The following is an EASY question-and-answer interview with Barbadian-born Dr Carla Cornelius, a minister of the Methodist Church who now resides in Britain. She has just written a new book entitled Captive Daughters.
EASY: What inspired you to write this book?
Carla: In my previous publication, Culture Detox, I examined how popular culture can have a toxic effect on our souls by injecting us with mind-numbing deceptions and distortions such as the media’s pre-occupation with superficial qualities such as looks, wealth and celebrity. Captive Daughters is the sequel to it, and here I have honed in on issues relating to women in particular.
I observed that women in society were manifesting symptoms of discontent, restlessness and dissatisfaction, and it seemed a contradiction of what feminism was supposed to have offered. Wasn’t the feminist movement supposed to have made women better off in every way? For example, why are more and more women self-harming? Why are more women seeking divorce? Why are more women rushing to have cosmetic surgery?
For example, earlier this year a British young lady died during a buttocks enlargement operation overseas.
This tragic case represents the mental symptoms of a growing number of women in our culture who are not feeling good about themselves and nursing an inferiority complex – idolizing celebrities no matter how flawed they are simply because they are glamorous, rich and famous – and aspiring to upper-class status and a luxurious lifestyle rather than the actualization of their unique talents and abilities.
EASY: Why do you think there is an overwhelming focus by the media and advertisers on the female physique?
Carla: The beauty, fashion and entertainment industries are capitalizing on peoples’ insecurities with the ultimate aim of increasing their profits. If women are content with themselves, they won’t buy into the lies spun by these industries that you need to buy this anti-ageing cream, have plastic surgery or idolize a particular celebrity who has a perfect physique. By putting a female celebrity on a pedestal, they will be lured into seeing her films, buying her music and the other brands attached to her name.
EASY: Can mental chains which hold women captive be passed down from previous generations?
Carla: I would not be so bold as to say that behaviours are passed through the DNA, but there is no question that the way a mother behaves in front of her daughters will heavily shape their own behaviours. A survey in Britain found that daughters of mothers who are on a diet are twice as likely to have an eating disorder. Very often, mothers themselves have succumbed to these false ideologies and can therefore offer little reassurance to their young daughters. If fed from the bottle on a healthy diet which affirms their unique beauty and self-worth, the more capable young girls will be dismissing these bodily myths.
EASY: Is this book just for Christian women?
Carla: On the contrary – any woman, whatever her religion, may find herself mirrored in the statistics alluded to in the book. If she is prepared to be open-minded, she will appreciate that the Biblical view shines a stark light on popular culture and reveals it as the sham that it is.
The data upon which I base my arguments is largely from Britain, but popular mainstream media have invaded every democratic, open society in the world. The messages are no respecter of cultural, national or religious boundaries and neither are their harmful effects.
EASY: Do you think that women are in crisis?
Carla: I don’t know whether I would latch on to such hyperbole, but certainly it is critical that women wake up to the reality of the fashion, music and Hollywood industries which make up popular culture, and their dangers.
We need to redefine danger not just in terms of “don’t talk to strangers”, “don’t leave your drink unattended at a night club or party”, but monitor how much of the popular culture you imbibe whether through TV, radio, newspaper or magazines.
Our minds and not just our bodies or material possessions need to become our most prized possession. Many women have idols in their heart.
They have elevated celebrities to “near-God” status, they are addicted to shopping, soap operas, gossip – activities which steal their time and do not fulfil the deep longings of their souls.
EASY: What is the most common chain that entraps women in today’s culture?
Carla: The sexualisation agenda. Little girls are being marketed grown-up fashions and make-up, women nearing retirement age desperate to regain lost youth.
It’s not just the youth who are being sexualised but everyone of all ages. That’s why ageism is rampant; we discard people like used goods if they are no longer appealing to the eye; the word beautiful has been hijacked by the term sexy. We have swallowed the lie that we are sexual beings first and foremost at the expense of developing character and nurturing self-esteem.
EASY: In the final chapter you invite women to turn the spotlight on themselves in “Breaking The Chains”. Give me one way in which a woman can begin to break the chains today.
Carla: Many women regard female celebrities as role models because of their material success and glamorous lifestyles. They are enchanted by the fact that celebrities are followed around and sought after by the Press, which gives the false impression that their lives are more important than one’s own. So when they see a celebrity they admire behaving in an unseemly way, they begin to think it’s acceptable. This begs the question as to the purpose of a role model.
A role model should spur you on to your own self-development. If this person only inspires passive hero-worship, then you need to question the pride of place they occupy in your heart. Scripture warns us to “guard our heart with all diligence because out of it flows the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).
If you choose a role model for the particular quality they possess which you want to emulate, then if that quality begins to pale or becomes less appealing, you are likely to abandon the pursuit of that quality in your own life.
Furthermore, you will soon become disenchanted with your hero worship and yearn for something more fulfilling. We must all worship someone or something because God made us for worship – to worship Him.
It has become acceptable and normal in Western culture to confer on celebrities the status of role models. The reason a media role-model cannot ever be appropriate is because there is no relationship, no meaningful bond other than that between a star and a fan – which is based on fantasy and illusion.
The beautiful model or actress is not as beautiful as you think, because much time, effort, cosmetics and photo-editing goes into achieving that image. The voice of that musician you admire is enhanced by instruments and clever arrangement.
The sportswoman you idolize is not as strong or as skilled as you think – she relies on coaching, training and physiotherapy as well as sports psychology to keep her in peak form.
A role model should not rob you of your individuality. The danger is that female media icons consume so much of our attention, time and imagination that our own lives are neglected as a result. A role model may shape you but you still need to decide what it is that makes you unique:
EASY: What do you want to be remembered for?
Carla: An individual can never be replicated. Why be a second-rate celebrity when you can be a first-rate you? You can admire and imitate qualities such as working hard, endurance, kindness, politeness. If you incorporate these into your character and lifestyle, you will reap success in your life.
Young girls and women need to discern the positive, desirable traits to follow in the women they are exposed to through the media and their community and, conversely, the negative, unflattering ones to avoid. They also need to focus more on admirable women in their intimate circles.
