them and see them at work/socially day to day. If that makes sense.
I definately have a role model in my life, who has attributes that I admire and while I don't want to be her I learn a heap off of her and she's definately a good role model personally and professionally.

CathyMoran

Most of my role models have been male - Patrick Moore for his astronomy prouess (though there is a female astronomer too but I forget her name), Kylie for her strength in facing cancer, Sean Huges for his sense of humour...one of my cousins for being a great person in the face of adversity and my husband for kindness, intelligence and loyalty.

mashling

sar84 wrote: »

If youre looking at your career maybe theres a woman who has achieved something amazing - anyone know of any super female programmers? :P i actually cant think of a female thats big in the computing world.

What about Ada Lovelace? Genius and a snappy dresser!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace

jellie

mashling wrote: »

What about Ada Lovelace? Genius and a snappy dresser!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace

had never heard of her before.. she has a cool name though :pac:

Kya1976

Not my own role models, just throwing a couple of names out there:)
Emmeline Pankhurst
Mother Teresa

fonpokno

I'd never really thought of female role models but if thinking of someone who I respect and would love to be like the first person I thought of was G'em.

Now I've never met her but who ever meets their role models. She's a magnificently strong woman in every sense with a brilliant sharp wit. Intelligent and holds three world records and she's still all down to earth and stuff! That lady is everything I would love to be!