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Gap between generations a challenge for the future

Relations between generations:. ?Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it." (George Orwell). What influences each generation? . Historical eventsEconomyFamily lifeSocietal expectationsCommunicationMa

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Gap between generations a challenge for the future

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    1. Gap between generations – a challenge for the future DEMOGENE-network Intensive Course, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia 19.4. – 29.4. 2009 Focus: Behind the Screen – Living in the Home for Older People Preddvor Heikki Suhonen Lecturer University of Turku Department of Social Policy and Social Work heikki.suhonen@utu.fi

    2. Relations between generations: “Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.” (George Orwell)

    3. What influences each generation? Historical events Economy Family life Societal expectations Communication Mass media Current technology Work life Culture as a wholeness

    4. Every generation Rebellion = challenging tradition Recklessness = risks and invincible Naiveté = pioneering and denial … but all this often in different ways (Howe & Strauss 1997)

    5. Generation Gap (1): The term “generation gap” was coined by sociologists and anthropologists in the 1960’s and is often still used today. One concept of the generation gap is that parents and offspring have different values and beliefs. As a result, many parents fear that they will lose influence with their children when peer pressure becomes too highly valued. (English Bell 2009; Falk & Falk 2005)

    6. Generational gap (2): Parents and their children find it hard to learn from each other, so they point their fingers at each other instead. Grown children often boast a better education and more secure finances than their parents, while the older generation may be richer in experience. (ibid.)

    7. What we mean by generation: Biological generations (about 20 years) Family generations (parents/children) Age cohort = the point of birth time (a year or some years time period/war generation, hippy generation etc.) Social generations = common generational experiences

    8. Definition of generation: In professional and scientific discussions has been a tradition to speak about three or five chronological generations = children/youth, adults and the elderly or children/youth, young adults, adults/middle age, 3. age and 4. age (Laslett 1998)

    9. Important questions in the society: What is the base and forms of solidarity between generations? What is the justness between generations? If generations belong to different cultures?

    10. Younger people: They have better education Their economical situation is better during their whole lifespan They have higher living standards Their health is better They will live longer They take more risks in their lives

    11. In western welfare societies: Children and young people are supported by their 30-40 years old parents Young people in puberty live together with their 40-50 years old parents As 60 years old, people are living perhaps most independent life, even if they are supporting on many ways their 30 years old children In the age of 75 and over, people begin to get support from their about 45 years old children People in 30 years old age are seldom links to the reality of 15 or 45 years old people; same is with 45 years old – they have few relations to the life of 30 or 60 years old people (Simpura 1998)

    12. 7-generations model: We can also speak about 7 generations model, where each one is about 15 years age periods (0-15, 15-30, 30-45, 45-60, 60-75, 75-90, 90+) 0-7 years old ? 30 years old ? 60 years old ? 90+ 15 years old ? 45 years old ? 75 years old (Arrowhead points the direction of support and help) (ibid.)

    13. Problems of 7-generations model: Nowadays there are a lot of so called reconstituted families where children might be in different ages There are a lot of single persons in the societies Many people can do voluntary work for other generations in associations etc. To link the term generation to biological parenthood or child-hood can be too idealistic from the viewpoint of solidarity and support between generations Possibility to find earlier or later generations in the society doesn’t automatically mean solidarity between generations (ibid.)

    14. Generations: Silent generation Baby Boom generation (‘Boomers’) X generation (‘Busters’) The Millennial generation (Y- and Z-generations etc.) (Zamke & Raines & Filipczak 2000; Lancaster & Stillman 2003; Codrington & Grant-Marshall 2004)

    15. ‘Boomers’ vs. ‘Xers’ What Boomers thinks/ says about Xers (‘Busters’)? Disloyal Impatient Materialistic Egoistic Unprepared Disrespectful Uncommitted Shameless etc. What Xers think/says about Boomers: Judgement (arvosteleva, tuomitseva) Impractical (epäkäytännöllinen) Arbitrary (mielivaltainen) Controlling Unfocused (epätarkkoja) Workaholic Political Opinionated (jyrkkä, dogmaattinen) Hypocritical etc. What Xers thinks/says about Boomers? Judgemental Impractical Arbitrary Controlling Unfocused Workaholic Political Opinionated Hypocritical etc. (ibid.)

    16. Silent generation: Born before World War II Critical influences during youth: World War I Great Depression World War II Industrial era

    17. Silent generation Core values: Dedication Duty before pleasure Adherence to rules Hard work Law and order Respect for position Cautious Self sufficiency Delayed reward Sacrifice Conformity Modesty Patience Reticent to express emotion Waste not want not (ibid.)

    18. Baby Boom generation: Born 1946-1964 (in Finland 1945-1950) Critical influences during youth: Grand vision Relative wealth and freedom Beginning of ‘the empowered individual’

    19. Baby Boom generation Core values: Idealism Image Optimism Team orientation Personal growth Personal gratification Group together by similarity of beliefs Media savvy Excellence Big talkers Youth Work Involvement Health/wellness Nostalgia (ibid.)

    20. Generation X: Born late 1960-1980s Critical influences during youth: Globalisation Information revolution Social, political and economical turmoil Project world

    21. Generation X Core values: Change Choice Creativity Global awareness Techno-literacy Lifelong learning Immediate gratification Individualism Diversity Survivors Informality Whiners Thrill seekers ‘Experiencers’ Pragmatism Not scared failure Self-reliance (ibid., Copland 1991)

    22. Millennial generation: Born 1990s – 2000s Critical influences during youth: World is for them the global village The internet and cell phones 11.9. 2001 World Trade Centre Global terrorism and protectionism School shootings

    23. Millennial generation Core values: Optimism Confidence High self-esteem Media and entertainment overloaded Street smart Diverse Conservative Networkers 24/7 society Sceptical Civic duty Achievement Multi-tasking skills Impatient Morality Social responsibility Naiveté Lifestyle centred Techno-savvy Global citizens Aware Informal (ibid., Tarbell & Bruno 2002)

    24. A Generation’s outlook on life: Adversity Diversity Values Attitudes Expectations Technology Complexity Economy

    25. Young and old have much in common:    They are the groups most likely to experience inequality, poverty, abuse and disadvantage.   They are the most likely to be marginalised from decision-making. They are the groups most often characterised as a problem or issue and described in terms of deficit or burden.  

    26. Summary: Decreasing contact between generations Increasing suspicion and distrust More children lacking positive adult contact Increase in isolated older people Increased worry about community and social cohesion Importance of sustainable change

    27. Healthy Community: The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes a Healthy Community as one in which there are good social networks, a culture of mutual respect and understanding and one where people feel empowered to make decisions. Thank You!

    28. References: Codrington, G. & Grant-Marshall, S: Mind the Gap! Penguines Books, Johannesburg 2004 Coupland, D.: Generation X: Tales for an accelerated culture. St. Martin’s Griffin, New York 1991 English Bell online: Generation Gap. http://englih-bell.com/info2/text/level6/generation-gap-17.pdf. 7.5. 2009 Falk, G. & Falk, U.A.: Youth Culture and the Generational Gap. Algora, New York 2005 Howe, N. & Strauss, W.: The Fourth Turning. An American Prophecy. Broadway Books, New York 1997 Lancaster, L.C. & Stillman, D.: When Generations Collide: Who they are. Why they clash. How to solve the generational puzzled at work. Harper Collins, New York 2003 Laslett, P.: A fresh Map. The emergence of the third age. Weidenfield & Nicholson, London 1998 Simpura, J.: Seitsemän sukupolvea. Näkökulma sukupolvien välisiin hyvinvointisuhteisiin. (Seven generations. A viewpoint to welfare relations between generations) Yhteiskuntapolitiikka 63(1998)5-6: 461 - 468 Tarbell, B. & Bruno, K.: The Next Great Generations. Who are the Millennials. 2002 http://www.authorstream.com/presentation/Miguel-15911-Next-Great-Generation-Defining-Naming-Whats- Name-9-11-Millenials-Theyre- angusallyouneed-tcm4-123635-Entertainment-ppt-powerpoint/ Zemke, R. & Raines, C. & Filipczak, B.F.: Generations at Work. AMACOM, New York 2000

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