the generational gap

the generation gap and its affect on our future

PEARL ROGERS

When you think of retro, you often think of events, concepts and trends of the past. Things that have usually been experienced by our parents and grandparents. These events and ideas -beyond those of clothing and hairdos- often affect a person’s economic, political, social and moral beliefs and interests. Such ideals are what define a generation, and the differentiation of such groups can be seen over time.

Quite often, in the rush to understand a certain generation, harsh generalisations are made. Known as ‘Traditionalists’, the oldest generation (over 74 years of age) are known for their respectability, frugal nature, and adherence to rules and conformity. The ‘Baby Boomers’ can be competitive, work-focused and organised, and are older than 56. At the age of over 40, Gen X are described as self-sufficient, straight forward and cynical. Tolerant, social and holders of high expectations are the over 18’s, the Millennials. And, finally, we arrive at the youngest of the generations, Gen Z, the under 18’s who are characterized by their independence, short attention spans and incredible technological ability.

Now this all may sound like a huge assumption, comparable to horoscopes and astrology, but while these characteristics are assumed stereotypes, they still remain useful due to their causation. These qualities are far from arbitrary and have become common within a generation due to environmental factors such as war, protest, resource availability and technological advancement. For example, due to growing up in the great depression, Traditionalists are less likely to spend money superfluously and Millennials and Gen Z are more conscious about social issues due to being raised in a world surrounded by the media. 010

The ‘generation gap’ itself, is the distinct differences between the nature of ideals held between the generations. The term came about in the 60’s when there was a noticeable juxtaposition between the cultural habits and views of the baby boomers compared to their traditionalist parents. This gap shows how broad the influence of external events on a group of people can be.

But what effect will this gap have on the future? It can already be seen that there are rising tensions between younger and older generations, and with the current emergence of the newest generational subset, Gen Alpha, how will this dynamic change? The contrast in political views has become divisive, as those in high leadership positions are older, whereas a majority of the population who are being led are actually much younger (millennials). This often means that the needs of younger generations are not being met, due to the lack of common beliefs and ideals. It has proven difficult to translate between the differing moral perspectives of these groups to find a common ground, but if we are to grow and continue as a society in a socially sustainable way, something has to be done to allow communication and understanding, despite growing up in different circumstances.

The question is, how far are we willing to go and how much time and effort will we put into this? For a change as instrumental as this to occur, it relies on the support and cooperation of all demographics, no matter which ‘stereotype’ they are defined by.