In my 20′s, rock musicians and filmmakers commanded the most respect among our peers. This hasn’t changed much even for the current generation of 20-somethings. When we are young, facing a great deal of uncertainties, our emotional needs are overwhelming. We need music and film to fill those needs and survive that period. In a way, those who pursue music and film in their 20s are competing for the position of God.
But in our 30s, we ween off of them, as we become more emotionally stable and mature. While we still enjoy music and film, we no longer depend on them as our emotional crutches or as badges we wear to exalt our own identities. Other careers command more respect, like being a chef. Chefs having a rockstar status is relatively new. Compared to music and film, food is more earthly. We all have to eat and can cook to some degree. And, food, like sex, is much more accessible. So, we regress a bit.
In our 40s, the rockstardom goes to entrepreneurs. I don’t mean that 40s is when we start pursuing entrepreneurship. Most successful entrepreneurs start much earlier. 40s is when their bets really pay off (if they succeed), because their own peers start to really admire them as rockstars.
In our 50s and beyond, the torch of rockstardom is passed to doctors, lawyers, bankers, and other age-old occupations involving lots of money. As we become physically weaker and less productive, uncertainties reign supreme again. And, those who can provide the sense of security are the rockstars. Entrepreneurship is risky because their business can go up and down.
The funny (or sad) thing is, despite all the efforts of feminists, the best way to gauge the level of rockstardom for any particular career is still women’s willingness to sleep with men with that career.
