Stereotypes Should Be Viewed As Role Models

We as a society place an enormous emphasis on the importance of role models. In fact, a majority of us have had a role model at one time or another. For young children, it's quite common to idolize a particular person or television character. We allow our idols to dictate our life, our behavior, what we wear, and even our thoughts. Children often display their appreciation through copying their behavior, regardless of whether or not they understand their idol's behavior. Would Leonardo from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series eat pizza or fresh greens? Anyone who grew up watching the show would know the answer. They have become conditioned to know what Leonardo would choose, highlighting the impression television shows and pop culture can make on the minds of the youth. Their usual thought processes are bypassed, and what they know to be true through witnessing overrides what they …show more content…
In some cases, celebrities will come straight out to the cameras and say that they don’t want to be role models in the first place. Charles Barkley on multiple occasions has came out to the media and said that he doesn’t want to be viewed as a role model because he doesn’t want to have the added pressure of being a role model. He adds, he makes millions of dollars playing basketball, not to raise someone’s kids. I agree with the statement by Brande Victorian, not all celebrities should be seen as role models by default. On the other hand, it’s not the celebrities who decide if they are seen as role models, it’s the crowd that their stardom reaches and their fans, who make the individual out to be a idol or