How Mhairi Black Made Me Care About Politics

It’s safe to say that in my lifetime of 17 years, I’ve never had an interest in anything political. Tt’s always been boring bullshit that was never really applicable to me, but that was maybe because I didn’t like old men in suits shouting at each other as if they’re arguing about who has a bigger dick. But this Tuesday, it all changed.

According to the Social Learning Theory put forward by Bandura in 1977, for someone to act as a role model to someone else, there are several factors that are put into play: age, gender, and status. Now, I didn’t think I’d ever be the one to say I’d have a role model who’s an MP, but I do; along with a vast majority of the nation, particularly the future generation, those younger or around the same ages as Mhairi Black. If you haven’t seen the video, she’s a 20 year old Scottish National Party MP. But since her maiden speech, social media was abuzz with adolescents like me, each expressing their new found love for Black.

Mhairi Black has gone against the expected status quo of MP’s, like High School Musical said not to do; becoming the voice for the younger generations, a breath of fresh air for the House of Commons. The oppressed silence of the youth was broken with the eruption of applause and praise to Black and her speech. Due to her age, it may have been expected that she would have focussed on the younger generation, and the younger generation solely, however she filled the generation gap created between the world of politics and the youth in revolt. Her speech, from beginning to end was filled with confidence and passion; her courageous words held belief that there is hope for the country and the welfare state.

Rather than aspiring to become an MP like her, people are aspiring to become a person like her. Instead of wanting to be like Kim K, Mhairi Black acts as a catalyst to encourage us to insert knowledge into ourselves, rather than other things Kim K would more likely encourage us to insert into ourselves. She sets off this reaction by stating that she’s been observant within the House of Commons and researched the issues she believes need to be highlighted. She cleverly uses this research by finding the factors that emphasizes the tragedies that people have had to face. “Our unemployment level is higher than that of the UK average. One in five children in my constituency go to bed hungry every night.” Coming to terms with these facts really did put into perspective the worry that she has for her country.

One of the main points she makes is an anecdote that focuses on a man Black came across during her time volunteering (making her even more likeable and someone your mother would approve of you to befriend). This man had to choose between saving for a bus fare over simple necessities, such as food, resulting in him fainting and not getting to the job centre in time. As well as signifying the current crisis’s throughout the UK, it’s personal to Black, showing her compassionate side. We can all be cold-hearted bitches at time but compassion is needed which I believe is one of Mhairi’s strongest characteristics. outshining, as it did, all her other likeable characteristics during her seven minute speech, a change from the petty shit “banter” normally presented to us.

As an MP, Black is able to live in London via the government’s helping hand and the tax payers not so helping hand. Although she’s in a comfortable situation in which her housing is taken care for by the government, she questions their authority. “But it is OK so long as you’re an MP?” The fact that she can question their authority suggests that to her, everyone is on an equal playing field. This woman doesn’t give a shit who you are, she’ll question you if she believes something isn’t right, realistically we should all be like this, right?

It’s been an eventful year politically, with the general election, the “milliebae” fandom, the “Thug life” videos and now the youngest MP becoming the voice of the next generation. But we can’t just sit back, praise Black, not act on her words and join in on the world of adult hypocrisy yet complain about it when it doesn’t go our way. Will this generation be the one to make the changes they want or moan about the changes they didn’t get to decide on? Let’s hope on the former and continue to adore Black and her sass filled speeches. Yes, Mhairi did a great job during her speech, she’s a likable character with all the charm and wit required to make us want to listen to what she has to say, but is this speech enough to act as an influential roll for the younger generation, to push them to have their say through their vote?

What do you think will make the adolescence of this country vote? Will it be another fandom? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

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