Oprah Winfrey Research Paper

Oprah Winfrey has become one of the most influential women in modern day America. Starting from her show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Oprah has advanced to establishing her own network OWN. Her cultural influence has only continued to get stronger as her programs, books, and even her presence have become more popular. Oprah promotes a New Age worldview mixed with unorthodox viewpoints. She constantly promotes the message that the truth is within each person. This individualism has assisted in producing a culture that every man is doing what is right in his own eyes. Oprah Winfrey has helped create a culture with freedom and boundless rights because each individual defines them. As we will take a look into the depths of the philosophy Oprah Winfrey
campaigns, you must take a look within yourself to define what the truth is. Oprah Winfrey advocates a worldview to her audience of personal transformation through living your life with the best of your ability spiritually, physically, economically and emotionally.
(Frykholm, 2012) When anyone of these elements is off in an individual’s life, it affects the rest. Oprah takes this approach when finding the solution to the problems of her audience. Take money for an example. If a person is at their best economically, they can be emotionally stable, content and happy while also having the pleasure of helping others through giving. This is directly reflected by the life of Oprah herself who lives a life full of generosity. “Oprah loves to have fun, give parties, and see friends... She loves to surprise people... With exquisite gifts..." (Eckman Dr., 2011) Unlike some celebrities, Oprah uses her wealth and popularity to help others with their own problems by national television exposer, donating to special organizations from animal rescue projects to helping repair the Gulf Coast, and simply blessing her audience in any way she can. She extends her money to her own company, Harpo Productions. Most of these productions include inspirational stories which include but is not limited to: Dr. Phil, The Rosie Show, and her own The Oprah Winfrey Show. Harpo productions have also taken on the popular health shows such as "Rachael Ray," and "The Dr. Oz Show". Oprah promotes the philosophy that materialism is part of the key to having the best life possible but if it is not in balance, it will damage you emotionally, physically, and
spiritually. Oprah Winfrey uses all of her recourses to promote many aspects of her worldview. Oprah has been known to support one of the most diverse topics, homosexuality. She has publically accepted the gay community through her displays and acknowledgements in support for them. A sticking moment when her support for gay and lesbian rights was clearly shown was when she supported the Ellen DeGeneres Show in 1997. (Goff, 2012) Oprah’s support with each individual’s sexuality is only part of the social issues she involves herself in. Oprah helps a range of personal problems. For Oprah, every social issue has a connection to how the individual is doing spiritually, physically, economically and emotionally.
Oprah Winfrey’s worldview is very much based on self-awareness. The basis of her philosophy is if you are true to yourself then you can save yourself in any situation. To ‘be true to yourself’ means to look at life as a story, a story that has a lesson, embrace the ability to put forth your best, having and being respected is essential, honor is worth the sacrifice it takes, take leaps and have faith, let instinct guide you, follow your muse, do things important today, and learn from your experience. According to Oprah Winfrey we are not meant to be perfect, we are meant to be whole. (Alolish, 2012) Oprah has often been regarded with having more of a Christian worldview. However, after taking a closer look to the philosophies and worldview she advocates, it is clear she has a modern worldview.
Oprah Winfrey has a lot of key points in her philosophy that are important to live a fulfilled life, however, I do not agree with what her philosophy is centered around. Oprah centers the attention on the self and improvement with solutions from within you. I center my attention not on myself but on God. It is not through myself that I will find strength and the answers to my problems, but through God. God is who makes me who I am. God guides me. God shows and helps me become the best I am supposed to be. God gives my life a purpose. It is after God I follow and choose to focus on. As I focus on God and grow in my relationship with Him, I become more and more the woman I am meant to be. I find myself making better choices simply because I want to please God. I find Oprah Winfrey a role model in achieving what is considered the impossible by how she has become such a popular black woman and having such a powerful influence on America to the point she has her own network. Oprah Winfrey has proven to be a role model to many individuals, however, I do not see her as a role model for how I want to live and the beliefs I want to live for.

Alolish. (March 28, 2012). Jon Bon Jovi on Oprah’s Master Class Part 1. YouTube. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvcE0ECwT5Q
Eckman, Dr. J. (April 1, 2011). Truth and Oprah Winfrey . In IssuesInPerspective. Retrieved from http://graceuniversity.edu/iip/2011/04/truth-and-oprah-winfrey/
Frykholm, A. (2012). Oprah: The Gospel of an Icon. Christian Century, 129(4), 46-49.
Goff, K. (August 24, 2012). Black Celebs Who Have Supported Gay Rights. In The Root. Retrieved from http://www.theroot.com/blogs/jay-z/oprah-and-other-black-celebs-come-out-gay-rights