Self-Worth's True Identity: The True Value of a Man

Edmond Matthews

ENG 111 / Section O33C

November 28, 2011

Self-Worth's True Identity: The True Value of a Man

More money more power is the world's view today--consequently more money more problems is the reality of today. Modern day ideology determines the value of a man on wealth and ethnicity, which may affect youth's behavior today. According to the article in My Financial Awareness: The Personal Side of Personal Finance, "In society there is a tendency to equate net worth with self-worth, rather than recognizing the distinct difference between the two." The media portrays the rich and famous as icons or idols. While society worship them and look upon them as having more value than the common man was works a regular nine to five job and provides for his family.

Today self-worth is based on external objects rather than internal measures. As explained in the article My Financial Awareness: The Personal Side of Personal Finance it is stated that "If we as a society base our self-worth on our net worth, only a few people would feel really good about themselves." This is what is happening in today's society--the youth are looking at the wealthy and famous and feeling of little or no self-worth. They feel that they do not measure up to the external wealth or fame of the ones and the spot light--the result of this is tragic. Many of today's youth are lost and do not know who they truly are because they only see external value and not internal. They are easily blinded--following the latest fads or flopping to peer pressure while trying to gain a feeling of belonging or self-worth.

Gangs have become very popular in the recent years--youth of all ages and ethnicities are being "adopted" into this lifestyle. There are many reasons why the youth join gangs such as needing protection and sense of a family, but the main reason is status. They want to be looked upon as someone of worth. Many children do not get the attention at home; therefore, they look in other areas for what they are missing from home. When the youth are not being taught and commended on internal value at home they turn to anything or anyone to gain the feeling of worthiness that they desire. Unfortunately in doing so, they are blinded by this false sense of self-worth therefore it encourages them to believe that gaining external wealth will also increase their sense of worth. Many individuals in these gangs commit heinous crimes just to gain status in his or her gang. If these youths would just become conscious of what value really is, they would strive to gain internal measure of worth rather than trying to get it through external objects. According to Carla Valencia, physiologist and writer, "It is hard to overcome low self esteem if you depend