Miley Cyrus, Twerking and the Effects of Sexualized Imagery on Troubled Girls
Written by Craig Rogers, Posted on , in Section Essential Reads
Miley Cyrus and Twerking? Only a few short years ago, who would've dreamed that these words would've been mentioned in the same sentence? It appears that Miley is desperately trying to tell the world that she's all grown up now, but to the young fans who watched her show, she is still Hannah Montana, and they continue to look up to her. Miley, born Destiny Hope Cyrus, is the daughter of famed country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. Being cast as his teenage daughter in the 2006 Disney Channel television series, Hannah Montana, Miley quickly rose to the status of a teen idol, and her fame soon included movies, CD's, concert tours, and even a line of merchandise.The face of Miley Cyrus was everywhere!
The TV series tells the story of a teenage girl who lives a double life. By day she is an average teen named Miley Stewart, and by night a famous singer named Hannah Montana. Only her family and closest friends know her true identity, and in light of recent events, it appears that she is still trying to define her identity.
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Sexualized Imagery, such as twerking seen by Miley Cyrus, can impact troubled girls
Miley began her career singing upbeat pop songs which focused on the power young girls have to conquer obstacles, and helping them recognize their value and self-worth. However, once the TV series came to a close, and Miley began growing up, her outfits and dance routines became progressively more provocative, and her lyrics more suggestive; even to the point of media criticism. At the 2009 Teen Choice Awards, which was aimed at "tweens", she included a pole dance in her performance. This incited a media uproar, as she was only 16 at the time.
When these impressionable young girls see their prior Disney idols, such as Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and Christina Aguilera, behaving in provocative ways, it normalizes the behavior in their eyes, and what was once considered inappropriate becomes commonplace. Twerking, and every other sexualized image aimed at troubled girls, prepares yet another young generation for even further degradation.
