Children are influenced left and right by role models all across the world in ways that could have a positive or negative impact on them. A role model is a person whose success or unsuccess is impacted by people, especially children. Celebrities often times become role models without even choosing to be because of the social media. For example, even turning on the television for two minutes you can hear all the negative things that these celebrities have done. These public figures should not be considered role models because they influence poor decision making, they can lower children's self esteem, and while children rely on celebrities, parents should be their role models.
When celebrities make the choice to become famous, they take on a big job of becoming a role model. Most children across America believe and rely on athletes to be their good examples. Ian Mendes states that, “Athletes may have money, fame
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Today’s parent believes that some children can’t look up to a role model when they don’t have a real relationship with them, “Kids need to have role models that they can interact with on a daily basis.” Also posters can’t talk back to you, so you can’t trust a “fake” person on the wall. These posters can’t help you with problems or life skills, that is your guardian's job to address. In Charles Barkley’s famous television ad for Nike announcing, “I am not a role model. Parents should be role models. Just because I dunk a basketball, doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.” (Mendes).This recognized quote was ravished, while many of his fellow athletes disagreed with him. This lead on to controversies between him and many other players. Karl Malone states, “Charles… I don’t think it’s your decision to make. We don’t choose our role models, we are chosen.” Which is correct, but to be a role model you have to be successful, not hurtful towards others, and most of all, a well rounded
The problem with children copying role models is that many young boys, for numerous reasons are left without sound, solid male role models who can show them how good men can be (Robinson 2011). This however is not always the case, although there are some boys who do lack models in the home they can take role models from men they see in the media, ch...
Therefore, an athlete’s “hero” status begins in this case, on the basketball court. They are heroes to their team and of the whole games, especially those who were betting on it. Crowley says in his article that Michael was a great player and “Because Jordan was nearly perfect on the court, there seemed to be a desire to find perfection in his character as well.” which, like with any other superstar athlete, they wanted to create this image for him. This has been the case with many athletes and is what is expected of them because corporations want sales and the way to accomplish that is to give consumers what they want, to believe that they are heroes in character as well. In an article called “Why do we make athletes role models?”, the author states that when asking a former NBA superstar, Charles Barkley, whether players should be seen as role models, his answer was no . Barkley doesn't believe children should be looking up to them and that is the responsibility of parents to be role models. The author on the other hand, bases his own opinion on what he has seen in the industry and states “ It is inescapable. Athletes will be figures of admiration and emulation in this sports obsessed society.” With that being said, athletes then and today are continued to be put on a pedestal and are expected to
Kids in America also love to watch sports, so they will logically have role models who are professional athletes.
What kind of example are these celebrities providing to teenagers when they can barely control their life? Role models are supposed to be someone you admire, someone you look up to and try and follow their example. Not someone who lives a fake life and you barely know. As stated in an article called “Why this generation is so completely obsessed with the idea of Celebrity” Adam Pliskin explains the real reason why we follow celebrities as much as we do. This is because we secretly want fame ourselves.
This generation lacks leaders that positively impact the youth into doing virtuous and productive actions. The media should expose role models that demonstration good qualities to influence the individuals into following them. Instead they show bad role models for people to follow or for the youth to look up to.
He understands how powerful celebrity athletes words can be, and how it can influence the youth because they look up to these people as their role models.
Fred Hardinge who is a DrPH, RD and is an internationally recognized as a motivational speaker on a range of health topics said, ¨All children, regardless of their age, pick parents as their number one role model¨(n.pg.) As Hardinge states, children are always watching what the elder people around them do and this influences them to follow their example. This illustrates how children would like to follow the examples of their parents and other influences around them.
Hyman, Michael R., and Sierra, Jeremy J. "Sport Celebrity Idolatry: A Problem?." B>Quest (2009): 1-7. Business Source Complete. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
Organizing Sentence: It may be wishful thinking for our beloved professional athletes to be proper role models for kids; but some may say that athletes should still have an obligation to be role models on the grounds of always being on a public stage, the abuse of drugs and steroids kids bring on is largely because of what they see the professional sport heroes doing, and particularly the African-American race needs them as role models.
Why Athletes are Good Role Models Ever since the ancient years, we have admired athletes and the hard work. that they do to achieve their goal of winning. We idolize them and wish we were more like them. What happens though when the realization sinks in that they are human too and that some of them do get greedy and selfish?
Should professional athletes be role models for younger kids? I say yes because thousands of people watch them on television every game and anything they do gets them on sports news so if they set bad examples then the kids might do what they do because they look up to them. Athletes normally use there money for good use like donating to charities or foundations. Having good sportsmanship on the field will help to show kids that sportsmanship is key to being a good player. All in all professional athletes should be role models for all people because they look up to them and when athletes do bad things people will think it's okay for them to do it to.
Athlets have been lookd up to as role models for as long as sports have exsted. There is just something attractive about the thought of being in good physical condition and being talented in sports. But, are athlets the kind of people that children should be looking up to for direction and guidance? Many children often look up to the professional athletes as role models. In fact, in 1995 Sports Illustrated for Kids did a survey for kids who were ages 7 through 12 about who their role model was. The majority of the kids answered that a professional athlete was who they most looked up to. Only four percent of the children answered that their role model was one of thir parents. Because of today?s media, athletes are constantly in the public eye. Everything they do on and off of the playing field. Some professional athletes speak a positive message through their fame by demonstrating constructive ideas such as teamwork and commitment while they are on the field. Even off of the playing field some athletes set a good example by visiting children in schools, going to hospitals, or even setting up foundations and organizations to help the ill and less fortunate people. However, other athletes are not as considerate to the fact that someone may be looking up to them, some athletes are not concerned about anything other than the sport they are getting paid to play and themselves. These athletes are the ones that propose questions over whether athletes should be considered role models or not. A role model can be defined as a person whose behavior, example or success is or can be emulated by others, especially young people. Who would want their child looking up to someone who has been convicted of domestic violence or has a drug addiction? It is an argument of opinion that cannot be settled.
We are part of a generation that is obsessed with celebrity culture. Celebrities are distinctive. Media and consumers alike invented them to be a different race of super beings: flawless, divine and above all the real moral world. In a 1995 New York Times article “In contrast, 9 out of 10 of those polled could think of something
...ildren, and most of their time must be enjoyed in creating their own private space. During our childhood, we build the seeds of creativity that will eventually determine our personality. And during adulthood, we always look back to the wonders of our youth. Show business is very hard for anyone, particularly for kids. Children do not belong in the entertainment industry. Young stars often complain about a stolen childhood, the pressure they have to face at a young age forcing them to mature fast, and the risks of exposure to dirty show business while still an innocent playful child. Celebrities who were exposed to the limelight at a tender age become scarred for life by early success and tend to compensate for the childhood they were deprived of during their later years in life.
Napoleon Hill once said, “Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.” This quote should be frequently used in society’s everyday lives. Celebrities influence people’s lives on a day-to-day basis and they do not even realize it. People use reality T.V. and commercials to figure out what they are supposed to wear or how they are supposed to live, but what they do not realize, is that the majority of media is fake. As a whole, we need to figure out how to tell if what the media is portraying is realistic. Adults and children cannot be comparing their lives to millionaires.