who are PROPER female role models

[Porcupine]

for your dds? not farking JOran please

Like Lola though, fab idea.

Dimanche Diller
Violet Baudelaire
Grace Darling
Thingy Nightingale the nurse

I don't have a dd (yet) but when I was younger I was heavily influenced by the fact my dad was in the RAF during WW2. I ended up reading up about heroines from that era, particularly women like Violette Szabo and Odette Sansom.

But I also looked up to Agnetha from ABBA.

DD's list of role models;
Lady Sovereign
Beyonce
Girls Aloud
Shakira Shakira
Lisa Simpson
Anyone that can play the drums really well (she couldn't think of a lady drummer though)
Someone called Grace that had something to do with a lighthouse in Scarborough that we did at school (she said)

She is only 8

dd's is her db

So they have to be great women AND wear nice lipstick?

Sisters I despair

I know it's Grace Darling, she was the one that couldn't remember!!!! She was very cool (much cooler than Girls Aloud, but they wear nice clothes and Lady Sovereign has a side ponytail, apparently - obviously that makes her an ideal role model ). Think DD only said Grace Darling because she's called Grace too - but she did learn about her 2 years ago so I was impressed she remembered (think it had more to do with the donkeys on the beach at Scarborough though TBH!)

Would it be really embarrassing to say Judi Dench? Done well in her career, bloody good actress, not based on looks and youth, and clearly has brains. I've always liked her.

ginger monkey-have you heard anything by 'lady' sovereign? She is HORRID and i put lady in '' because she is anything but!! she makes girls aloud look like perfect role models!

Peaches- i cant believe i missed Judi!! I admired her since i started my drama alevels,i really thought i would grow up to be like her!! Alas, i turned into Mary Poppins without the carpet bag and talking umbrella!

How about Jaqulin (sorry about spelling) Gold? Obviously cant introduce her to young DD's but she is a self made buisness women, and she made the rich list!! I hear she is very good with rabbits too

Oh and Lisa Simpson i agree with to!

Sarz - Jackie gold forgot her. Judi Dench is a national treasure.
Victoria Wood?
Also think Fern Britten is a good role model, happy in her own skin, works , has kids, has a laugh!

DD is a fan, she is a gobby little madam (both Sov and DD TBH). I'm not going to ban her from making her own choices in music, but that doesn't mean I like her (DD does have quite good taste usually, and doesn't actually like Girls Aloud's music, just the dresses they wear).

Jane Austin?

Alice Schwarzer. A fab German feminist who founded the feminist magazine 'Emma' 30 years ago and has kept it going strong and independent since then. Despite repeatedly being heaped with media opprobrium she is determined, very true to herself and has a lovely sense of humour, so that a lot of people who downright disagree with her views have to admire her.

Kate Winslet I reckon. From what I've heard she's very down to earth, she sounds like a great mum and and she's not a waif.

i'm trying t think of who my role models were when i was 8! I am pretty sure it was tracey beaker, who is pretty terrible! and of course my one true love, Take That-not female i realise but i didnt have time for role models whilst i was busy trying to learn dance routines and words!!

GingermonKey: female drummers for your DD include Mo Tucker (velvet underground) Honey from The Honeycombs (look, I am quite old) and see if you can find any DVDs which feature Girlschool, an all-girl band from the 80s who actually played all their instruments, including a full drumkit played by Denise Dufort.

I'm not big on role models, because most peole (of whatever gender) who achieved somethign good also had fairly gruesom faults - admire acheivements, sure, but be awary of elevating anyone to total icon status as it doesn't do them or their admirers any favours.

Oh yes, lovely, funny Linda Smith.

dh once interviewed maya angelou, so i got on the phone and told her how much i loved her and that i had a friend staying with us who was trying to get away from her violent husband and miss angelou asked to speak to her. she spoke to my pal for ten minutes, she was wonderful.

(pal never did leave husband, though... )

yes I think Jacqueline du Pre is a role model. she was a phenomenal talent and made the most of it. she was very driven.
I think the notion that women have to be nice is very insidious. I expect the Pankhursts weren't very nice. nice girls don't get very far ime
and I don't think she had a particularly sad life.

another vote 4 maya angelou and rosa parks

nancy wake - white mouse

Vivian Bullwinkle - nurse in WW2 survived Japanese attack

sara henderson - writer and cattle rancher
Dr Fiona Wood - spray on skin for burns victims came to fore in Bali bombing

cathy freeman - wonderful athlete

Gill Hicks - aussie woman who survived london bombings but lost both her legs - her journey and recovery are amazing.

I haven't read all the thread all the way so maybe these have been mentioned

Margaret Thatcher
Eleanor Roosevelt
Maya Angelou
JK Rowling
Rosa Parks
Martha Stewart

farking Posh and farking Jordan, nice artificial boobs and thick as 2 planks !