Kim, Khloe, Kourtney, Kendall, Kylie. The women of the Kardashian family. This famous family (for no particular reason) is made up of some of the most popular people in the public eye. Young girls under the age of 18 are literally idolizing these women, and for what? Kim gained her notoriety because of a sex tape; Kourtney put up with her long-time alcoholic, cheating, and verbally abusive boyfriend; Kylie’s claim to fame is her overwhelming number of followers on Tumblr and Instagram; Khloe gets praised because she’s a “pretty plus-size,” which is a disgusting concept within itself, and Kendall, like so many famous women, is famous for being beautiful. And let’s not forget their mother, Chris, a dictator of a manager who is willing to completely exploit her children to any means necessary.
I see a very large problem with the celebrities that young people choose to look up to. The Kardashians are only one prime example of people who should NOT be idolized. There are so many other great women that should be recognized and looked up to by girls. So, for your enjoyment, here is a brief list of ladies who should be significantly more important than the Kardashian women.
1. Emma Watson
Watson was raised by a single father, who struggled to put her through a private education system. After she was cast as Hermione in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone," she stuck her first massive paycheck in the bank until she was 21, and she continued to do so until she reached said age. After the conclusion of the Harry Potter franchise, Watson continued to star in popular films such as "My Week with Marilyn" (2011) and "Noah" (2014) while also pursuing a college education. She graduated from Brown University in May 2014.
2. Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman was born in Jerusalem, Israel, and came to the United States at the age of three. She holds herself to a very high standard in the film industry and only accepts roles that fit a specific criteria. “Nothing too raunchy or cheesy; there’s too much of that in this society.” She’s known for her roles in "Star Wars," "The Other Boleyn Girl," "V for Vendetta," and more. She has been a dancer since the age of 3 and is extensively trained in ballet, jazz and tap dancing. She is a graduate of Harvard University with a degree in psychology. She also has a doctorate degree. Portman speaks three languages fluently, can partially communicate in another five and is also an active humanitarian. (iMbd).
3. Misty Copeland
Misty Copeland grew up in Missouri, mashed into a house filled with six children. She tried her hand at several hobbies unsuccessfully before finally finding her footing in a ballet studio. Her early life was difficult, however, and with her family in an uproar in the midst of a divorce, a 13-year-old Misty lived in her ballet teacher’s home, allowing her to be in the public eye as an up-and-coming performer. She studied under Cindy Bradley, the famed West Coast ballet instructor. She joined the American Ballet Theatre in 2000. Copeland was the star of several ballet productions, including "The Nutcracker" and "Firebird." Today, Misty is the first ever African-American principal ballerina to be appointed in the American Ballet Theatre in its several decades of history.
4. Carli Lloyd
U.S. Olympic soccer player Carli Lloyd is a graduate of Rutgers University and former captain of the Rutgers women's soccer team. She scored Olympic goals in 2008 and 2012, helping the U.S. bring home the gold with each game. She was on the U.S. junior national team that won the Nordic Cup from 2002-2005, but she considered quitting the sport after being cut from the team at one point. After playing on several different soccer teams throughout her career, her love and talent for the sport led her to the 2015 FIFA World Championship. In the final game against Japan, she scored three goals in 16 minutes. U.S. women’s soccer took the game 5-2. Afterwards, Lloyd was awarded the honor of the Golden Ball.
So you see, these examples above are just a few of the endless numbers of women who are astronomically more successful than the Kardashians. Yet the Kardashians are literally praised for their looks and bodies, while their actual reasons for being famous are being brushed under the rug. No parent in their right mind would want their daughter idolizing a woman who gained fame because of a sex tape. So why aren’t respectable women like the ones listed above pushed on young girls like the Kardashians are? It is not fair, and it is not right. I firmly believe that the Kardashian family lends a major helping hand to the body image issue so many girls face today, and it must be stopped. Girls should be aspiring to get a good education, play sports and keep their body healthy, but most importantly follow their dreams—not count followers on social media.
