Much better female roles models are women like Jeane Kirkpatrick, Madeleine Albright and Condoleezza Rice. They've played an important role in shaping today's political landscape and didn't get to where they are by being bubbleheads. Nor did they have their parents millions to give them a head start. I'd add actresses like Helen Mirren and Judy Dench who are talented and actually interesting - unlike the supremely boring Paris Hilton.

Ronnie,

I don't think that young men showing their distaste for women like Paris would make a jot of difference, unfortunately. I suspect that young women take their image cues from their magazines, television, and their peers - not from the guys around them. More's the pity, because I think men - even young men - find a far wider range of women attractive and interesting than to the fairly vacuous media outlets seem to.

No evidence at all to back up these thoughts, mind you, but that's how it seems to me.

Anthony

I don't think Hilton is the cause of any of the problems outlined. She is just another example of the dumbing down of female culture over the last 40 years or so. Whenever I'm waiting at a check-out I feel embarrassed for those women I see flicking through women's magazines looking for the lastest gossip. They seem to have that same look of wonder you might expect from a 13 year old boy looking through his first porno mag.

Daniel06. No I wasn't referring to Emo in relation to black T-shirts. Just another of your (a) needs to be (b) for me to slag (c), therefore (a) must be (b). Another silly assumption and failure to do anything but expose Daniel06’s own poor scholastic ability.

Daniel06 your poor reasoning skills have you thinking (a) wears black tee shirts; most (b's) wear black, so therefore all people who wear black T-shirts are (b's). Daniel06 has failed to understand and use sensible logical processes, it follows for him that all Emo's are whatever his prejudicial position demands.

These Stiff Little Fingers lyrics I posted are hardly Emo.

“…
your think it time you took me over
do what you can do yourself
but don't let hero get your kicks for you
it's up to you and no one else.

try to take control of it cause
what you see is what you get.
try to take control of it and you'll see

don't want to be nobody's hero
don't want to be nobody's star
don't want to be nobody's hero
get up getup be what you are.

you think you’re nobody
and i have all the fun
but no ones nobody
everyone is some one

…”
Correct this would be negative to someone like Daniel06 who thinks he/she is a hero and everyone else is rubbish.

Sham 69 lyrics remind me of the attitude youngsters need when confronted with negativity like Daniel06's.

Hey little rich boy
Take a good look at me
Hey little rich boy
Take a good look at me
I don't need a flash car to take me around
I can get the bus to the other side of town

Hey little rich boy
Take a good look at me
Hey little rich boy
Take a good look at me
I didn't get no GCE
It makes you think you can't talk to me

Hey little rich boy
Take a good look at me
Hey little rich boy
Take a good look at me
Why should I let it worry me
I'll never believe you’re better than me

Once upon a time 'self pleasuring' masturbation was blamed for causing blindenss, deafness and mental illness. Perhaps in some areas such beliefs still exist.

Melinda wrote; "The American Psychological Association has found the sexual objectification of girls leads to academic failure, depression, eating disorders and poor self-image. Girls are at risk of premature sexual activity which causes depression."

Obviously if a student spends too much time 'partying' and not enough time studying they may fail academically and being subjected to bullying can also lead to depression and a poor self image.

Many of these things can be multi-factural with no particular single cause to blame.

Come on people, guys and girls, admit it. If you had the chance, you'd nail Paris in a second...