Role model, this phrase forms an interesting play on words. Although it has come to have a variety of connotations, from a source of inspiration to a social icon, the word quite literally means a model for a role, a person one can strive to emulate. The notion of role model is unequivocally associated with the youth. It is the young, with the unlimited possibility of the future before them, who are influenced by the people the aspire to emulate. This is why the question of role models become important, as an insight into the views of the leaders of tomorrow. The role models people choose reflect the type of values that the hold dear and the type of society they will create in the years to come.
There was a time when the youth of the world had a role model, to look up to, who were worthy of their admiration. They were the policemen, doctors, lawyers and the teachers, the youth admired them because they represented ideals, such as fidelity, bravery and integrity. Ideal that the youth wanted to embody. Fifty years ago when you asked a child what he wanted to become when he grow up, these were the universal replies. Starry eyes children looked up to them because they demonstrated what could be achieved through hard work and dedication.
But somewhere along the way we have abandoned these ideals and lost that dream. We no longer cheer when the white hats save the day. Now we look for our inspiration and moral guidance from prepubescent pop princesses, and lip-singing celebrities, and our role models have ceased being the embodiment of elegance, poise, and valour, they now only symbolise fame, sex and money.
The youth today are flooded with a plethora of poor choices of role models. Celebrities and athletes charge for a superior position while the truly admirable of society are discharged. Musicians, actors, ad athletes are known for their luxuries lifestyles, their existence outside the laws of men. They are admired because they embody what success is in the twenty first centaury: popularity, recognition, and material possessions.
We should worry for the future when the leaders of tomorrow see scarcely dressed women as successful, relying on those parents or significant others, for financial support for their self-indulgent lifestyles, famous for simply being famous. When men are claimed successful based on the size of their bank accounts and the type of car they drive, their trophy wife on their arm. Are these the role models we want to for the next generation.
The true role models of our day are those giving their lives for freedom dedicating their efforts to making the world we live in a better place. True heroes lie opposed to our societies concept of role models. It is time to re-examine the role of a role model in our society today if we want to see the next generations become upright citizens of sound moral and ethical bare, determined to right the wrong of our world.
Today the youth may emulate pop princesses and antagonistic athletes as their role models, but unsurprisingly the dreams of our youth are remarkable similar to those generations past. They still yearn for success and hanker after the realisation of their dreams. The only difference is that society's views of what accounts for success have mutated. No longer do we as a people consider the two parent family life in the suburbs with a while picket fence and beautiful children a worthy life.
The role models of yester year encapsulated the belief that success stemmed from having a strong moral foundation upon which we built our homes, lives and our families. Even television shows revolve around family unity and human decency. Justice was always served and the good guys always rode off into the sunset, after teaching us a lesson about right and wrong. But today the line between right and wrong is blurred. Our role models, no longer simply defend justice, but corrupt it as well. The end seems to justify the means, in many cases. Is it any wonder then that our society's concept of role models has taken a similar route?
Most of us have role models, whom we admire. The reasons why they are our role models can be different, but the admiration they inspire, what they represent to us is what attracts us. They inspire us to reach beyond ourselves. After all, it is a natural trait to recognise traits in others which you would desire for yourself. However, the role models of today are undeniably displaying a glut of negative personality traits which we would not wish the youth of today to demonstrate. Their disrespect of normal societal values and morals is threatening to corrupt the very moral foundation of society as a whole.
Possibly the answer is to stop looking for role models, on the television, or in fashion magazines, or on the sporting pitches. Instead to show the youth the true role models all around us. Show them the average man trying to provide for his family, the policeman who risks his life for justice, the doctor who strives to heal. These are our society's real heroes, they are whom the youth should be emulating, but they cannot be found on the cover of “OK” or “Heat”, or seen on Big Brother. But you will find them everywhere else, be it a small town or big city.
So where have our society's role models gone? The answer is they never left, we have just stopped paying attention to them. Charles Barkley, the worlds renounced baskets ball player may have said it best in a 1993 commercial for Nike “ I am not a role model”. well Barkley was wrong, he was a role model. He just shouldn't have been.
