Parents and Values
“Values
and beliefs, and the norms that follow from them, are a major component of any
culture.” Although some people believe that our values and beliefs are
‘natural’; basic biological explanation as to why we view, feel, and behave the
way we do, for many others, it is simply just the answer that some people
manipulate their thoughts onto others. Families exert the first and most
important influence on the formation of individual values. The values which are
transmitted in the early years of learning are generally kept through life.
The
article of Sunday telegraph’s ‘Kids are
labelled new fashionistas’ brings us to question upon these actions of
mothers who splurge on hundreds of dollars on designer clothes for their kids.
Is this overindulgence and brand loyalty harmful or healthy to their kids?
In my personal opinion, mothers
treating toddlers like fashion horses are definitely a problem. Not because of
a blind allegiance to certain brands, but because the mentality behind it is a
symptom of something more ominous, a cultural and moral disease this symptom
represents.
Most kids, in fact most people, choose
to fulfil their instinct by begging for acceptance, then with very little
introspection, they make their choices according to what will win them the most
approval. In today’s digital age, the media has pervaded our kids’ lives with
more external messages than ever before, leaving very little opportunity for
the quiet reflection they need to think. In other words, by being externally
directed, our children's futures often hinge on who or what they happen to
stumble into.
Since externally directed children have
such weak inner compasses, their inner dishonesty can easily override it,
making it very difficult for them to reject poor choices. So the doorway to
immoral behavior deepens, along with their sense of accountability and
responsibility. Soon it will result to death of moral absolutes and widening
norms for behavior because realities and expectations formed by external forces
rather than our own minds.
This misguided choice-making style is
the cause of most, if not all of the problems kids face in the world today such
as body image and eating disorders, gangs and cults, substance and alcohol
abuse, racism and so on. Therefore when a problem so obvious to fix, parents
have a responsibility to raise their children to be self-guided, not
influencing them to be ‘fashion conscious’, so that they’ll have a lifelong
skill that empowers them to recognize and control everything that tried to
influence their choices.
References:
·
Wadham, B. Pudsey, J. & Boyd, R. (2007). Culture and Education. Sydney: Pearson Education,
Chapter 1: What is culture?
Dear Edmonda,
ReplyDeleteA fascinating topic. I would caution about making sweeping statements about children and innocence - there is plenty of research on the idea of childhood as a 'myth' (e.g. see Chris Jenkins work).
Regards,
Kal
would you like me to fix it up so its less bias?
Delete