Analysis: Rather than holding heroes to unattainable standards, we should acknowledge the humanity of being both brilliant and imperfect
By Elaine Kinsella, Sarah Jay and Kevin O'Malley, University of Limerick
It would be nice to think that child poverty and hunger are social injustices that belong firmly in the distant past, but recent statistics do not bear this out. In 2022, 190,000 or 17.2% of children in Ireland were at risk of poverty, that is one in every seven children. In the UK in 2022, 4.2 million children were living in poverty, 71% of these households were in work and 36% were headed by someone with a disability. This includes an increase of 350,000 children due to a cut of £20 per week, that was given to help low-income families during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Some children are more at risk of poverty than others. Child poverty among lone parent families is higher than other family types, and in Black (53%) and Asian (47%) families compared to White families (25%). Research shows that children raised in poverty are more likely to live in poverty later in life because poverty restricts opportunities in education and work, has health implications, and lowers expectations and self-esteem.
However, beliefs about equal opportunity and individual mobility are pervasive and sell the idea that anybody can achieve a privileged lifestyle if they are determined and work hard enough. In this way, the systematic causes of child poverty such as lack of opportunity can be ignored. One of the ways in which these beliefs are reinforced is through the cultural phenomenon of idolising celebrities and sports stars, particularly those who come from poor and working-class backgrounds, bolstering this idea of individual mobility and equality.
READ: What does "hero" mean in modern life?
Societies often elevate certain figures—heroes, villains, or even comical characters—to emphasise the values and norms important to them. These figures provide narratives that unite groups and establish or challenge cultural standards of what is deemed 'good' or 'great'. At the same time, children look for people to admire and aspire to be like, to make sense of and understand their lives.
Children from impoverished backgrounds are no different in this regard. Working class heroes who share common experiences with the children in question are prime targets for this process. In this way, the rise and fall of celebrities and sports stars may have a profound impact on the aspirations of poor children.
Marcus Rashford could be considered one of these working-class sports stars who rose from very humble beginnings to become an exceptional English professional footballer. A product of the Manchester United youth system, Rashford joined the club at the age of seven and, despite his experience of childhood poverty, has become one of England’s best football players.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Drivetime in 2021, Barack Obama praises Marcus Rashford for child food poverty campaign
His achievements have been celebrated both on and off the field, especially his advocacy for social issues like child hunger. During the pandemic, his interventions influenced the UK government to overturn their decisions to reduce free school meals available to impoverished children during the school holidays. He has published three books on personal development targeted at children and scored a record 30 goals for United in the 2022/23 season.
But recently, his performances on the pitch have been criticised. There were reports that he did not show up for training and he was reportedly fined by his club after being out late at night in Belfast. For some, it is hard to reconcile these contrasting glimpses into the life of Rashford and some have questioned the extent that their hero has ‘fallen from grace’ despite having the world at his feet.
In Joseph Campbell's hero's journey, the protagonist embarks on an adventure, faces and overcomes challenges and ultimately undergoes a transformation, returning home with newfound wisdom and growth. Filmmakers and storytellers often adopt this narrative for its ability to resonate with audiences on a deep, psychological level. Despite many challenges, Rashford's background and outward displays of success may have contributed to the construction of his heroic narrative.
From Hero Round Table, a discussion on the psychology of heroes with Phil Zimbardo, Elaine Kinsella, Mariana Barbosa and Scott Allison
Heroes are individuals who show bravery, moral integrity, self-sacrifice, courage, and conviction, and are willing to protect others. They are often particularly compelling and offer important psychological support to onlookers. First, heroes uplift and inspire others (enhancing). Second, heroes protect others both physically and mentally (protecting). Third, heroes model virtuous behaviour to others (moral modelling). Heroes may serve a fourth function for children and help them to think about their own sense of identity and ideals (identity formation).
In fighting for better living conditions for poor and working-class children, Rashford has embodied heroic qualities as well as his exceptional levels of sporting talent. He has become a hero for many children and adults around the world. For some, he has offered proof that success is attainable regardless of socio-economic status, while also demonstrating the community-oriented values of caring for others and remembering where you came from.
Yet, there are some problematic aspects of hero worship, both for the so-called ‘heroes’ and for their followers. For individuals, the pressure of being called a hero can become too much. Heroes are only human after all, and therefore, fallible. Frontline workers, labelled as heroes during the pandemic, have experienced low levels of wellbeing, high levels of burnout, as well as high levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms and psychosomatic stress. Frontline workers expressed their frustration with being seen as heroes by others as they felt that others’ expectations of them were unrealistic, and this further amplified their stress.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Today with Claire Byrne, just how important is emotional resilience?
From the perspective of the onlooker, research with young people has also found that heroes (particularly, the celebrity and sports star variety) sometimes may disappoint and provide model behaviours that are not useful or valuable, and offer unrealistic standards of comparison. Given that childhood and adolescence are critical phases of human development, where foundations for later relationship patterns are formed, the parasocial relationships with heroes are likely to be particularly influential.
Being a hero in the public eye because one has done well in one (or multiple) domains can mean that one must navigate future challenges and complexities with very little room to err. Indeed, the media plays a key role in shaping public perception and the amplifying both positive and negative aspects of people in the spotlight everyday life: with the recent headline relating to Rashford, "From saint to sinner" providing an example of how perceived failings can quickly cause good will to be withdrawn. The hero’s stumble often causes the rest of us to focus on the failing, rather than to give grace where it might be needed.
We can learn valuable lessons about resilience and adversity from our heroes, particularly as they navigate difficult events
While many young people may be feeling confused or upset by Rashford’s behaviour, there are lessons which could be picked up in conversations by parents, teachers and carers. These highlight both the challenges people face in their lives - even those who are rich, famous and successful - and also, the various healthy and unhealthy ways that people try to cope. Research has shown that young people can tell the difference between people who are famous for fame’s sake, and those that are renowned because genuine achievement, but this kind of event can provide an opportunity to talk to young people about realistic expectations of others.
For the rest of us, it is worth recognising that we can learn valuable lessons about resilience and coping with adversity from our heroes, particularly as they navigate difficult life events. Rather than holding our heroes to unattainable standards, there are valuable lessons to be learned in acknowledging the humanity of being both brilliant and imperfect. We hope that Rashford navigates any present challenges, and in doing so will be back on his life-long journey towards growth.
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Dr Elaine Kinsella is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at University of Limerick. She is a former Irish Research Council awardee. Dr Sarah Jay is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at UL. She is a former Irish Research Council awardee. Kevin O'Malley is Senior Technician in the Department of Psychology at UL.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
