Robbed of Role Models

[SueEllen]

When I was a child I always wanted to be Dr Who or Spiderman. Now as an adult woman I can but this leaves your sons without role models.

(Guess this MP hasn't realised he should encourage boys to read books. Oh and Bluey is a girl.)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59421259.amp

A Tory MP has linked young men turning to crime to women playing traditionally male roles in TV and film.
Nick Fletcher said "female replacements" in shows like Doctor Who were robbing boys of good role models.

The only characters they had to look up to were gangsters the Krays and Tommy Shelby from Peaky Blinders, he said.

"Is there any wonder we are seeing so many young men committing crime?," he asked MPs taking part in a debate on International Men's Day.

His comments were met with surprise by Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds, who said she thought she had "misheard" him.

The reason boys turned to a life of crime was "far more complex" than "who should be the next 007", she added.

But later, Mr Fletcher tweeted a statement, saying his "rather nuanced point" that there were "increasingly fewer male role models for young boys" had been "misconstrued".

[d000hg]

I just stop watching the lame programs*, I didn't know it was supposed to turn me to criminal violence.
The MP said all that's left are criminal 'role models'. I wasn't aware that Spider man, Superman, et al were already women. More British we've still got Sherlock



*not lame because they're female leads.

[northernladuk]

Have to say that guy is so out of touch. Didn't read the whole story because there is little point IMO. The only role models there seem to be anymore are the internet influencers. Talk to any kids now and all they can do is rattle off the names of the people they've seen on TikTok and such, particularly the girls with their FB's full of pouts, filled lips, not there dresses and the like. How many times do we see violent thugs pop up in the news who are obsessed with Grime and other gun waving crap as another example.

These people have replaced the role models of yesteryear and it's not going to go away.

[SueEllen]

I just stop watching the lame programs*, I didn't know it was supposed to turn me to criminal violence.

Yep or a drag queen.

The MP said all that's left are criminal 'role models'.

He's clearly thinking of Tory MPs.

I wasn't aware that Spider man, Superman, et al were already women. More British we've still got Sherlock

There is more than one Spiderman. The current main one is black and Latino.

Basically for every male super hero they make a female equivalent who may be better at the job.

[SueEllen]

Have to say that guy is so out of touch. Didn't read the whole story because there is little point IMO. The only role models there seem to be anymore are the internet influencers. Talk to any kids now and all they can do is rattle off the names of the people they've seen on TikTok and such, particularly the girls with their FB's full of pouts, filled lips, not there dresses and the like. How many times do we see violent thugs pop up in the news who are obsessed with Grime and other gun waving crap as another example.

These people have replaced the role models of yesteryear and it's not going to go away.

It does depend on the kids ages.

I personally get worried by all those boys under 7 trying to mug me walking down the streets of London.....

[d000hg]

There is more than one Spiderman. The current main one is black and Latino.

Basically for every male super hero they make a female equivalent who may be better at the job.

Comics are fringe. People who read them are not the ones you want to worry about.
THere have been loads of different versions of the main heroes for decades, as spin-offs and parallel universes or whatever. Some of them change gender and back again, or pass their mantle/powers onto other people, the purist lines still remain though. There are female incarnations of Spiderman, but Spiderman is always Peter Parker.

[northernladuk]

It does depend on the kids ages.

I personally get worried by all those boys under 7 trying to mug me walking down the streets of London.....

It does but not on the whole influencer thing. My mates 8 and 10 year olds are hooked on certain ones, mine kids a decade older on different ones. His youngest has an unhealthy obsession with trainers as his favourite youtube is also in to them. Cries if he gets a pair of normal ones for dossing about/school. My lad is 20 and all he does is watch and talk about the tiktok/youtubers. Different influencers/topics but same problem. Ask all three of those what they want to be and who they look up to and they won't have a clue. They just want to be like their youtube heroes.

Comics are fringe. People who read them are not the ones you want to worry about.

Totally. Bit of a stupid discussion about role models and then talking about spiderman. Just pointless.

[d000hg]

Totally. Bit of a stupid discussion about role models and then talking about spiderman. Just pointless.

You're not aware of the various films? Nerdy kid gets super-powers, doesn't use them crush bullies is quite a good role model

[northernladuk]

You're not aware of the various films? Nerdy kid gets super-powers, doesn't use them crush bullies is quite a good role model

To be fair I walk around the house shouting 'I am the law' all the time so I really shouldn't be in this discussion

[SueEllen]

To be fair I walk around the house shouting 'I am the law' all the time so I really shouldn't be in this discussion

So you are a real living role model!

To be fair the MP whinging is ignoring that the most important role models are the adults around children/young adults