---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My generation had Doris Day as a role…"
description: "\"My generation had Doris Day as a role model, then Gloria Steinem--then Princess Diana. We are the most confused generation.\" — Erica Jong"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/erica-jong-445_confused_my-generation-had-doris-day-as-a-role-mo_1588996.jpg"
---

#  My generation had Doris Day as a role model, then Gloria…

![“My generation had Doris Day as a role model, then Gloria Steinem--then Princess Diana. We are the most confused generation.” quote by Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/erica-jong-445_confused_my-generation-had-doris-day-as-a-role-mo_1588996.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/erica-jong-445_confused_my-generation-had-doris-day-as-a-role-mo_1588996.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/erica-jong-445_confused_my-generation-had-doris-day-as-a-role-mo_1588996.jpg)

> “My generation had Doris Day as a role model, then Gloria Steinem--then Princess Diana. We are the most confused generation.”

[Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Each era adopts new icons, leading to identity uncertainty.

**In simple terms:** Changing role models cause confusion.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate personal values beyond trends.

Themes

identity culture role models

Mood

contemplative hopeful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- career planning
- media literacy
- personal branding

Key Concepts

sociology media influence self‑discovery

Questions to Reflect On

- Who inspires you beyond fame?
- How do you define your own success?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on celebrities can hinder self‑growth.

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[Dori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dori/) [Generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Princess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/princess/) [Role model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-model/) [Role models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-models/)

## Related quotes

> [I loved all those Doris Day visuals of her being a tomboy and then changing into this gorgeous girl in a ballgown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-loved-all-those-doris-day-visuals-of-her-being-a-tomboy-and-then/)

[Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/)

> [I've been around so long, I knew Doris Day before she was a virgin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/i-ve-been-around-so-long-i-knew-doris-day-before-she-was-a-virgin/)

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> [They were grooming Doris Day to take over the top spot. Jack L. Warner asked me to play her sister in one picture. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-crawford/they-were-grooming-doris-day-to-take-over-the-top-spot-jack-l-warner/)

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> [I'm always looking for insights into the real Doris Day because I'm stuck with this infatuation and need to explain it to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/i-m-always-looking-for-insights-into-the-real-doris-day-because-i-m/)

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> [Christ, I'm in a Doris Day movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-crusie/christ-i-m-in-a-doris-day-movie/)

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> [Jesus Christ! I would crawl over the mountains of Beverly Hills on my hands and knees if I could do a movie with Doris…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/jesus-christ-i-would-crawl-over-the-mountains-of-beverly-hills-on-my/)

[John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/)

> [When I had been a film critic for ten minutes, I treated Doris Day as a target for cheap shots. I have learned enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/when-i-had-been-a-film-critic-for-ten-minutes-i-treated-doris-day-as/)

[Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/)

> [But me and my sister knew all the Doris Day and Frank Sinatra songs, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaka-khan/but-me-and-my-sister-knew-all-the-doris-day-and-frank-sinatra-songs/)

[Chaka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaka-khan/)

> [As a dancer I couldn't outdance Ginger Rogers or Eleanor Powell. As a singer I'm no rival to Doris Day. As an actress I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-grable/as-a-dancer-i-couldn-t-outdance-ginger-rogers-or-eleanor-powell-as-a/)

[Betty Grable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-grable/)

> [I've seen men like you in Doris Day films, but I never thought they existed in real life...The men who can't commit, who can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-ve-seen-men-like-you-in-doris-day-films-but-i-never-thought-they/)

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> [My last picture for Warners was Romance on the High Seas. It was Doris Day's first picture; that was before she became a virgin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-levant/my-last-picture-for-warners-was-romance-on-the-high-seas-it-was-doris/)

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> [I love Judy Garland, I love Doris Day, I love Marilyn Monroe. I love everything that comes from that era. The music is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-love-judy-garland-i-love-doris-day-i-love-marilyn-monroe-i-love/)

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> [Doris Day was such a big movie and TV star, people overlooked her singing. The proof is in the package. She's one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-whiting/doris-day-was-such-a-big-movie-and-tv-star-people-overlooked-her/)

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> [I've always felt I struck out with Doris Day. Her son, Terry Melcher, was a producer I worked for at Columbia, and one day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/i-ve-always-felt-i-struck-out-with-doris-day-her-son-terry-melcher/)

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## More by Erica Jong

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