September
2003
Soap Slackers
Written by Selina Jobbins, age 19 |
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| The
cast of East Enders |
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Selina
Jobbins asks what role models teenagers have. She thinks programmes
like East Enders and Coronation Street portray teenagers who are bad
role models - and would like to see more positive characters. |
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TV soap
‘Eastenders’ is one of the most teenage orientated programmes at prime
time, whilst ‘Coronation Street’ - winner of the recent Soap Awards
for number of viewers has vowed to become more so.
With an increasing teenage cast comes an increasingly teenage audience
that are attracted to it.
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| Martin |
Non of
the teenage casts in these soaps however are particularly encouraging
towards setting an example for or providing positive role models for
teenage audiences.
In
‘Eastenders’ alone there’s there is ‘Martin’ and ‘Asif’ who are currently
drug growing, as well as ‘Zoe’ and ‘Kelly’ with a history of prostitution
and a pregnant ‘Vicky‘.
‘Martin’ is not the first soap teenager to serve a prison sentence,
as ‘Vicky’ is not the first to become a pregnant.
In 'Coronation Street', ‘Ade’ was sent to prison around the same time
whilst ‘Sarah Lou’ became pregnant at just 13.
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| Zoe |
As well
as these ‘Maria’ has recently had an abortion, newcomer ‘Maz’ is also
drug growing and 16 year old ‘Katie’ is taking part in a sexual relationship
with 34 year old Martin!!
And I think that covers the whole of the teenage cast of the Street....lets
not forget car stealing Tyrone!
As far as higher education is concerned there is a lack of educational
encouragement at a basic standard, with Corrie’s ‘Candice’ deciding
to pack school in before even taking her GCSE’s.
‘Todd’ stupidly failed to go through with his A-levels, settling for
a job at ‘Dev‘s’ corner shop instead, making ‘Eastender’s’ ‘Sonia’
one of the only teenage soap characters to achieve A levels.
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| Sonia |
‘Sonia’
the exceptional role model is currently succeeding in a bright future
as a nurse, however there is no forgetting she too became pregnant
at 13 and had to give up the baby in order to do so.
There is no ‘Walford University’ nor ‘Wetherfield College‘. Most of
the teenage characters seem to be content in working in dead end job’s
that include clothes stalls, car garages, corner shop‘s and even fruit
stalls!!.
There needs to be more encouraging character’s like ‘Sonia’ (without
the background) and ‘Todd’s’ that do actually go off to University.
Taking all of these ‘soap slackers‘, that make up the majority of
teenage casts into account, I often wonder where teenagers find their
encouragement to succeed? It certainly isn’t television with it's
complete lack of role models!
By Selina, 19.
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