Dignity is given to us from birth and the expectations for and against dignity changes with different degrees of age. People’s perceptions are accustomed to change. Dignity has different meanings under different cultures. The norms that are instilled in us when we are children by our parents are closely related to dignity. The true meaning of dignity as a concept is defined clearly in our countries constitution.
The roles of men and women in
From a young age we see gender roles coming through in children. Boys will be seen as naughty and immature whereas girls are seen as quiet and caring. Boys will be allowed to run around half naked whereas it is wrong for girls to do so.
Teenagers are more reserved when it comes to dignity. If you ask most teenagers these days to define dignity, many have no clue as to what it is; others have a faint idea of what it is and relate it to respect and self-respect. Only a few teenagers have a clear understanding of what dignity is. This is clear by the attitude of teenagers today. With numerous teenagers living a care-free lifestyle (partying, drinking and smoking), dignity is one of the last thing on a teenagers mind. For example, is teenage pregnancy dignified? Is child pornography dignified? So why is dignity invisible to so many teenagers?
It could be said that many teenagers have no clear path in life.
Most teenage boys want to prove to the word who and what they are. Freedom has no boundaries and their behaviour is often questioned.
Most teenage girls are reserved when it comes to their freedom. Parents are more protective over teenage girls than teenage boys. On numerous occasions, this leads to girls becoming rebellious and taking advantage of opportunities when they do get to go out.
Adults can be seen as the age group to hold the most dignity. This is seen by the way in which adults carry themselves out and as them being role models. Most adults do have an understanding of what dignity is. This could be because dignity was a characteristic sought after, after the transition from apartheid to democracy.
However classifying all adults as dignified would not be correct. We need to keep in mind the criminals all over the world who do not even think of the word dignity.
Female adults are seen as caring mother figures whose predominant role was to be a stay at home mother, to cook, to clean and raise the children. This stereotype has changed tremendously over the last decade with women empowering themselves to challenge men in the working world.
Male adults are seen as the dominant species. They are generally the head of the house and the provider to the family. They are also seen as the protector of the family. It can be said that male adults are the most depended on. When a challenge faces a male adult, he is expected to accept.
Dignity needs to be played out by all people. It not, it will just remain ink on pages of a book called the Constitution.
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