From Taylor’s Desk: Real Role Models – The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team
Credit: Schirach Report
The last time that the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team held a World Cup Championship title was in 1999. This year we have another chance to make our dreams of a championship title a reality. Before the 1999 Women’s World Cup, women’s soccer had been overshadowed by the success of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team. With the help of the ’99 team leaders Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain and Julie Foudy, women athletes were put on the map. The success of our 2011 women’s national team serves as a tool for national pride, as well as female pride.
The commercials for our U.S. women’s team focus on the need for a grand entrance and double exposure to declare that they are the “greatest team you’ve ever heard of”. The desired impact is to showcase that these women are real girls, with real bodies and real values, serving as role models for girls and women today. The U.S. team aims to take womankind three steps forward instead of three steps back.
Modern girls today are given images of long legged, ultra-thin women as role models. Through the U.S. women’s soccer team’s players, girls can now have “real” women to look up to. These strong women prove that dreams can be achieved without having to live up to the media’s idea of the perfect woman. The team is comprised of every body shape, size and ethnicity. The driving force behind their success is due to the fact that they have drive and skill. By beating France on July 13, 2011 to go to the finals against Japan, the team’s inspirational reach is expanding even further. Show your support and watch the final match, tune in on Sunday, July 17, 2011 at 2pm EST! The confidence that you bestow on our Women’s National Soccer Team by cheering them on will be returned to you ten-fold. Win or lose, they have inspired us all by making it to the Women’s World Cup Finals!
Cheers!
Taylor 
From Taylor’s Desk: The Misconception of Media
Credit
All you females out there, LOVE WHO YOU ARE! Your unique individuality, your strength, your beauty makes you… well, YOU. We are ever too eager to make others happy before we, ourselves, are happy. As my mom always tells me, “You must love yourself before you can love others”. Although, I have discovered that most media tells exactly the opposite. Ever since I can remember I have been a consumer of female, gossip magazines. It was always a joy to pick up that new issue and read the latest trends, the next best fat busting workout, or how to be a better kisser. As I have gotten older and been exposed to more in life I have realized that most of these articles tell women and girls how to be better. There always seems to be room for improvement and in most cases the improvement is geared toward appealing to men. They leave behind the scent of “You’re not good enough, so here’s what you have to do”. In a way these magazines train you to believe that you are not quite adequate enough.
My question is, why do we have to change who we are? Why are men exempt to doing more? You can find thousands of articles on “How to keep your man”, “10 best ways to please him in bed”, “Sure fire ways to catch his eye”. In men’s magazines it is rare to find an article that suggests doing more the please their women. We claim that society has evolved, but I feel that we have reverted to the 50′s mentality. The men are given the notion that they must be strong, tough and dominant. For women, we are expected to be submissive, do what we can to make men happy and appeal to their desires to keep them around. These perceptions block women from their true identity.
Many girls find themselves lost in an entanglement of characteristics that they are told they should have. I believe that we should take note of strong women who pride themselves on sticking to their guns on being genuine. They aren’t afraid to be who they are and don’t accept anything less than greatness. I hope that this tempts you to think twice before believing everything you hear and see in the media.
Keep your voice heard, keep your identity and stay strong!
Taylor
