Chapter 21. Role Models Section 4. Needs, Value and Aspiration The Chinese Way, Ding and XU, 2014 Chapter 21. Role Models 1

Outline Introduction Type 1: Dedicated to work Type 2: Help those in need Type 3: Behave like Good Samaritans Type 4: Devoted to parents Type 5: Maintain a positive attitude Road ahead 2 The Chinese Way, Ding and XU, 2014 Chapter 21. Role Models

Introduction Understand the state of a society through its societal aspirations. The Most Inspiring Chinese, a television program of China Central TV, may help to identify current role models in China. After analyzing 30 of these roles, we classify them into 5 categories: ⁻being dedicated to work (14 people); ⁻helping those in need (10 people); ⁻behaving as Good Samaritans (3 people); ⁻showing devotion to parents (2 people); ⁻displaying positive attitudes towards life (1 person). 3 The Chinese Way, Ding and XU, 2014 Chapter 21. Role Models

Type 1: Dedicated to work It comprised nearly half of all winners They include scientists, government officials, academicians, as well as soldiers and doctors. A general lack of dedication to work in China makes those who have it role models. 4 ⁻E.g., Lin Junde (2012 winner), a Research Professor worked for the Chinese military. The Chinese Way, Ding and XU, 2014 Chapter 21. Role Models

Type 2: Help those in need The actions and sacrifices made by each winner vary widely in this category. Although these stories are inspiring, people would wonder why the government did not do anything to help those in need. 5 ⁻E.g., Gao Shuzhen (2012 winner), an ordinary rural woman with a son could not attend school for disability. She transformed her home into a small school and raised hundreds of disabled children free of charge for 14 years with a meager income. The Chinese Way, Ding and XU, 2014 Chapter 21. Role Models

Type 3: Behave like Good Samaritans The criteria over the years have become less stringent for some reason. These people’s being chosen clearly reflects a desire in current Chinese society for more Good Samaritan-like behavior. 6 ⁻E.g., The 2011 winner was a young woman who, after seeing a 2-year-old girl about to fall from her tenth-floor apartment, rushed over and caught her, suffering a broken arm that would take 6 months to heal. The Chinese Way, Ding and XU, 2014 Chapter 21. Role Models

Type 4: Devoted to parents Two of the Most Inspiring Chinese were devoted children who take great effort to look after their mothers. Such individual would be unlikely honored in the US, because relationships between parents and children are considered to be private matters. 7 ⁻E.g., a college student who taken care of her disabled mother since she was 8 years old after her father abandoned the family. The Chinese Way, Ding and XU, 2014 Chapter 21. Role Models

Type 5: Maintain a positive attitude Only one winner belonged to this category over the 3-year period. Almost everyone is impressed with what he has done and many admire his attitude toward life. 8 ⁻Liu Wei (2011 winner) lost both of his arms at age 10, then won the “China’s Got Talent” competition in 2010 by playing Marriage d’Amour with his toes on the piano. The Chinese Way, Ding and XU, 2014 Chapter 21. Role Models

Road ahead Dedication to work and devotion to parents are not particularly inspirational, although China currently needs more people to exhibit those behaviors. 9 China needs more role models who have positive attitudes towards life, help those in need, and behave like Good Samaritans. The Chinese Way, Ding and XU, 2014 Chapter 21. Role Models