Role models for girls - who would you choose?

[unicorn]

Are there any women that you think make good role models for your daughters (other than yourself!)
and for what reasons?

Tanni Grey Thompson (paralympic athlete).. for her determination.

Compare Kylie with Christina Milani for the difference in positive and negative role models.

who 's she mt?

thanks sorrel i was just going to ask..

Artist Sam Taylor-Wood impressed me. Overcame cancer twice and is very into her family and art. I heard her interviewed on R4 and she seemed an interesting and lovely person.

oh forgot about your woman Ellen mac Arthur.

One of mine would be Margaret Thatcher, I know enough of you disagree but why - a very strong woman, who suceeded in a mans world and stuck to her views despite what everybody else thought. I dont necessarily agree with her politics but I admire her for sticking to her guns when it was about something that she thought strongly about - something I would encourage my dd's to do.

but jenkel what's the point in sticking to your guns if you're wrong? one of the best lessons we can teach our children is how to learn from our experiences and that includes the fact that you can have your mind changed by exchanging views with people who might not feel the same as you - and even say sorry.

Quite apart from her politics, Margaret Thatcher just always seemed so unkind that I think she's a bad role model. Very horrible to her daughter as well.

Thatcher never did a thing to help women either.

Sorrel - Christina Milani is some american who sings songs about the 'art' of being good to your man. Sentiments all hilariously 50's and conservative but she's dressed up in, well nothing and puts out to anonymous garage mechanics for fixing her car in the videos.

Really really pernicious stuff. Industry blow up doll basically. You could almost feel a bit sorry for her...er, scratch that

In answer to whoever asked about male role models, how about Lance Armstrong? Beat Testicular Cancer and then won Tour de France 6 times in a row.

Sorry for the hijack.

Angelina Jolie perhaps? Not taking into account that she had might of had an affair with Brad Pitt, she is a very kind person. She donates a significant amount of money to charity, has adopted two children from poverty-stricken countries and works as an ambassador.

I visited Cambodia last year, and I heard that she stayed in one of the local hotels rather than one of the disgustingly flamboyant ones owned by greedy foreigners. She also mixed with the local people on a daily basis and got involved with helping landmine victims.

And before you ask, I'm not Angelina herself but wouldn't mind looking liker her.

There's already millions of male role models. That's the point of this thread!

Sorry monkeytrousers, someone asked further down, that's all.

Don't know anyone I might consider a suitable role model well enough. They might be really horrible in RL; bitchy, selfish & materialistic are some of many despicable attributes.

I do admire Ellen MacArthur (bravery & determination), the Queen (bravery & sense of duty), J.K. Rowling (creativity & determination), Audrey Hepburn, Nicole Kidman, Meryll Streep, Princess Diana (apart from being beautiful, she was incredibly brave), Margaret Thatcher (power, intelligence, mental strength, but not politics), ... there are so many to admire, most of whom I've probably never heard of. And of course, moi, who tries hard for dd.

Sorry too HD. Didn't mean to sound so strident! You've had enough telling off for one day!

Hmmmm, Lady D. If I'd admire her for anything it'd be that when I was a kid every girl I knew wanted to grow up to be a princess - not sure many girls nowadays would be so naive.

But I don't have a daughter, so I'm probably wrong

No worries monkeytrousers.

Mother Theresa must be in there, if only to show what self sacrrifice can achieve. I think more people need to see that side of life, rather than how rich or famous one can become.
Mary Seacole, too.

Lady Di
Nicole Kidman

I really dont do this role model thing

MT, i think PD had a personality disorder. I'm very surprised she didn't end her own life given the extreme stress she underwent. I think it's unwise to assume she was this or that (except for those who knew her well). The press, as you know, is terribly manipulative & goes to great length to sell copy.

Er, what's wrong with Nicole Kidman? I can see she's an excellent actress but apart from that i can't think of anything specifically negative about her. do you know her?

no I don't know her

but she's just another actress with too much plastic surgery - don't see anything to model yourself on

oh, okay.

Helena Kennedy
Mo Mowlem
Caroline Whitfield for setting up a predominatly female company, with family friendly employment policies, in a traditionally male industry.

Don't think I've assumed she was anything Sansouci. Just thought it looks more like a cautionary tale now.