Even if the economy were booming, the idea of a teenager using an image consultant is perplexing, to say the least. But the trend has been taking hold among young girls who have been raised on a steady diet of pop culture, from “The Hills” to “Hannah Montana,” girls who are being shaped by an industry that trades in reinvention. In this week’s episode of Bravo’s reality drama “NYC Prep,” one teen client actually rebelled against her hectoring stylist, who declared items in the girl’s closet so “last season.”
and
“I dress for other girls,” admits Meredith.
and, finally
Hannah has a wide, open face with thick auburn hair and huge green eyes. It’s hard to imagine people looking at her as anything other than the prom queen. But she developed her curves early, and describes her middle school years as being difficult, aided by the mean comments left by her classmates in her Facebook page’s Honesty Box.
“You have bad skin, you’re ugly, your body’s gross,” she remembers. “I would be so depressed I wanted to see a therapist.”
Angst over one’s looks (and place in the school panoply) is as old as the hills, but this? Can a manicure and the right skirt really make all the difference in a young woman’s life? That’s not how it worked 100 years ago when I still bought Clearasil. Please tell me the world hasn’t changed that much, that — instead — these parents are playing into an ugly side of one-ups-girl-ship. Tell me what really counts is — still and always — what’s inside.
First he read some negative reviews of her from the Almanac of the Federal Judiciary: “She seems angry,” “she’s overly aggressive,” and “she abuses lawyers.” And then he asked about her temperament.
For all the world, this sounded like a situation where a forthright woman is condemned — and a forthright man gets a bye. After all, why did no one think to remind Sen. Graham that it’s impolite to interrupt?
And when the senator said that “maybe these hearings are a time for self-reflection,” I really kind of wanted to throw my chair.
Say you’re without a job, without a home, without a bed, and you get in line outside a social services center for a shot at the last two.
If, while you’re accepting help, someone comes up and starts evangelizing, is that something you need to grin and bear? Or should you be free to accept help without hearing about Jesus?
He cut her off before she could finish her answer — manners, Senator! – but this is a good question to ask about this profoundly important document – and about, say, our sacred texts, as well.
Is the Bible a living, breathing document? And explain your answer.
According to an Australian study, marriages stay together for love, sure, but other factors include money, children, in-laws, and whether other family members have divorced.
This is sad, as one writer said, because at one point:
The SCLC was based on King’s notion of “Beloved Community” and the morally consistent maxim that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
…my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when the convention’s leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be “subservient” to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service. This was in conflict with my belief – confirmed in the holy scriptures – that we are all equal in the eyes of God.
This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. It is widespread. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths.
Nor, tragically, does its influence stop at the walls of the church, mosque, synagogue or temple. This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of women’s equal rights across the world for centuries. The male interpretations of religious texts and the way they interact with, and reinforce, traditional practices justify some of the most pervasive, persistent, flagrant and damaging examples of human rights abuses.
In today’s confirmation hearing for the next Supreme Court justice, Sonia Sotomayor explained:
The words I used, I used them agreeing with the sentiment that Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was trying to convey… that both men and women were equally capable of being wise and fair judges. That has to be what she meant, because judges disagree about legal outcomes all of the time. I shouldn’t say all of the time, at least in close cases they do. Judges on the Supreme Court come to different conclusions. It can’t mean that one of them is unwise despite the fact that people think that.
I never understood the discussion about this. I think as a wise hillbilly (and those two words are not necessarily mutually exclusive), I bring quite a bit of interesting things to the table. And I don’t mean, by saying that, that those not blessed to be hillbilly are ignorant — just not as blessed.
…and the anti-abortion protesters who yesterday interrupted proceedings — by my count — three times: Can you support a candidate — for Supreme Court justice, for representative, for president — if you disagree with that candidate’s stance on a hot-button issue?
But: Is there room in your theology (and/or your politics) for dissension? Or are reproductive rights, equal rights, and peace too important for you to compromise?
This Washington Post story explores ”makeovers” and image consulting for the tween/teen set.
