“Treat People With Kindness” is Harry Styles‘ motto—not often that you find a worldwide celebrity preaching those words. Sadly, the fame may get to their head, filling their ego to the point of pretentiousness. However, the one thing the former One Direction member seems to have mastered is the humbleness and grace of a regular hometown kid who just so happens to be an internationally famous musician.
In fact, Harry has inspired many fans to just be themselves—serving as a role model for a magnitude of people and that includes one proud, doting mother. Karen Pickering named her son after the singer and before anyone gets the chance to poke fun like some notoriously might, she has a good reason for it.
Floral, flamboyant suits and painted nails have become Styles’ signature. Constantly showing off looks that aren’t typically depicted as “manly”—Pickering found that his confidence to remain true to himself is the singer’s most defining quality. She touches on the topic of snobbery towards Harry Styles fans, mostly consisting of girls of all ages, sharing a love for a man who knows his audience better than anyone.
No stranger to the female gaze, Harry has spoken out about the importance of young women in this generation.
Who’s to say that young girls who like pop music – short for popular, right? – have worse musical taste than a 30-year-old hipster guy? That’s not up to you to say. Music is something that’s always changing. There’s no goal posts. Young girls like the Beatles. You gonna tell me they’re not serious? How can you say young girls don’t get it? They’re our future. Our future doctors, lawyers, mothers, presidents, they kind of keep the world going. Teenage-girl fans – they don’t lie. If they like you, they’re there. They don’t act ‘too cool.’ They like you, and they tell you. Which is sick. – Harry Styles for Rolling Stone Magazine
Harry quickly called out the toxic masculinity especially present in the music industry. His acceptance towards his majorly female prevalent fanbase is one that most male musicians might not be as excited about. Perhaps it’s Harry’s certainty within himself that allows him the ability to not submit to the masculine stereotypes and thoughts.
Pickering driving force to name her son after the famed musician comes from her adoration towards his kindness, warmth and softness—all things that wouldn’t be associated with macho men.
All the men I know who have rejected these tropes of masculinity – who choose softness, who value women as equals, who cry, who love poetry, who feel deeply, read books, dance joyfully, and pour their heart out, have paid a high price for it… So I looked for men who were. I found them. There are men who are finding ways to push back against the lies of toxic masculinity. Men who reject the absurd and limiting idea that they shouldn’t feel vulnerable, or pretty, or loving towards people they aren’t sexually involved with. Men who will stick up for women, or for other men, and who know that every time they stand up for the rights of women and others they practice a model of positive masculinity that isn’t perpetually afraid and fragile and small. – Karen Pickering
Despite Harry’s world-renowned fame, he’s still the soft-spoken young adult that’s portrayed in all of his projects. Showing affection to his friends, family and even his fans is something he’s never shied away from, giving us a glimpse into what kind of person he is—a positive influence for any struggling, bright-eyed admirer.
Pickering hopes that by giving her child an idol like Harry to look up to he can become as humble as the star, saying:
I want my Harry to know that being kind is cool. I want him to feel like whoever he is will be accepted, valued and loved by the people who matter. I want him to grow up aspiring to be compassionate, tender and brave. I want him to have good role models who show him that being a man is about finding your strength, and yourself, through caring and connection.
Harry is continuously breaking down walls when it comes to showing his vibrant nature and he does it all with elegance—most would be envious. But we hope the majority of them are inspired—the world could do with a few more Harry-like individuals walking around.
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