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Essay on Generation Gap

What is the Generation Gap?

Generation Gap is a term given to the gap or age difference between two sets of people; the young people and their elders, especially between children and their parents. Everything is influenced by the change of time- the age, the culture, mannerism, and morality. This change affects everyone. The generation gap is an endless social phenomenon. Every generation lives at a certain time under certain circumstances and conditions. So, all generations have their own set of values and views. Every generation wants to uphold the principles they believe in. This is a problem that has continued for ages.

People born in different periods under different conditions have their views based on the circumstances they have been through. The patterns of life have been changing continuously according to time. Everyone wants to live and behave in his way and no one wants to compromise with his or her values and views. There has always been a difference in attitude or lack of understanding between the younger and older generations. This attitude has augmented the generation gap and it is becoming wider day by day. This gap now has started impacting our lives in the wrong way.

It is always good to have a wide range of ideas, views, and opinions. It indicates how we are developing and advancing but sometimes this becomes worrisome when the views and ideas are not accepted by both generations. Parents create a certain image in their minds for their children. They want to bring up their children with values that they have been brought up with and expect their children to follow the same. Parents want children to act following their values, as they believe, it is for their benefit and would do well for them.

Children on the other hand have a broader outlook and refuse to accept the traditional ways. They want to do things their way and don’t like going by any rulebook. Mostly, young people experience conflict during their adolescence. They are desperately searching for self-identity. Parents at times fail to understand the demands of this fast-paced world. Ultimately, despite love and affection for each other both are drained out of energy and not able to comprehend the other. Consequently, there is a lack of communication and giving up on relationships.

Different Ways to Reduce the Generation Gap

Nothing in the world can be as beautiful as a parent-child relationship. It should be nurtured very delicately and so it is important to bridge the gap between the two generations. It is time to realize that neither is completely right nor wrong. Both generations have to develop more understanding and acceptance for each other. Having a dialogue with each other calmly, with the idea of sorting out conflict amicably in ideas, changing their mindset for each other, and coming to a middle ground can be the most helpful instrument in bridging the gap between the two generations.

Spending more time with each other like family outings, vacations, picnics, shopping, watching movies together could be some effective ways to build up a strong bond with each other. Both the generations need to study the ways of the society during their growing period and have mutual respect for it. To reduce the friction between the two generations, both parents and children have to give space to each other and define certain boundaries that the latter should respect.

The generation gap occurs because society is constantly changing. It is the responsibility of both generations to fill this gap with love, affection, and trust. Both generations should have mutual respect for the views and opinions that they uphold and advance cautiously with the development of society.

Conclusion

The generation gap is a very critical concept that occurs because of the different natures of every person. No one can end this generation gap but obviously, you can opt for some way in which it can be reduced.

There should be efforts made by both sides to get a better relationship between two people. The generation gap may cause conflict between families but if you try to understand the thinking of another person and choose a path in between then you can get a happy living family.

No one wants to live in a tense environment and you always need your elders with yourself no matter what, they are the ones who care for you, they may have different ways of expressing their love and care for you and you might feel awkward but you need to understand them and their ways. Having your elders with you in your family is a blessing, you can talk with them and let them know your views and understand your ways to approach a particular situation.

FAQs on Essay on Generation Gap

1. What do you Understand by Generation Gap?

The gap between the old people and the young is called the generation gap. The generation gap is not only the age difference between young people, their parents, and grandparents, but it is also caused by differences in opinion between two generations; it can be differences in beliefs, differences in views like politics, or differences in values. Therefore a generational gap is a conflict in thoughts, actions, and tastes of the young generation to that of older ones. We can have a good relationship even with a generational gap. All we need to do is understand others' way of thinking.

2. Why Does the Generation Gap Occur?

The generation gap occurs due to differences in views and opinions between the younger and older generation. Both generations want to uphold the principles they believe in. The reason for the generation gap is not only age but it can be because of reasons like:

Difference in beliefs

Difference in interests

Difference in opinion

In today's time, the generational gap has caused conflict between many families. The generational gap occurs because of the following reasons:

Increased life expectancy

The rapid change in society

Mobility of society

The generation gap can be reduced if we work on it with patience and understanding. So whatever may be the reason for the occurrence of the generation gap it can be overcome and a happy relationship can be built between two different people.

3. How Should the Gap in the two Generations be Bridged?

The gap between the two generations should be bridged by mutual respect, understanding, love, and affection for each other. They both should come to a middle ground and sort things out amicably. Here are a few tips to help children to improve the differences because of the generational gap between their parents and them:

Try to talk more often even if you do not have the time, make time for it.

Spend more time with your parents regularly to develop and maintain your relationship.

Make them feel special with genuine gestures.

Share your worries and problems with them.

Respect is the most important thing which you should give them.

Be responsible

Have patience and understand their perspective in every situation.

4. How Does the Generation Gap Impact Relationships?

Generation gaps disrupt the family completely. Due to a lack of understanding and acceptance, the relationship between the older and the younger generations become strained. Most families can not enjoy their family lives because of disturbed routines either they are too busy with work or other commitments, they are unable to spend time with each other. This increases the generational gap between children and parents. The child is unable to communicate his or her thoughts because of lack of communication and parents are unable to understand what the child is thinking; this causes more differences between them.

The generation gap can cause conflict between a relation of child, parent, and grandparent. Because of the generational gap, there is a huge difference in the living pattern and pattern in which a person responds to a difficult situation. Elder people often take every situation on themselves and try to seek out the things for others but in today’s generation they believe in working only for themself they do not get bothered by others and they don’t try to seek things for others. But if we work to understand the differences and get a path out in between then the conflicts can be reduced and so the generational gap will not be that bothersome.

5. Where can I find the best essay on Generation Gap?

The generation gap can have a different point of view. Each person has a different way of thinking. Vedantu provides you with the best study material to understand the topic well and write about it. Vedantu is a leading online learning portal that has excellent teachers with years of experience to help students score good marks in exams. The team of Vedantu provides you with study material by subject specialists that have deep knowledge of the topic and excel in providing the best knowledge to their students to get the best results. Visit Vedantu now!

Essay on Generation Gap for Students and Children

500+ words essay on generation gap.

We all know that humans have been inhabiting this earth for a long time. Over time, times have changed and humans have evolved. The world became developed and so did mankind. Each generation has seen new changes and things that the older generations have not.

This is exactly what creates a generation gap. It is how one generation differs from the other. It is quite natural for a generation gap to exist. Why? Because it shows that mankind is evolving and changing for the better. However, sometimes this gap impacts our lives wrongly.

Generation Gap – Impact on Relations

It is always nice to have fresh ideas and points of view. It is a clear indication of how we are advancing and developing at a great level. However, when this clash of ideas and viewpoints becomes gets too much, it becomes a matter of worry.

The most common result of this clash is distanced relations. Generally, a generation gap is mostly seen between parents and kids. It shows that parents fail to understand their kids and vice versa. The parents usually follow the traditions and norms.

Likewise, they expect their children to conform to the societal norms as they have. But the kids are of the modern age with a broad outlook. They refuse to accept these traditional ways.

This is one of the main reasons why the conflict begins. They do not reach a solution and thus distance themselves because of misunderstandings. This is a mistake at both ends. The parents must try not to impose the same expectations which their parents had from them. Similarly, the kids must not outright wrong their parents but try to understand where this is coming from.

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How to Bridge the Gap?

As we all know there is no stronger bond than that of a kid and his parents. Thus, we must understand its importance and handle it with care. Nowadays, it is very disheartening to see that these precious relationships are getting strained due to a generation gap.

In other words, just because there is a difference of opinion does not mean that people give up on relationships. It is high time both parties understand that no one is completely right or wrong. They can both reach a middle ground and sort it out. Acceptance and understanding are the keys here.

Moreover, there must be a friendly relationship between parents and kids. The kids must be given the space to express themselves freely without the fear of traditional thinking. Likewise, the children must trust their parents enough to indulge them in their lives.

Most importantly, there is a need to set boundaries between the two parties. Instead of debating, it is better to understand the point of view. This will result in great communication and both will be happy irrespective of the generation gap.

In short, a generation gap happens due to the constant changes in the world. While we may not stop the evolvement of the world, we can strengthen the bond and bridge the gap it creates. Each person must respect everyone for their individuality rather than fitting them into a box they believe to be right.

FAQs on Generation Gap

Q.1 How does the generation gap impact relationships?

A.1 The generation gap impacts relationships severely. It creates a difference between them and also a lack of understanding. All this results in strained relationships.

Q.2 How can we bridge the generation gap?

A.2 We can bridge the generation gap by creating a safe environment for people to express themselves. We must understand and accept each other for what they are rather than fitting them in a box.

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Essay On Generation Gap

Generation Gap Essay

500+ words generation gap essay.

The generation gap means the difference between two generations. It often causes conflict between parents and kids. The term can also be explained as the difference of opinions and ideologies between two generations. The views can also be different in religious belief, attitude towards life and political views.

People from different generations differ from each other in various aspects of life. For example, people born before Independence are different from today’s generation. The thinking of both generations is poles apart in terms of the economic, cultural and social environment. Our world keeps changing, and the vast difference between the two generations is inevitable.

Our society keeps on changing at a constant pace, and because of it, people’s opinions, beliefs, ideologies, and behaviour also change with time. These changes bring positive changes to our society by breaking the stereotypes. However, it becomes a cause of conflict between two generations most of the time.

Generation Gap – Impact on Relationships

We should always welcome fresh and new ideas. Accepting new changes indicates that we are advancing and developing significantly. But, there will be a clash between the opinions and views of both generations. The result of this clash leads to distanced relations. If this clash gets too much, it will be a matter of worry.

We can see the generation gap, usually between parents and kids. Parents typically want to follow the traditions and norms and expect the same thing from their kids. But in the modern age, kids with broad thinking refuse to accept such traditions and customs. They want to live their life according to their ways. They fail to understand each other, which sometimes turns into clashes. It is considered one of the primary reasons for conflict between parents and kids.

Both parents and their kids fail to reach a solution that distances them from each other and creates misunderstandings. Parents should not impose their expectations on them to avoid such conflicts. Similarly, the kids should also try to understand their parents’ situation and where it is coming from.

Reasons for Generation Gap:

A generation gap does not mean an age difference. It means the overall difference in their views and opinions, way of talking, style of living, etc. Even there is a vast difference of belief towards cultures and traditions of old and new generations. The primary reasons behind this generation gap are the communication gap, advanced technology, the old mentality, and today’s nuclear family concept. Nowadays, children and grandparents hardly communicate, which leads to a generation gap.

How to Bridge the Generation Gap?

1. Communicate

To reduce the generation gap, communication should be the initial step. Lack of communication between parents and kids leads to this gap. You should talk to your parents about your daily routine, feelings, etc. By doing so, you can bridge the gap between you and your parents, which will help you to become more attached. The feeling of affection will grow stronger.

2. Spend time with your parents

Kids should spend quality time with their parents to understand each other better. They can spend quality time watching a match together or going for an evening walk. This will surely help you get closer to your parents and bridge the generation gap. You can even make your parents learn new games and play with them someday.

3. Share your problems

You should share your problems with your parents to help you with solutions. Initially, they might scold you, but at last, they will support you and suggest some solutions.

4. Show genuine gestures

Effective gestures often prove to be successful and can convey more than words. It can be a gift to your parents on their birthdays, anniversaries, Mother’s or Father’s Day, etc.

5. Act Responsibly

Parents feel delighted when they see their kids behaving like grown-ups. As we grow up, our responsibilities also get bigger. It’s better for us if we understand it as fast as possible.

To sum it up, we can say that the generation gap happens due to constant changes in the world.

While we may not stop the evolution of the world, we can strengthen the bond and bridge the gap it creates. Each person must respect everyone for their individuality, rather than fitting them into a box they believe to be correct.

From our BYJU’S website, students can also access CBSE Essays related to different topics. It will help students to get good marks in their exams.

Frequently Asked Questions on Generation gap Essay

How can the generation gap issue be overcome.

It can be overcome by taking proactive steps like actively involving all family members in discussions. Also, we must not ignore or disrespect elderly people and try to explain your point of view if any difference in opinion occurs.

How should parents/ grandparents treat their children in order to avoid generation gaps?

Be friendly with children and advise them in a subtle and patient way. Also, inform them about the major decisions which are to be taken in the family and make them feel included.

What are the main reasons for generation gaps?

The ever-changing technology and the invention of several new things on a daily basis are one of the main reasons for the generation gap.

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Generation Gap: Childhood, Adulthood, Old Age Essay

The relations between the generations were always complicated. The older people always indicate that it their time the situation was different and people behaved in the different way. At the same period, the younger generation says about the impact of the modern tendencies, changes of the way of life that give an opportunity to claim that the younger generation is more advanced.

However, as it clearly seen though the history, such attitude of the generations to each other was always the same. Therefore, although the technical facilities, cultural and economical changes impact the society, it is possible to claim that there are no significant changes in the relations between the generations, they are neither improving, nor getting worse.

Analyzing the cultural aspect within the conflict between generations, it is necessary to admit that such cultural issues as art, music, fashion have a tendency of the permanent change. Thereby, it is obvious that the different generations which do not have the same tastes and fashion, cannot understand each other’s needs. And especially this aspect is sharp within the relations between teenagers and their parents.

Today, the tradition hierarchy of family is different than two centuries ago. Elder members of family feel themselves as the intruders. From the other side, their children can easily send parents to the social houses. During the past century, the patterns of solidarity in friend and family relations had been changed (Allan 2008).

The transformation of the family and friendship aspects influences the Western communities since 1970s. People got more freedom and, as the result, the gap in the relations between young people and their parents increased (Thompson 1998).

From the other hand, the flexibility in the constructing of personal life and relations within the social groups is also increased. As the diversity in the priorization provided more facilities and made the personal choice more complex, the cultural changes of the past century can be considered as positive.

The relations between adult and old people can be also considered from the mentioned below position (Edmunds & Turner 2002, Huntley 2006). Thus, in the article Building Positive Relationships (2008) is written about the relations between 57-years old woman and her 89-years old mother.

As it understandable from the article, the conflict between the generations still exists, however, due to the physical disability of old mother, both woman try to find a solution and to rebuild their relations.

Being in the difficult situation, old people need more attention. For adult people, “the decline of a parent’s health, death of one parent or financial pressures often mean an aging parent will need increased social and emotional support or services from family – such as help with meals, cleaning, transportation or financial matters” ( Building Positive Relationships 2010).

In this context, it is necessary to admit the position of Klinenberg (2001) who indicates the tendency of increase of a number of old people who are estranged from their previous social circle and who live alone without a strong connection with their children.

Many old people have to live in the social establishments due to unwillingness of their younger relatives to care about them. This tendency demonstrates that the traditional cultural attitude to family, marriage and old parent is changed.

Obviously, the economic conditions influence generations. Wyn (2006) explores the rupture of the educational and employment outcomes as the peculiarity of the current situation of the young generation.

As it was normal order of things, today, such disbalance is widely spread that makes young people face with a number of problems while searching a job as “the transition processes for the majority of young people born after 1970 are different from those of the majority of their parents’ generation” (Wyn 2006, p. 6).

From this point of view, it is possible to notice that the younger generation has a significant reason to claim that the current situation on the labor market is more difficult than it was years ago.

According to the statistics provided by Wyn, “by the year 2000, at the age of 27, 68 per cent of the respondents had achieved permanent jobs, and 76 per cent were in full-time jobs” (Wyn 2006, p. 10). However, from the other hand, the elder generation has much more problems within this aspect. Although old people are more experienced, many employers prefer to accept a young person than the elder one.

Analyzing Mannheim’s essay The Problem of Generation , Pilcher (1994) indicates that “the notion of generation being widespread in everyday language as a way of understanding differences between age groups and as a means of locating individuals and groups within historical times” ( Mannheim’s sociology of generations: an undervalued legacy , p. 481).

Thereby, it is possible to say that the present problem existed during the history and never turned into the tendency of improvement or worsening. Different social models, tendencies, fashion and other issues dictate the rules of the relations between generations. Although a number of researchers indicate the increasing way of generation gap, history demonstrates that such tendencies were presented at all times.

Today, teenagers and young people feel themselves free and independent as the world is controlled by them. The number of old people is growing day by day as the result of the demographic characteristics. The present century requires more fast reaction, creative ideas and flexibility which are typical for younger generation. Wyn claims that today the process for becoming adult is different and emerging.

The typical issues of those changes are “an increasingly flexible labor market, dissolution of occupational boundaries, deregulation of labour, and increases in contrast, part-time employment” (2006, p. 12). At the same period, the cultural aspect also changes. Thus, the attitude of the young people to marriage and family is different while the level of fertility reduces.

Privatization of educational services diminishes the capability of young people to get better education. Changed attitude to the elder relatives led to a big number of the old people abandoned in the social houses. Generation gap is the key moment within the understanding of the relations between generations.

There is possible to say about the sharp conflict which is concerned with different parts of life and particularly with economic and cultural aspects. Young adults and elder people have the different possibilities to find a job, to increase their financial status according to the current tendencies in the society and they have different cultural tastes and traditional values.

However, although the cultural and economical changes impact the society and the generation gap is significant, it is necessary to claim that the relations between the generations are neither improving, nor getting worse. The historical knowledge provides the demonstration that such situation was always actual and topical.

Reference List

Allan, G 2008, ‘Flexibility, Friendship and Family’, Personal Relationships , 15: 1-16.

Building Positive Relationships 2010. Web.

Edmunds, J & Turner, B. S 2002, ‘Introduction: Generations, War and Intellectuals’, Generations, Culture and Society , Open University Press, Buckingham, pp. 1-23.

Huntley, R 2006, ‘From X to Y’, The World According to Y: Inside the New Adult Generation , Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin, pp. 1-23.

Klinenberg, E 2001, ‘Dying Alone: The Social Production of Urban Isolation’, Ethnography , 4:2, pp. 501-531. Web.

Pilcher,J (1994), ‘Mannheim’s sociology of generations: an undervalued legacy’, BJC, Vol. 45, Issue 3: pp. 481-495.

Thompson, K 1998, ‘The Classic Moral Panic: Mods and Rockers’, Moral Panics , Routledge, London, pp. 31-56.

Wyn, J 2004, ‘Becoming Adult in the 2000s: New Transitions and New Careers’, Family Matters , 68: pp. 6-12.

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Essay on Generation Gap

Students are often asked to write an essay on Generation Gap in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Generation Gap

Understanding the generation gap.

The term ‘Generation Gap’ refers to the differences in opinions, values, and perspectives between individuals of different generations. It often causes misunderstandings and conflicts.

The Generation Gap is primarily caused by rapid social and technological changes. Each generation grows up in a different era, experiencing unique events and advancements.

The Effects

This gap can lead to conflicts, with each generation struggling to understand the other’s viewpoint. However, it also fosters diversity and innovation.

While the Generation Gap can be challenging, it is a natural part of societal growth. Understanding and respect can bridge this gap.

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Speech on Generation Gap

250 Words Essay on Generation Gap

The term “generation gap” refers to the chasm that separates the thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes of one generation from another. This gap is primarily due to the rapid pace of societal and technological change, which often leads to a disconnect between generations.

The Causes of the Generation Gap

The primary cause of the generation gap is the rapid pace of change. Each generation grows up in a different socio-economic and technological environment, which shapes their worldview and experiences. For instance, the advent of digital technology has significantly influenced the values, attitudes, and expectations of younger generations compared to their parents and grandparents.

Implications of the Generation Gap

The generation gap can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts, as different generations may have divergent views on issues such as politics, religion, and social norms. However, it also fosters diversity and innovation, as each generation brings unique perspectives and ideas.

Bridging the Gap

Bridging the generation gap requires empathy, open-mindedness, and effective communication. Understanding and respecting the viewpoints of different generations can lead to a more harmonious coexistence and facilitate the exchange of ideas and knowledge.

In conclusion, the generation gap is a complex phenomenon that reflects the dynamic nature of society. While it can lead to conflict, it also represents an opportunity for growth and innovation. By fostering dialogue and understanding, we can bridge this gap and harness the strengths of each generation.

500 Words Essay on Generation Gap

Introduction.

The term “Generation Gap” refers to the chasm that separates the thoughts, ideologies, and attitudes of one generation from the other. The phenomenon is often attributed to the rapid cultural change in post-industrial society, making the intergenerational transmission of values and ideas more challenging.

The Essence of the Generation Gap

The Generation Gap is not a new phenomenon. It has been present for centuries, but its prominence has grown due to the accelerated pace of societal change. The older generation, molded by traditional values, often finds it difficult to understand the perspectives of the younger generation, who are shaped by modernity and rapid technological advancements. This dissonance can lead to conflicts, misunderstandings, and a general sense of disconnect between generations.

Causes of the Generation Gap

One of the primary causes of the Generation Gap is the rapid pace of technological and societal change. The advent of the internet, smartphones, and social media has drastically altered the way the younger generation communicates, socializes, and perceives the world. This shift is often incomprehensible to the older generation, who grew up in an era of face-to-face interactions and traditional communication methods.

Another cause is the changing societal norms and values. The younger generation is more liberal, open-minded, and accepting of diversity, while the older generation tends to be more conservative, sticking to established norms and traditions. This divergence in views can lead to disagreements and conflicts.

Impacts of the Generation Gap

The Generation Gap can have both positive and negative impacts. On the negative side, it can lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, and a lack of emotional connectivity between generations. It can also result in a lack of respect for the older generation’s wisdom and experience, and a disregard for the younger generation’s innovative ideas and perspectives.

On the positive side, the Generation Gap can spur societal progress. The younger generation’s fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, combined with the older generation’s wisdom and experience, can lead to societal advancement when these generations learn to understand and respect each other’s viewpoints.

The Generation Gap is an inevitable aspect of societal progression. While it can create conflicts and misunderstandings, it also presents an opportunity for growth and development. The key is to foster intergenerational dialogue and mutual respect, enabling the transfer of wisdom from the older generation to the younger, and the infusion of fresh ideas and perspectives from the younger generation to the older. By doing so, we can bridge the Generation Gap, creating a harmonious society that values both tradition and innovation.

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Generation Gap

Nancy Mendez
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Generation gap is a difference in values and attitudes between one generation and another, especially between young people and their parents. These differences stem from older and younger people not understanding each other because of their differences in experiences, opinions, habits, and behavior.

History has always seen some degree of generational differences. For instance, women in the 1920s shocked their elders by wearing short skirts and bobbed hair. However, the term “generation gap” came into wide use in the United States and Europe during the 1960s. It described the cultural differences between the baby boomers and their parents. During this era, the differences between the two generations were exaggerated in comparison with previous times. There were major differences in many things such as music, fashion, drug use, and politics. Experts suggest that this situation may have been created because of the extraordinary size of the baby boomer generation, which in turn gave them a...

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School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

Sana JD Loue PhD, MPH

School of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

Martha Sajatovic MD

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Mendez, N. (2008). Generation Gap. In: Loue, S.J., Sajatovic, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Aging and Public Health. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-33754-8_195

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Elia Barbieri - Big Idea - The Guardian Saturday - 4th February 2023 - Why the generational divide is a myth

The big idea: why the generation gap isn’t as wide as you think

Pitting boomers against millennials is a distraction from the inequality that affects us all

D efining generations is all about division. We are classified into groups based on when we were born, these are given snappy, headline-friendly labels, and all our attention is directed to the supposed conflicts between them.

We find it much easier to blame particular generations for changes we don’t like than any other kind of demographic grouping. Baby boomers, for example, have taken all the houses, stolen all the wealth and destroyed the planet; millennials are responsible for the end of marriage, the demise of office parties and even marmalade (sales have been falling since 2013).

Of course, older people have always denigrated the young: in 400BC Socrates moaned about the youth of his day and their “bad manners, contempt for authority, disrespect for elders”. But now we have the tools to communicate these perennial biases at scale.

This is a key feature of what has become a generationally tinged culture war. We’re bombarded with stories of a “woke” generation obsessed with “safe spaces” and fostering a “cancel culture”. But this is a misdirection. It is true that younger people have a different perspective on shifting social norms – but that has always been the case.

Younger generations are just more comfortable with new cultural ideas, because they didn’t grow up with the older ones. In fact, in my analysis of long trends, it’s pretty much a constant that the youngest generation will be twice as comfortable with the latest cultural norm than the oldest: the emergent issues when baby boomers were young adults in the 1980s were women’s roles in the workplace and the acceptability of homosexuality; for young people today, it’s more likely to be gender identity, or how we interpret history. The issues change, but the generational patterns are eerily similar.

The fact that we feel so unusually divided right now has more to do with the period we’re living through than any fundamental generational characteristics.

There are two vital changes in context that help explain this. The first is economic. We have seen an extraordinary increase in private wealth among older people, with baby boomers particular beneficiaries. As a recent Resolution Foundation report shows, this older group owns more than half of all private wealth, seven times the amount owned by millennials. Of course, there is a strong lifecycle element to wealth, in that we build it up as we age. But the chasm is of a different scale to the past, and it’s a pattern repeated in many countries. For example, in the US, when baby boomers were an average age of 45, they owned 42% of the US’s total private wealth. When generation X got to the same milestone, they owned just 15% – and millennials are sure to take this even lower. This is a significant new division, the result of historical circumstance and the protection afforded to the boomers’ interests due to their electoral weight.

Secondly, however, our increased sense of intergenerational division can’t be separated from our new, incredibly divisive information environment. Conflict is clickable, and generational groups are often in the frontline.

I inadvertently created a small example of that fake division through a survey we conducted in 2022, which examined how different generations in the UK viewed each other. One question tested a statement based on an interview with TV personality Kirstie Allsopp, in which she seemed to suggest young people couldn’t afford their own homes because they spent too much on Netflix, gym subscriptions, fancy coffees and foreign holidays. Distressingly, half the public agreed – and, even more distressingly, generation Z were just as likely to agree as older generations.

The current cohort of young people have clearly internalised a sense of self-blame, when the much more important explanations for lower levels of home ownership, for example, are the extraordinary decades-long surge in house prices, stagnating wages and stricter lending rules.

But the key lesson for me wasn’t the rights and wrongs of the assertion – it was how the results of our poll were reported. The headlines across various outlets were all variations of: “Boomers blame Netflix and takeaways for young not owning homes” – despite boomers being no more likely to think that way than anyone else. News sites know a piece that invents a generational division, particularly with boomers as the villains, will be read and shared more.

However, despite all the engineered, exaggerated, and indeed real divisions, we are unlikely to see a breakdown in relations between generations, or even much of a political fightback from younger people. That’s partly because of the tendency they have to blame themselves for their bad fortune – but there are a number of other reasons.

Despite the rhetoric, we’re actually more deeply connected up and down the generations than across them, because of our families. We love our parents and grandparents, and, more selfishly, we want them to keep what they’ve accumulated, or for them to continue to receive all the support they can – because if they don’t, it will reduce what we get or leave us footing the bill. The mindblowing amount of wealth at the top of the age range will flow down eventually. The problem is that it will do so very unevenly – and that also fractures any concerted will for change among younger generations.

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The lack of anger and action from young people is frustrating for those of us who believe we desperately need a better generational settlement. But for that to occur, two policy graveyards would have to be traversed: the questions of how to tax wealth, and how to fix the broken housing market. Wealth and housing have become so tied to when you were born that radical action to break the chain of intergenerational privilege seems warranted. Yet this is unlikely given the lack of bitterness we feel towards the people in our lives who would be affected by such a breach. Ironically, the divisions between generations are neither clear nor passionate enough to make a fairer deal inevitable. The task before us is therefore to find another way of bringing that about.

Comments (…)

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Generation Gap Essay

Although we hear the phrase "generation gap" somewhat often, the majority of the time, we cannot comprehend what it means. In this day and age, there is a genuine cause for worry over a generational divide. This issue affects almost every single household in the world. Even if there is just a ten-year age gap between two people, it is possible to discern that there is a generational divide in today's society. Here are a few sample essays on generation gap.

100 Words Essay On Generation Gap

A generation gap exists when the two groups have a large age difference. Generational disparities are a significant issue in modern society. If you compare people's perspectives from different generations, you might say there is a generation gap on that topic. Sociologists initially explored the concept of a generational divide in the 1960s. The distance between generations may be maintained by mutual comprehension. The main issue with the generation divide is a need for more communication. The generation gap influences many facets of society, including fashion, way of life, language, etc. A generation gap in your life may negatively impact your relationships, emotions, and overall quality of life. The generation gap is primarily the result of the effects of development and technological advancement. Disagreements and misunderstandings between relatives of different ages are commonplace due to generational differences.

200 Words Essay On Generation Gap

Our initial thought when we hear the term "generation gap" is that it must refer to a disparity in age of at least ten years between two groups of individuals. It's just the case that today's youth and their parents have divergent views on several issues. The generation gap occurs when individuals from different generations lack the qualities necessary to communicate effectively and reach a consensus on essential issues.

Everybody agrees that this is a significant problem. It may cause tension inside a person's family when it comes up. Many families are shattered as a result. Let's look at some concrete instances of this generational divide—

Our parents can mistakenly believe that their kid is spending too much time online even if they are doing so for educational and work purposes and sometimes it can be difficult for parents to understand. In this case, the generation difference might be problematic if the kid cannot help their parents see things from their perspective.

Many of our grandparents still adhere to the prevailing view that their grandchildren should tie the knot between 18 and 25. Today, however, many young people reject the idea of an early wedding. As a result, the generation gap is also a problem in this respect.

500 Words Essay on Generation Gap

The generation gap is a problem anywhere individuals of dramatically different age groups interact with one another, including at home, in the classroom, and in the workplace. There is a generation gap when members of different generations have drastically different worldviews, values, and priorities. There might be a generation divide, whether at home, in the classroom, or in the workplace. As a result of being raised in various eras, individuals of different generations sometimes have divergent views on the same topic.

Generational Differences

Interactions between parents and their offspring are a classic illustration of generational differences. As a result of their similar psychological and emotional differences, they experience a wide range of highs and lows in their interactions. Another source of tension is the fact that generational gaps in communication occur when kids speak languages their parents don't comprehend.

There is a generational divide between teachers and their students and some older educators may have trouble accepting the youngsters' worldviews.

It's common to hear claims like "our generation was superior" or "our generation is much better" when contrasting two periods. These few instances, however, serve to illustrate the generational divide clearly.

Why Generation Gap Is Widening

The generations are becoming more apart these days.This is due to the rapid pace at which technology and people's ideas and practices evolve. People used to be patient and wait for things to be done excellently and systematically, but today's youth are impatient and want instant gratification.

The older age has more life experience to share, but today's youth aren't interested in picking the brains of their elders. They need to remember that learning has always been the superior method.

Instead of relying only on technology, young people should seek the wisdom of those who have come before them. There has always been a two-way street regarding education that requires giving and receiving. To that end, young people should look to their elders for guidance and guidance on how to use the new technology.

The Generation Gap: What Can Be Done?

In light of the gravity of the problem posed by the generation gap, efforts to narrow it are urgently warranted. The age difference can be narrower than it is. for instance

Mutual regard is essential | The present and prior generations should value and appreciate one another's perspectives and values. Relationships between generations benefit from mutual respect for one another's opinions.

Closing the informational divide | The generations should work together to bridge the gap that separates them. There will be no sharing of ideas and opinions, which may lead to friction and conflict if individuals cannot communicate with one another.

Start on cordial terms | The two generations should work to become friends so that we may have an in-depth conversation about our perspectives more effortlessly.

Effects of the Generational Divide | It has a wide variety of adverse effects. It leads to strife and contention among the people. For instance, if someone does not share our point of view, we may conflict with one another because of our divergent points of view. Additionally, it results in everyday arguments within the family.

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Data Administrator

Database professionals use software to store and organise data such as financial information, and customer shipping records. Individuals who opt for a career as data administrators ensure that data is available for users and secured from unauthorised sales. DB administrators may work in various types of industries. It may involve computer systems design, service firms, insurance companies, banks and hospitals.

Bio Medical Engineer

The field of biomedical engineering opens up a universe of expert chances. An Individual in the biomedical engineering career path work in the field of engineering as well as medicine, in order to find out solutions to common problems of the two fields. The biomedical engineering job opportunities are to collaborate with doctors and researchers to develop medical systems, equipment, or devices that can solve clinical problems. Here we will be discussing jobs after biomedical engineering, how to get a job in biomedical engineering, biomedical engineering scope, and salary.

Ethical Hacker

A career as ethical hacker involves various challenges and provides lucrative opportunities in the digital era where every giant business and startup owns its cyberspace on the world wide web. Individuals in the ethical hacker career path try to find the vulnerabilities in the cyber system to get its authority. If he or she succeeds in it then he or she gets its illegal authority. Individuals in the ethical hacker career path then steal information or delete the file that could affect the business, functioning, or services of the organization.

GIS officer work on various GIS software to conduct a study and gather spatial and non-spatial information. GIS experts update the GIS data and maintain it. The databases include aerial or satellite imagery, latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates, and manually digitized images of maps. In a career as GIS expert, one is responsible for creating online and mobile maps.

Data Analyst

The invention of the database has given fresh breath to the people involved in the data analytics career path. Analysis refers to splitting up a whole into its individual components for individual analysis. Data analysis is a method through which raw data are processed and transformed into information that would be beneficial for user strategic thinking.

Data are collected and examined to respond to questions, evaluate hypotheses or contradict theories. It is a tool for analyzing, transforming, modeling, and arranging data with useful knowledge, to assist in decision-making and methods, encompassing various strategies, and is used in different fields of business, research, and social science.

Geothermal Engineer

Individuals who opt for a career as geothermal engineers are the professionals involved in the processing of geothermal energy. The responsibilities of geothermal engineers may vary depending on the workplace location. Those who work in fields design facilities to process and distribute geothermal energy. They oversee the functioning of machinery used in the field.

Database Architect

If you are intrigued by the programming world and are interested in developing communications networks then a career as database architect may be a good option for you. Data architect roles and responsibilities include building design models for data communication networks. Wide Area Networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), and intranets are included in the database networks. It is expected that database architects will have in-depth knowledge of a company's business to develop a network to fulfil the requirements of the organisation. Stay tuned as we look at the larger picture and give you more information on what is db architecture, why you should pursue database architecture, what to expect from such a degree and what your job opportunities will be after graduation. Here, we will be discussing how to become a data architect. Students can visit NIT Trichy , IIT Kharagpur , JMI New Delhi .

Remote Sensing Technician

Individuals who opt for a career as a remote sensing technician possess unique personalities. Remote sensing analysts seem to be rational human beings, they are strong, independent, persistent, sincere, realistic and resourceful. Some of them are analytical as well, which means they are intelligent, introspective and inquisitive.

Remote sensing scientists use remote sensing technology to support scientists in fields such as community planning, flight planning or the management of natural resources. Analysing data collected from aircraft, satellites or ground-based platforms using statistical analysis software, image analysis software or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a significant part of their work. Do you want to learn how to become remote sensing technician? There's no need to be concerned; we've devised a simple remote sensing technician career path for you. Scroll through the pages and read.

Budget Analyst

Budget analysis, in a nutshell, entails thoroughly analyzing the details of a financial budget. The budget analysis aims to better understand and manage revenue. Budget analysts assist in the achievement of financial targets, the preservation of profitability, and the pursuit of long-term growth for a business. Budget analysts generally have a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a closely related field. Knowledge of Financial Management is of prime importance in this career.

Underwriter

An underwriter is a person who assesses and evaluates the risk of insurance in his or her field like mortgage, loan, health policy, investment, and so on and so forth. The underwriter career path does involve risks as analysing the risks means finding out if there is a way for the insurance underwriter jobs to recover the money from its clients. If the risk turns out to be too much for the company then in the future it is an underwriter who will be held accountable for it. Therefore, one must carry out his or her job with a lot of attention and diligence.

Finance Executive

Product manager.

A Product Manager is a professional responsible for product planning and marketing. He or she manages the product throughout the Product Life Cycle, gathering and prioritising the product. A product manager job description includes defining the product vision and working closely with team members of other departments to deliver winning products.

Operations Manager

Individuals in the operations manager jobs are responsible for ensuring the efficiency of each department to acquire its optimal goal. They plan the use of resources and distribution of materials. The operations manager's job description includes managing budgets, negotiating contracts, and performing administrative tasks.

Stock Analyst

Individuals who opt for a career as a stock analyst examine the company's investments makes decisions and keep track of financial securities. The nature of such investments will differ from one business to the next. Individuals in the stock analyst career use data mining to forecast a company's profits and revenues, advise clients on whether to buy or sell, participate in seminars, and discussing financial matters with executives and evaluate annual reports.

A Researcher is a professional who is responsible for collecting data and information by reviewing the literature and conducting experiments and surveys. He or she uses various methodological processes to provide accurate data and information that is utilised by academicians and other industry professionals. Here, we will discuss what is a researcher, the researcher's salary, types of researchers.

Welding Engineer

Welding Engineer Job Description: A Welding Engineer work involves managing welding projects and supervising welding teams. He or she is responsible for reviewing welding procedures, processes and documentation. A career as Welding Engineer involves conducting failure analyses and causes on welding issues.

Transportation Planner

A career as Transportation Planner requires technical application of science and technology in engineering, particularly the concepts, equipment and technologies involved in the production of products and services. In fields like land use, infrastructure review, ecological standards and street design, he or she considers issues of health, environment and performance. A Transportation Planner assigns resources for implementing and designing programmes. He or she is responsible for assessing needs, preparing plans and forecasts and compliance with regulations.

Environmental Engineer

Individuals who opt for a career as an environmental engineer are construction professionals who utilise the skills and knowledge of biology, soil science, chemistry and the concept of engineering to design and develop projects that serve as solutions to various environmental problems.

Safety Manager

A Safety Manager is a professional responsible for employee’s safety at work. He or she plans, implements and oversees the company’s employee safety. A Safety Manager ensures compliance and adherence to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) guidelines.

Conservation Architect

A Conservation Architect is a professional responsible for conserving and restoring buildings or monuments having a historic value. He or she applies techniques to document and stabilise the object’s state without any further damage. A Conservation Architect restores the monuments and heritage buildings to bring them back to their original state.

Structural Engineer

A Structural Engineer designs buildings, bridges, and other related structures. He or she analyzes the structures and makes sure the structures are strong enough to be used by the people. A career as a Structural Engineer requires working in the construction process. It comes under the civil engineering discipline. A Structure Engineer creates structural models with the help of computer-aided design software.

Highway Engineer

Highway Engineer Job Description: A Highway Engineer is a civil engineer who specialises in planning and building thousands of miles of roads that support connectivity and allow transportation across the country. He or she ensures that traffic management schemes are effectively planned concerning economic sustainability and successful implementation.

Field Surveyor

Are you searching for a Field Surveyor Job Description? A Field Surveyor is a professional responsible for conducting field surveys for various places or geographical conditions. He or she collects the required data and information as per the instructions given by senior officials.

Orthotist and Prosthetist

Orthotists and Prosthetists are professionals who provide aid to patients with disabilities. They fix them to artificial limbs (prosthetics) and help them to regain stability. There are times when people lose their limbs in an accident. In some other occasions, they are born without a limb or orthopaedic impairment. Orthotists and prosthetists play a crucial role in their lives with fixing them to assistive devices and provide mobility.

Pathologist

A career in pathology in India is filled with several responsibilities as it is a medical branch and affects human lives. The demand for pathologists has been increasing over the past few years as people are getting more aware of different diseases. Not only that, but an increase in population and lifestyle changes have also contributed to the increase in a pathologist’s demand. The pathology careers provide an extremely huge number of opportunities and if you want to be a part of the medical field you can consider being a pathologist. If you want to know more about a career in pathology in India then continue reading this article.

Veterinary Doctor

Speech therapist, gynaecologist.

Gynaecology can be defined as the study of the female body. The job outlook for gynaecology is excellent since there is evergreen demand for one because of their responsibility of dealing with not only women’s health but also fertility and pregnancy issues. Although most women prefer to have a women obstetrician gynaecologist as their doctor, men also explore a career as a gynaecologist and there are ample amounts of male doctors in the field who are gynaecologists and aid women during delivery and childbirth.

Audiologist

The audiologist career involves audiology professionals who are responsible to treat hearing loss and proactively preventing the relevant damage. Individuals who opt for a career as an audiologist use various testing strategies with the aim to determine if someone has a normal sensitivity to sounds or not. After the identification of hearing loss, a hearing doctor is required to determine which sections of the hearing are affected, to what extent they are affected, and where the wound causing the hearing loss is found. As soon as the hearing loss is identified, the patients are provided with recommendations for interventions and rehabilitation such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and appropriate medical referrals. While audiology is a branch of science that studies and researches hearing, balance, and related disorders.

An oncologist is a specialised doctor responsible for providing medical care to patients diagnosed with cancer. He or she uses several therapies to control the cancer and its effect on the human body such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy and biopsy. An oncologist designs a treatment plan based on a pathology report after diagnosing the type of cancer and where it is spreading inside the body.

Are you searching for an ‘Anatomist job description’? An Anatomist is a research professional who applies the laws of biological science to determine the ability of bodies of various living organisms including animals and humans to regenerate the damaged or destroyed organs. If you want to know what does an anatomist do, then read the entire article, where we will answer all your questions.

For an individual who opts for a career as an actor, the primary responsibility is to completely speak to the character he or she is playing and to persuade the crowd that the character is genuine by connecting with them and bringing them into the story. This applies to significant roles and littler parts, as all roles join to make an effective creation. Here in this article, we will discuss how to become an actor in India, actor exams, actor salary in India, and actor jobs.

Individuals who opt for a career as acrobats create and direct original routines for themselves, in addition to developing interpretations of existing routines. The work of circus acrobats can be seen in a variety of performance settings, including circus, reality shows, sports events like the Olympics, movies and commercials. Individuals who opt for a career as acrobats must be prepared to face rejections and intermittent periods of work. The creativity of acrobats may extend to other aspects of the performance. For example, acrobats in the circus may work with gym trainers, celebrities or collaborate with other professionals to enhance such performance elements as costume and or maybe at the teaching end of the career.

Video Game Designer

Career as a video game designer is filled with excitement as well as responsibilities. A video game designer is someone who is involved in the process of creating a game from day one. He or she is responsible for fulfilling duties like designing the character of the game, the several levels involved, plot, art and similar other elements. Individuals who opt for a career as a video game designer may also write the codes for the game using different programming languages.

Depending on the video game designer job description and experience they may also have to lead a team and do the early testing of the game in order to suggest changes and find loopholes.

Radio Jockey

Radio Jockey is an exciting, promising career and a great challenge for music lovers. If you are really interested in a career as radio jockey, then it is very important for an RJ to have an automatic, fun, and friendly personality. If you want to get a job done in this field, a strong command of the language and a good voice are always good things. Apart from this, in order to be a good radio jockey, you will also listen to good radio jockeys so that you can understand their style and later make your own by practicing.

A career as radio jockey has a lot to offer to deserving candidates. If you want to know more about a career as radio jockey, and how to become a radio jockey then continue reading the article.

Choreographer

The word “choreography" actually comes from Greek words that mean “dance writing." Individuals who opt for a career as a choreographer create and direct original dances, in addition to developing interpretations of existing dances. A Choreographer dances and utilises his or her creativity in other aspects of dance performance. For example, he or she may work with the music director to select music or collaborate with other famous choreographers to enhance such performance elements as lighting, costume and set design.

Social Media Manager

A career as social media manager involves implementing the company’s or brand’s marketing plan across all social media channels. Social media managers help in building or improving a brand’s or a company’s website traffic, build brand awareness, create and implement marketing and brand strategy. Social media managers are key to important social communication as well.

Photographer

Photography is considered both a science and an art, an artistic means of expression in which the camera replaces the pen. In a career as a photographer, an individual is hired to capture the moments of public and private events, such as press conferences or weddings, or may also work inside a studio, where people go to get their picture clicked. Photography is divided into many streams each generating numerous career opportunities in photography. With the boom in advertising, media, and the fashion industry, photography has emerged as a lucrative and thrilling career option for many Indian youths.

An individual who is pursuing a career as a producer is responsible for managing the business aspects of production. They are involved in each aspect of production from its inception to deception. Famous movie producers review the script, recommend changes and visualise the story.

They are responsible for overseeing the finance involved in the project and distributing the film for broadcasting on various platforms. A career as a producer is quite fulfilling as well as exhaustive in terms of playing different roles in order for a production to be successful. Famous movie producers are responsible for hiring creative and technical personnel on contract basis.

Copy Writer

In a career as a copywriter, one has to consult with the client and understand the brief well. A career as a copywriter has a lot to offer to deserving candidates. Several new mediums of advertising are opening therefore making it a lucrative career choice. Students can pursue various copywriter courses such as Journalism , Advertising , Marketing Management . Here, we have discussed how to become a freelance copywriter, copywriter career path, how to become a copywriter in India, and copywriting career outlook.

In a career as a vlogger, one generally works for himself or herself. However, once an individual has gained viewership there are several brands and companies that approach them for paid collaboration. It is one of those fields where an individual can earn well while following his or her passion.

Ever since internet costs got reduced the viewership for these types of content has increased on a large scale. Therefore, a career as a vlogger has a lot to offer. If you want to know more about the Vlogger eligibility, roles and responsibilities then continue reading the article.

For publishing books, newspapers, magazines and digital material, editorial and commercial strategies are set by publishers. Individuals in publishing career paths make choices about the markets their businesses will reach and the type of content that their audience will be served. Individuals in book publisher careers collaborate with editorial staff, designers, authors, and freelance contributors who develop and manage the creation of content.

Careers in journalism are filled with excitement as well as responsibilities. One cannot afford to miss out on the details. As it is the small details that provide insights into a story. Depending on those insights a journalist goes about writing a news article. A journalism career can be stressful at times but if you are someone who is passionate about it then it is the right choice for you. If you want to know more about the media field and journalist career then continue reading this article.

Individuals in the editor career path is an unsung hero of the news industry who polishes the language of the news stories provided by stringers, reporters, copywriters and content writers and also news agencies. Individuals who opt for a career as an editor make it more persuasive, concise and clear for readers. In this article, we will discuss the details of the editor's career path such as how to become an editor in India, editor salary in India and editor skills and qualities.

Individuals who opt for a career as a reporter may often be at work on national holidays and festivities. He or she pitches various story ideas and covers news stories in risky situations. Students can pursue a BMC (Bachelor of Mass Communication) , B.M.M. (Bachelor of Mass Media) , or MAJMC (MA in Journalism and Mass Communication) to become a reporter. While we sit at home reporters travel to locations to collect information that carries a news value.

Corporate Executive

Are you searching for a Corporate Executive job description? A Corporate Executive role comes with administrative duties. He or she provides support to the leadership of the organisation. A Corporate Executive fulfils the business purpose and ensures its financial stability. In this article, we are going to discuss how to become corporate executive.

Multimedia Specialist

A multimedia specialist is a media professional who creates, audio, videos, graphic image files, computer animations for multimedia applications. He or she is responsible for planning, producing, and maintaining websites and applications.

Quality Controller

A quality controller plays a crucial role in an organisation. He or she is responsible for performing quality checks on manufactured products. He or she identifies the defects in a product and rejects the product.

A quality controller records detailed information about products with defects and sends it to the supervisor or plant manager to take necessary actions to improve the production process.

Production Manager

A QA Lead is in charge of the QA Team. The role of QA Lead comes with the responsibility of assessing services and products in order to determine that he or she meets the quality standards. He or she develops, implements and manages test plans.

Process Development Engineer

The Process Development Engineers design, implement, manufacture, mine, and other production systems using technical knowledge and expertise in the industry. They use computer modeling software to test technologies and machinery. An individual who is opting career as Process Development Engineer is responsible for developing cost-effective and efficient processes. They also monitor the production process and ensure it functions smoothly and efficiently.

AWS Solution Architect

An AWS Solution Architect is someone who specializes in developing and implementing cloud computing systems. He or she has a good understanding of the various aspects of cloud computing and can confidently deploy and manage their systems. He or she troubleshoots the issues and evaluates the risk from the third party.

Azure Administrator

An Azure Administrator is a professional responsible for implementing, monitoring, and maintaining Azure Solutions. He or she manages cloud infrastructure service instances and various cloud servers as well as sets up public and private cloud systems.

Computer Programmer

Careers in computer programming primarily refer to the systematic act of writing code and moreover include wider computer science areas. The word 'programmer' or 'coder' has entered into practice with the growing number of newly self-taught tech enthusiasts. Computer programming careers involve the use of designs created by software developers and engineers and transforming them into commands that can be implemented by computers. These commands result in regular usage of social media sites, word-processing applications and browsers.

Information Security Manager

Individuals in the information security manager career path involves in overseeing and controlling all aspects of computer security. The IT security manager job description includes planning and carrying out security measures to protect the business data and information from corruption, theft, unauthorised access, and deliberate attack

ITSM Manager

Automation test engineer.

An Automation Test Engineer job involves executing automated test scripts. He or she identifies the project’s problems and troubleshoots them. The role involves documenting the defect using management tools. He or she works with the application team in order to resolve any issues arising during the testing process.

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Essay on Generation Gap for Students in 1000 Words

In this article, we have published an Essay on Generation Gap for Students in 1000 words. It includes origin, various changes, generation gap indicators, how to solve this problem?

Table of Contents

Introduction

A generation gap happens when there is a noticeable difference in age (an entire generation) between two people. It often becomes a cause of conflict between parents and children. The generation gap is explained as the difference between views and ideologies between people belonging to two different generations. It can be a difference in political opinions, religious beliefs, or general attitude towards life.

Origin of Generation Gap

The principle of fractional generation gap was introduced in the 1961s. During that time, the younger generation was questioned about their parents’ beliefs and almost everything. They were also separated from their parents in nearly everything.

This included his religious beliefs, political views, moral values, relationship advice, and even his favorite music that he loved. Eminent sociologists such as Karl Mannheim looked at the differences between generations in how generations in different situations separated themselves from each other.

Generation Gap – An Interesting Concept

The generation gap is usually the cause of conflict between children and their parents. It is a fascinating concept. If there were no such difference in the world, then the world would have been quite different. Each generation establishes its fashion trends, talks in its preferred language, accelerates the development of science and technology and discovers new inventions.

Changes Due To Generation Gap

There have been many changes in society due to the generation gap, especially in India, where the joint family practice was already prevalent. Later the approach of separate family settlement started in India , and this is also a result of the generation gap.

Nowadays, people need privacy and want to live their life in their way, but the joint family practice is the main obstacle. In this way, many people are living separate families. Similarly, many changes occurring at different levels of society are the result of the generation gap.

Generation Gap Indicators

1. family system.

People belonging to the older generation lived in a joint family and believed in sharing and caring for things. However, this ideology deteriorated over time. The present generation wants autonomy, and very few want to follow the traditional way of living in a joint family. There has been considerable change in the overall lifestyle of the people.

2. Languages

Hindi spoken by people before pre-independence is quite different from today’s Hindi language and this change did not come suddenly. This change came into presence from generation to generation. Each generation creates a distinct identity of its style. This change in form consistently makes conversation between people belonging to different ages at home as well as the workplace sometimes tricky.

Attitude at Work

While the people of the older generation were good at taking directions from elders and loyal to their officers, these days people get bored of their jobs very quickly and try to change their jobs or quit within a few years. Huh. Generation Y people practice in modernization and want to share and apply their unique ideas to their officers rather than blindly following their guidelines.

Behavior towards women

Generation Classification

It has been seen that different generations of people behave differently in different situations. Generations have been categorized into various names based on their attitudes, beliefs, opinions and all beliefs. The extension of this classification is as follows:

Conservative

These people associate with the groups who were born before 1945 and are above 70 years of age. It is said that these people follow the order well and are satisfied by working efficiently.

They like to share their experiences with younger generations and to be around those who appreciate their knowledge and expertise. Further, they are known to be loyal to their officer. Most of them spend their full activity and lives for the same organization and remain faithful to that organization.

Generation X

These people were born between 1946 and 1965. People of this generation are hard workers, but most are not familiar with the feedback. They also need money and publicity in the form of prizes. Since most of them don’t live comfortably, they make sure that their children get everything they want. They want them to be appreciated. They wish their officers and children to accept that they are valuable and necessary. The absence of all these things creates annoyance between them.

Generation Y

It is a society of people born between 1980 and 1999. Most of them have just entered the working age. This group is interested in engaging in meaningful work and is also forward in giving their feedback towards their work.

People of this generation are quite creative. They like to work with creative individuals and in places where their creativity is allowed to be explored. It is a source of inspiration for them and keeps them alive. It is a generation that gets bored very quickly. Unlike traditionalists, they change their jobs quite frequently.

How To Fill This Gap?

People of the older origination should understand that their children are born in another age and hence their mindset is different from them. Parents and grandparents need to pay attention to why their children are behaving differently and have different opinions, rather than blindly applying their rules and ideas. Parents should be their friends to understand their children’s moods. On the other side, children and youngers should tribute to their parents.

The Bottom Line

Humankind is continually evolving and hence the ideologies and approach of people belonging to different generations have changed. Although it is perfectly fine to have a different opinion from any other, sometimes it can also become a cause of conflict.

It’s Time to Stop Talking About “Generations”

By Louis Menand

The discovery that you can make money marketing merchandise to teen-agers dates from the early nineteen-forties, which is also when the term “youth culture” first appeared in print. There was a reason that those things happened when they did: high school. Back in 1910, most young people worked; only fourteen per cent of fourteen- to seventeen-year-olds were still in school. In 1940, though, that proportion was seventy-three per cent. A social space had opened up between dependency and adulthood, and a new demographic was born: “youth.”

The rate of high-school attendance kept growing. By 1955, eighty-four per cent of high-school-age Americans were in school. (The figure for Western Europe was sixteen per cent.) Then, between 1956 and 1969, college enrollment in the United States more than doubled, and “youth” grew from a four-year demographic to an eight-year one. By 1969, it made sense that everyone was talking about the styles and values and tastes of young people: almost half the population was under twenty-five.

Today, a little less than a third of the population is under twenty-five, but youth remains a big consumer base for social-media platforms, streaming services, computer games, music, fashion, smartphones, apps, and all kinds of other goods, from motorized skateboards to eco-friendly water bottles. To keep this market churning, and to give the consulting industry something to sell to firms trying to understand (i.e., increase the productivity of) their younger workers, we have invented a concept that allows “youth culture” to be redefined periodically. This is the concept of the generation.

The term is borrowed from human reproductive biology. In a kinship structure, parents and their siblings constitute “the older generation”; offspring and their cousins are “the younger generation.” The time it takes, in our species, for the younger generation to become the older generation is traditionally said to be around thirty years. (For the fruit fly, it’s ten days.) That is how the term is used in the Hebrew Bible, and Herodotus said that a century could be thought of as the equivalent of three generations.

Around 1800, the term got transplanted from the family to society. The new idea was that people born within a given period, usually thirty years, belong to a single generation. There is no sound basis in biology or anything else for this claim, but it gave European scientists and intellectuals a way to make sense of something they were obsessed with, social and cultural change. What causes change? Can we predict it? Can we prevent it? Maybe the reason societies change is that people change, every thirty years.

Before 1945, most people who theorized about generations were talking about literary and artistic styles and intellectual trends—a shift from Romanticism to realism, for example, or from liberalism to conservatism. The sociologist Karl Mannheim, in an influential essay published in 1928, used the term “generation units” to refer to writers, artists, and political figures who self-consciously adopt new ways of doing things. Mannheim was not interested in trends within the broader population. He assumed that the culture of what he called “peasant communities” does not change.

Nineteenth-century generational theory took two forms. For some thinkers, generational change was the cause of social and historical change. New generations bring to the world new ways of thinking and doing, and weed out beliefs and practices that have grown obsolete. This keeps society rejuvenated. Generations are the pulse of history. Other writers thought that generations were different from one another because their members carried the imprint of the historical events they lived through. The reason we have generations is that we have change, not the other way around.

There are traces of both the pulse hypothesis and the imprint hypothesis in the way we talk about generations today. We tend to assume that there is a rhythm to social and cultural history that maps onto generational cohorts, such that each cohort is shaped by, or bears the imprint of, major historical events—Vietnam, 9/11, COVID . But we also think that young people develop their own culture, their own tastes and values, and that this new culture displaces the culture of the generation that preceded theirs.

Today, the time span of a generational cohort is usually taken to be around fifteen years (even though the median age of first-time mothers in the U.S. is now twenty-six and of first-time fathers thirty-one). People born within that period are supposed to carry a basket of characteristics that differentiate them from people born earlier or later.

This supposition requires leaps of faith. For one thing, there is no empirical basis for claiming that differences within a generation are smaller than differences between generations. (Do you have less in common with your parents than with people you have never met who happen to have been born a few years before or after you?) The theory also seems to require that a person born in 1965, the first year of Generation X, must have different values, tastes, and life experiences from a person born in 1964, the last year of the baby-boom generation (1946-64). And that someone born in the last birth year of Gen X, 1980, has more in common with someone born in 1965 or 1970 than with someone born in 1981 or 1990.

Everyone realizes that precision dating of this kind is silly, but although we know that chronological boundaries can blur a bit, we still imagine generational differences to be bright-line distinctions. People talk as though there were a unique DNA for Gen X—what in the nineteenth century was called a generational “entelechy”—even though the difference between a baby boomer and a Gen X-er is about as meaningful as the difference between a Leo and a Virgo.

You could say the same things about decades, of course. A year is, like a biological generation, a measurable thing, the time it takes the Earth to orbit the sun. But there is nothing in nature that corresponds to a decade—or a century, or a millennium. Those are terms of convenience, determined by the fact that we have ten fingers.

Yet we happily generalize about “the fifties” and “the sixties” as having dramatically distinct, well, entelechies. Decade-thinking is deeply embedded. For most of us, “She’s a seventies person” carries a lot more specific information than “She’s Gen X.” By this light, generations are just a novel way of slicing up the space-time continuum, no more arbitrary, and possibly a little less, than decades and centuries. The question, therefore, is not “Are generations real?” The question is “Are they a helpful way to understand anything?”

Bobby Duffy, the author of “The Generation Myth” (Basic), says yes, but they’re not as helpful as people think. Duffy is a social scientist at King’s College London. His argument is that generations are just one of three factors that explain changes in attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. The others are historical events and “life-cycle effects,” that is, how people change as they age. His book illustrates, with a somewhat overwhelming array of graphs and statistics, how events and aging interact with birth cohort to explain differences in racial attitudes, happiness, suicide rates, political affiliations—you name it, for he thinks that his three factors explain everything.

TITLE The Four Musicians Of The Apocalypse

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Duffy’s over-all finding is that people in different age groups are much more alike than all the talk about generations suggests, and one reason for all that talk, he thinks, is the consulting industry. He says that, in 2015, American firms spent some seventy million dollars on generational consulting (which doesn’t seem that much, actually). “What generational differences exist in the workplace?” he asks. His answer: “Virtually none.”

Duffy is good at using data to take apart many familiar generational characterizations. There is no evidence, he says, of a “loneliness epidemic” among young people, or of a rise in the rate of suicide. The falling off in sexual activity in the United States and the U.K. is population-wide, not just among the young.

He says that attitudes about gender in the United States correlate more closely with political party than with age, and that, in Europe, anyway, there are no big age divides in the recognition of climate change. There is “just about no evidence,” he says, that Generation Z (1997-2012, encompassing today’s college students) is more ethically motivated than other generations. When it comes to consumer boycotts and the like, “ ‘cancel culture’ seems to be more of a middle-age thing.” He worries that generational stereotypes—such as the characterization of Gen Z-ers as woke snowflakes—are promoted in order to fuel the culture wars.

The woke-snowflake stereotype is the target of “Gen Z, Explained” (Chicago), a heartfelt defense of the values and beliefs of contemporary college students. The book has four authors, Roberta Katz, Sarah Ogilvie, Jane Shaw, and Linda Woodhead—an anthropologist, a linguist, a historian, and a sociologist—and presents itself as a social-scientific study, including a “methodological appendix.” But it resembles what might be called journalistic ethnography: the portrayal of social types by means of interviews and anecdotes.

The authors adopt a key tenet of the pulse hypothesis. They see Gen Z-ers as agents of change, a generation that has created a youth culture that can transform society. (The fact that when they finished researching their book, in 2019, roughly half of Gen Z was under sixteen does not trouble them, just as the fact that at the time of Woodstock, in 1969, more than half the baby-boom generation was under thirteen doesn’t prevent people from making generalizations about the baby boomers.)

Their book is based on hour-long interviews with a hundred and twenty students at three colleges, two in California (Stanford and Foothill College, a well-regarded community college) and one in the U.K. (Lancaster, a selective research university). The authors inform us that the interviewees were chosen “by word of mouth and personal networking,” which sounds a lot like self-selection. It is, in any event (as they unapologetically acknowledge), hardly a randomized sample.

The authors tell us that the interviews were conducted entirely by student research assistants, which means that, unless the research assistants simply read questions off a list, there was no control over the depth or the direction of the interviews. There were also some focus groups, in which students talked about their lives with, mostly, their friends, an exercise performed in an echo chamber. Journalists, or popular ethnographers, would at least have met and observed their subjects. It’s mystifying why the authors felt a need to distance themselves in this way, given how selective their sample was to begin with. We are left with quotations detached from context. Self-reporting is taken at face value.

The authors supplemented the student interviews with a lexical glossary designed to pick out words and memes heavily used by young people, and with two surveys, designed by one of the authors (Woodhead) and conducted by YouGov, an Internet polling company, of eighteen- to twenty-five-year-olds in the United States and the U.K.

Where there is an awkward discrepancy between the survey results and what the college students say in the interviews, the authors attempt to explain it away. The YouGov surveys found that ninety-one per cent of all persons aged eighteen to twenty-five, American and British, identify as male or female, and only four per cent as gender fluid or nonbinary. (Five per cent declined to answer.) This does not match the impression created by the interviews, which suggest that there should be many more fluid and nonbinary young people out there, so the authors say that we don’t really know what the survey respondents meant by “male” and “female.” Well, then, maybe they should have been asked.

The authors attribute none of the characteristics they identify as Gen Z to the imprint of historical events—with a single exception: the rise of the World Wide Web. Gen Z is the first “born digital” generation. This fact has often been used to stereotype young people as screen-time addicts, captives of their smartphones, obsessed with how they appear on social media, and so on. The Internet is their “culture.” They are trapped in the Web. The authors of “Gen Z, Explained” emphatically reject this line of critique. They assure us that Gen Z-ers “understand both the potential and the downside of technology” and possess “critical awareness about the technology that shapes their lives.”

For the college students who were interviewed (although not, evidently, for the people who were surveyed), a big part of Gen Z culture revolves around identity. As the authors put it, “self-labeling has become an imperative that is impossible to escape.” This might seem to suggest a certain degree of self-absorption, but the authors assure us that these young people “are self-identified and self-reliant but markedly not self-centered, egotistical, or selfish.”

“Lily” is offered to illustrate the ethical richness of this new concern. It seems that Lily has a friend who is always late to meet with her: “She explained that while she of course wanted to honor and respect his unique identity, choices, and lifestyle—including his habitual tardiness—she was also frustrated by how that conflicted with her sense that he was then not respecting her identity and preference for timeliness.” The authors do not find this amusing.

The book’s big claim is that Gen Z-ers “may well be the heralds of new attitudes and expectations about how individuals and institutions can change for the better.” They have come up with new ways of working (collaborative), new forms of identity (fluid and intersectional), new concepts of community (diverse, inclusive, non-hierarchical).

Methodology aside, there is much that is refreshing here. There is no reason to assume that younger people are more likely to be passive victims of technology than older people (that assumption is classic old person’s bias), and it makes sense that, having grown up doing everything on a computer, Gen Z-ers have a fuller understanding of the digital universe than analog dinosaurs do. The dinosaurs can say, “You don’t know what you’re missing,” but Gen Z-ers can say, “You don’t understand what you’re getting.”

The claim that addiction to their devices is the cause of a rise in mental disorders among teen-agers is a lot like the old complaint that listening to rock and roll turns kids into animals. The authors cite a recent study (not their own) that concludes that the association between poor mental health and eating potatoes is greater than the association with technology use. We’re all in our own fishbowls. We should hesitate before we pass judgment on what life is like in the fishbowls of others.

The major problem with “Gen Z, Explained” is not so much the authors’ fawning tone, or their admiration for the students’ concerns—“environmental degradation, equality, violence, and injustice”—even though they are the same concerns that almost everyone in their social class has, regardless of age. The problem is the “heralds of a new dawn” stuff.

“A crisis looms for all unless we can find ways to change,” they warn. “Gen Zers have ideas of the type of world they would like to bring into being. By listening carefully to what they are saying, we can appreciate the lessons they have to teach us: be real, know who you are, be responsible for your own well-being, support your friends, open up institutions to the talents of the many, not the few, embrace diversity, make the world kinder, live by your values.”

I believe we have been here before, Captain. Fifty-one years ago, The New Yorker ran a thirty-nine-thousand-word piece that began:

There is a revolution under way . . . It is now spreading with amazing rapidity, and already our laws, institutions, and social structure are changing in consequence. Its ultimate creation could be a higher reason, a more human community, and a new and liberated individual. This is the revolution of the new generation.

The author was a forty-two-year-old Yale Law School professor named Charles Reich, and the piece was an excerpt from his book “The Greening of America,” which, when it came out, later that year, went to No. 1 on the Times best-seller list.

Reich had been in San Francisco in 1967, during the so-called Summer of Love, and was amazed and excited by the flower-power wing of the counterculture—the bell-bottom pants (about which he waxes ecstatic in the book), the marijuana and the psychedelic drugs, the music, the peace-and-love life style, everything.

He became convinced that the only way to cure the ills of American life was to follow the young people. “The new generation has shown the way to the one method of change that will work in today’s post-industrial society: revolution by consciousness,” he wrote. “This means a new way of living, almost a new man. This is what the new generation has been searching for, and what it has started to achieve.”

So how did that work out? The trouble, of course, was that Reich was basing his observations and predictions on, to use Mannheim’s term, a generation unit—a tiny number of people who were hyperconscious of their choices and values and saw themselves as being in revolt against the bad thinking and failed practices of previous generations. The folks who showed up for the Summer of Love were not a representative sample of sixties youth.

Most young people in the sixties did not practice free love, take drugs, or protest the war in Vietnam. In a poll taken in 1967, when people were asked whether couples should wait to have sex until they were married, sixty-three per cent of those in their twenties said yes, virtually the same as in the general population. In 1969, when people aged twenty-one to twenty-nine were asked whether they had ever used marijuana, eighty-eight per cent said no. When the same group was asked whether the United States should withdraw immediately from Vietnam, three-quarters said no, about the same as in the general population.

Most young people in the sixties were not even notably liberal. When people who attended college from 1966 to 1968 were asked which candidate they preferred in the 1968 Presidential election, fifty-three per cent said Richard Nixon or George Wallace. Among those who attended college from 1962 to 1965, fifty-seven per cent preferred Nixon or Wallace, which matched the results in the general election.

The authors of “Gen Z, Explained” are making the same erroneous extrapolation. They are generalizing on the basis of a very small group of privileged people, born within five or six years of one another, who inhabit insular communities of the like-minded. It’s fine to try to find out what these people think. Just don’t call them a generation.

Buffalo walk one behind the other in a straight line.

Most of the millions of Gen Z-ers may be quite different from the scrupulously ethical, community-minded young people in the book. Duffy cites a survey, conducted in 2019 by a market-research firm, in which people were asked to name the characteristics of baby boomers, Gen X-ers, millennials (1981-96), and Gen Z-ers. The top five characteristics assigned to Gen Z were: tech-savvy, materialistic, selfish, lazy, and arrogant. The lowest-ranked characteristic was ethical. When Gen Z-ers were asked to describe their own generation, they came up with an almost identical list. Most people born after 1996 apparently don’t think quite as well of themselves as the college students in “Gen Z, Explained” do.

In any case, “explaining” people by asking them what they think and then repeating their answers is not sociology. Contemporary college students did not invent new ways of thinking about identity and community. Those were already rooted in the institutional culture of higher education. From Day One, college students are instructed about the importance of diversity, inclusion, honesty, collaboration—all the virtuous things that the authors of “Gen Z, Explained” attribute to the new generation. Students can say (and some do say) to their teachers and their institutions, “You’re not living up to those values.” But the values are shared values.

And they were in place long before Gen Z entered college. Take “intersectionality,” which the students in “Gen Z, Explained” use as a way of refining traditional categories of identity. That term has been around for more than thirty years. It was coined (as the authors note) in 1989, by the law professor Kimberlé Crenshaw. And Crenshaw was born in 1959. She’s a boomer.

“Diversity,” as an institutional priority, dates back even farther. It played a prominent role in the affirmative-action case of Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, in 1978, which opened the constitutional door to race-conscious admissions. That was three “generations” ago. Since then, almost every selective college has worked to achieve a diverse student body and boasts about it when it succeeds. College students think of themselves and their peers in terms of identity because of how the institution thinks of them.

People who went to college in an earlier era may find this emphasis a distraction from students’ education. Why should they be constantly forced to think about their own demographic profiles and their differences from other students? But look at American politics—look at world politics—over the past five years. Aren’t identity and difference kind of important things to understand?

And who creates “youth culture,” anyway? Older people. Youth has agency in the sense that it can choose to listen to the music or wear the clothing or march in the demonstrations or not. And there are certainly ground-up products (bell-bottoms, actually). Generally, though, youth has the same degree of agency that I have when buying a car. I can choose the model I want, but I do not make the cars.

Failure to recognize the way the fabric is woven leads to skewed social history. The so-called Silent Generation is a particularly outrageous example. That term has come to describe Americans who went to high school and college in the nineteen-fifties, partly because it sets up a convenient contrast to the baby-boom generation that followed. Those boomers, we think—they were not silent! In fact, they mostly were.

The term “Silent Generation” was coined in 1951, in an article in Time —and so was not intended to characterize the decade. “Today’s generation is ready to conform,” the article concluded. Time defined the Silent Generation as people aged eighteen to twenty-eight—that is, those who entered the workforce mostly in the nineteen-forties. Though the birth dates of Time’s Silent Generation were 1923 to 1933, the term somehow migrated to later dates, and it is now used for the generation born between 1928 and 1945.

So who were these silent conformists? Gloria Steinem, Muhammad Ali, Tom Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, Noam Chomsky, Philip Roth, Susan Sontag, Martin Luther King, Jr., Billie Jean King, Jesse Jackson, Joan Baez, Berry Gordy, Amiri Baraka, Ken Kesey, Huey Newton, Jerry Garcia, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Andy Warhol . . . Sorry, am I boring you?

It was people like these, along with even older folks, like Timothy Leary, Allen Ginsberg, and Pauli Murray, who were active in the culture and the politics of the nineteen-sixties. Apart from a few musicians, it is hard to name a single major figure in that decade who was a baby boomer. But the boomers, most of whom were too young then even to know what was going on, get the credit (or, just as unfairly, the blame).

Mannheim thought that the great danger in generational analysis was the elision of class as a factor in determining beliefs, attitudes, and experiences. Today, we would add race, gender, immigration status, and any number of other “preconditions.” A woman born to an immigrant family in San Antonio in 1947 had very different life chances from a white man born in San Francisco that year. Yet the baby-boom prototype is a white male college student wearing striped bell-bottoms and a peace button, just as the Gen Z prototype is a female high-school student with spending money and an Instagram account.

For some reason, Duffy, too, adopts the conventional names and dates of the postwar generations (all of which originated in popular culture). He offers no rationale for this, and it slightly obscures one of his best points, which is that the most formative period for many people happens not in their school years but once they leave school and enter the workforce. That is when they confront life-determining economic and social circumstances, and where factors like their race, their gender, and their parents’ wealth make an especially pronounced difference to their chances.

Studies have consistently indicated that people do not become more conservative as they age. As Duffy shows, however, some people find entry into adulthood delayed by economic circumstances. This tends to differentiate their responses to survey questions about things like expectations. Eventually, he says, everyone catches up. In other words, if you are basing your characterization of a generation on what people say when they are young, you are doing astrology. You are ascribing to birth dates what is really the result of changing conditions.

Take the boomers: when those who were born between 1946 and 1952 entered the workforce, the economy was surging. When those who were born between 1953 and 1964 entered it, the economy was a dumpster fire. It took longer for younger boomers to start a career or buy a house. People in that kind of situation are therefore likely to register in surveys as “materialistic.” But it’s not the Zeitgeist that’s making them that way. It’s just the business cycle. ♦

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Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Generation Gap — Generation Gap: The Differences Between New Generation And Parents’ Generation

Generation Gap: How Today's Generation is Different from Their Parents' Generation

Categories: Generation Generation Gap

About this sample

Words: 1119 |

Published: Mar 18, 2021

Words: 1119 | Pages: 2 | 6 min read

Introduction, difference between old and new generation, works cited:, jobs fields, educational prospects.

Bergsteiner, H., & Avery, G. C. (2010). The importance of learning styles: Understanding the implications for learning, course design, and education. Education Sciences, 1(2), 116-125.
Kinsella, E. A. (2010). The Kolb Learning Style Inventory—Version 3.1 2005 technical specifications. The Irish Journal of Psychology, 31(2-3), 271-276.
McDonald, J., & Boud, D. (2003). The impact of self-assessment on achievement: The effects of self-assessment training on performance in external examinations. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 10(2), 209-220.
Murphy, J. (2004). Exploring Kolb's learning styles in management education. Journal of Management Education, 28(2), 191-210.
Nicol, D., Macfarlane‐Dick, D., & Macfarlane, S. (2006). Rethinking feedback practices in higher education: a peer review perspective. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 31(2), 139-149

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Essay On Generation Gap: How to Write It?

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Updated on 15 April, 2024

Mrinal Mandal

Study abroad expert.

Taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam is a critical step for students and professionals wanting to go to study or work in an English-speaking country. However, for non-native English speakers, some parts of the test can be challenging.

Ordinary essays can land you a 5-6 band score, but with a little more practice, you can get to an 8-band essay. Here is a sample essay on ‘Generation Gap’.

Write an essay on generation gap in your family and how it impacts your life, describe the impact of generation gaps on your family, frequently asked questions, more resources to read about essays topics:.

Modern families are a curious mix of new and old relationships. At the intersection of traditional beliefs and skepticism lies the generation gap. This gap is the difference in beliefs, mannerisms, and culture that emerges naturally between the two generations. However, it is not always a curse as one would imagine. My family is one such example.

My parents and I form a nuclear family. I followed my parents’ religious and cultural beliefs as a child. Although as I grew in age and cognitive functioning, I began to question their beliefs and practices. While my parents did not respond kindly, my questions never ceased.

My worldview became increasingly modern with the intake of social media and pop culture. On the other hand, my parents still found it challenging to navigate technology. One would expect the generation gap to pull people apart in such a case. Except with my family, it did not quite go that way.

Regardless of the different worlds my parents and I were growing into, we never stopped communicating openly. It was one of the first and most essential rules established in our house. The second was always to respect people around us, irrespective of age. So, even when we had differing opinions, we would take the time to listen and then reason what the logically or morally right stance was. We would understand where the conflict stemmed from and each compromise to meet the other halfway.

My parents, owing to their age and experience, helped me resolve many problems that otherwise seem unsolvable. In exchange, I help them understand the technology and modern lifestyles. So, while generation gaps exist, we must not let them alienate us from the people we love.

Tentative Band Score: 6.5

Word Count: 285

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Get to know about the latest updates on the IELTS Exam, Eligibility, Preparation Tips, Test procedure, Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Registration Process, Important Exam Dates, and much more!! This guide is a one-stop solution for every IELTS Aspirant who aims to crack the exam with an impressive band score.

A generation gap is a distance in cultural and moral beliefs between two separate age groups. Every generation holds onto its own value sets and social sensibilities, creating disparity when these generations live together.

I live in a joint family with my paternal grandparents, parents, uncle, aunt, siblings, and cousins. This paves the way for the existence of multiple generation gaps and the ensuing struggle.

My grandparents are orthodox in their values and traditions, which means that some of their beliefs and prejudices are age-old and problematic in the modern world. On the other hand, my parents belong to the technological generation. They understand the modern lifestyle better and identify with my daily struggles. However, their belief systems are not entirely liberal due to their parental influences. All of this often becomes a cause for dispute in the family.

No matter how modern or traditional, all parents have a mental image of how they want their child to be. They are usually uncompromising about their stances and end up using their age as a factor to have their way. This creates a lack of understanding and communication in the family, causing one or both sides to feel alienated and side-lined. Over time, the generation gap widens and leaves no room for repair.

It is natural to want to live your life by your principles. However, it should not come at the price of essential relationships. Having diverse views, ideas, and opinions can instead add to the family and help everyone grow individually. There will always be misunderstandings, but listening to people with empathy and cultivating a broader outlook can offset the generation gap and re-establish peace.

Word Count: 276

Should the tone of an essay on the generation gap always be positive?

Let the points that you have to offer to decide the tone of the essay. It is crucial to be authentic in your answers. Write an honest account if the question demands an answer from your personal experience.

The examiners are going to base their scores on the following parameters:

Coherence and cohesion
Lexical resources
Grammatical range and accuracy
Task achievement

So, the tone of your answer essay will not impact your scores. The examiners will assess how well you can put your views into words and how you develop your arguments.

Does an essay on the generation gap have to be personal?

Once you receive your topic, read it multiple times to understand what is being asked. If your essay question asks for an expository essay, then your essay can be more general with some personal insights.

However, the IELTS writing test usually consists of opinion essays. So, when asked to shed light on a personal experience, you can cite examples and instances from your personal life.

Just remember to keep the language formal and professional.

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IELTS Academic writing is meant for students who are applying for top-ranked universities and colleges in English-speaking countries. The writing task one is an academic summary writing based on diagrammatic and graphical representation.

IELTS Writing Task 2

Writing Task 2 is the second part of the writing section of IELTS, where aspirants are presented with a point of view, argument, or problem and asked to write an essay in response to the question.

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In IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 starts with a diagram, a visual representation of information. It can be a table, map, graph, process, diagram, or picture.

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The essay for IELTS is part of Writing Task 2. It is the same for the General Training and Academic of the IELTS. You will get a topic and have to write an essay on the same.

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The IELTS speaking cue cards come into play for the second part when the candidate will be choosing cue cards and then speaking on a topic for two minutes at least.

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Mrinal Mandal is a study abroad expert with a passion for guiding students towards their international education goals. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering, earned in 2018. Since 2021, Mrinal has been working with upGrad Abroad, where he assists aspiring students in realizing their dreams of studying abroad. With his expertise and dedication, he empowers individuals to navigate the complexities of international education, making their aspirations a reality.

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Essay on Generation Gap in English for Children and Students

Table of Contents

Generation Gap Essay: Generation Gap occurs when there is a considerable difference of age (an entire generation) between two people. It often becomes a cause of conflict between parents and kids. Generation Gap is explained as the difference of ideologies and opinions between people belonging to two different generations. It may be a difference in the political views, religious beliefs or general attitude towards life.

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Long and Short Essay on Generation Gap in English

We have provided below, long and short essay on generation gap in English for your knowledge.

These Generation Gap Essay have been written effectively, to convey the right meaning of Generation Gap.

After going through the essays, you will better understand the ideological differences, between the two otherwise closely related generations.

The essays will also help you to strengthen your bond with either your succeeding or preceding generations.

Generation Gap Essay – 1 (200 words)

People born in different ages are different from each other in various aspects. The world is changing at a rapid pace and thus the difference between people born in different times is inevitable. For instance, if we talk about India, people born before independence are different from those born today. There is a huge difference between the thinking of the two generations and why not? There is a drastic difference between the whole cultural, economic and social environment the two have been a part of.

Generation gap is the term given to the difference between two generations. The society changes at a constant pace and hence the lifestyle, ideologies, opinions, beliefs and the overall behaviour of people also undergoes change with time. This change gives way to newer ideas and breaks the unreasonable stereotypes and this in turn has a positive impact on the society. However most of the times it becomes a cause of conflict between two generations.

The parent child relationship is often affected due to their generation gap. It has been observed that the parents try to impose their values and ideologies on their kids while the later want to explore the world on their own. Many relationships have suffered due to generation gap. Several parents and children have conflicts because of their difference of opinions which they must understand is natural as there is a generation gap between them.

Generation Gap Essay – 2 (300 words)

Introduction

Generation Gap is referred to as the difference of beliefs and ideas between people from different generations. This is a common phenomenon and has continued for ages. The term is often used to state the difference of opinions between children and parents or grandparents.

Origin of the Term – Generation Gap

The theory of generation gap was introduced in the year 1960s. Around this time it was observed that the younger generation questioned and went against almost everything their parents believed. This included their religious beliefs, political views, moral values, relationship advice and even the type of music and shows they prefer. Noted sociologists such as Karl Mannheim observed the differences across generations and how generations separated themselves from each other in different situations.

Generation Gap – An Interesting Concept

While generation gap is usually a cause of conflict between the children and their parents, it is actually an interesting concept. The world would have actually been quite dull if it had not been for this gap. Each generation sets its own fashion trends, introduces its own slangs, influences the development of science and technology and comes up with fresh ideas and so on.

Generation gap has led to several changes in the society especially in India where the joint family system was prevalent since ages. The concept of nuclear families has been introduced in India off late and this is also a result of the generation gap. People these days crave for privacy and want to lead their life their own way and the joint family system is a hindrance to it. Many people are thus going for nuclear families. Similarly, many changes happening at various levels in the society are a result of the generation gap.

As is the case with almost everything/concept on earth, generation gap also has its own sets of pros and cons. There is a need for developing understanding and acceptance in order to bridge this gap.

Generation Gap Essay – 3 (400 words)

The fields of science and technology are constantly evolving and so is the way of living of the people, their beliefs, notions and their overall behaviour. Thus, people belonging to different generations behave differently and have their own set of ideologies which is referred to as generation gap.

How is the Generation Gap Evident?

The people belonging to different generations have been given different names for instance those born before independence have been termed as the Traditionalists, the generation after that is called the Baby Boomers, those born between 1965 and 1980 are called Generation X and those born between 1980 and 1999 are known as the Generation Y. There are a few things that clearly show the gap between these generations. Here is a look at the same:

Family System

People belonging to the older generations lived in a joint family system and believed in sharing and caring. However, this concept has deteriorated over the generations. The current generation wants freedom and there is hardly anyone who follows the traditional way of living in the joint families. The overall lifestyle of people has changed drastically.

The Hindi spoken by people belonging to the pre-independence era is quite different from that being spoken today and the change did not occur all of a sudden it occurred over a period of time – generation after generation. Each generation adopts a new group of slangs thereby creating some division from the earlier one. Communication between people belonging to different generations at home as well as workplace sometimes becomes quite difficult due to this change in language.

Workplace Attitude

While people belonging to the earlier generations were good at taking directions and were loyal to a single employer, people these days get bored quite quickly and seek new jobs within a few years or at times even months of getting a job. The Gen Y people are innovative and want to share and implement their own unique ideas rather than blindly taking directions from their boss.

Attitude towards Women

Women belonging to the older generations were mostly confined to home. They were only seen as someone who should take care of the house, going out and working was the thing of the men of the house. However, society’s attitude towards women has changed over the generations. Today, women are allowed to enter any field of their choice and work just as men.

People belonging to one generation are very different from the other which is natural. However, the problem arises when people from different generations try to impose their ideas and beliefs on the other while totally condemning that of the others’.

Generation Gap Essay – 4 (500 words)

Generation gap is basically the gap between different generations. The theory of generation gap launched in the 1960’s states that the younger generation is always seen questioning and challenging the ideas, viewpoint and beliefs of the older generations.

Classification of Generations

It has been observed that people from different generations behave differently in any given situation. Based on their point of view, beliefs, ideas, and over all behaviour generations have been classified into different categories. Here is a look at this classification in detail:

The Traditionalists

The Baby Boomers

The Generation X Group
The Generation Y Group

Here is a brief about each of these generations:

These people belong to the group that was born before 1946 and are now above 70 years of age. These are said to be the ones who take orders well and get satisfaction when a job is accomplished efficiently. They love sharing their experiences with the younger generations and like to be around people who appreciate their knowledge and experience. They are known to be loyal to a single employer. Most of them spend their entire life working for the same organization and look forward to the same loyalty in return.

These people were born between 1946 and 1965. People from this generation are hard working but mostly not open to feedbacks. They want monetary rewards as well as promotions. Since most of them did not grow up in luxury, they make sure their children have everything they want. They also have an urge to feel appreciated. They want their employers and children to tell them that they are valued and needed. A lack of the same creates dissatisfaction among them.

The Generation X

People belonging to this generation were born between 1965 and 1980. Generation X wants their space. The best reward for them is in the form of time off. They want to do things their own way and don’t like going by any rules. They want to be told that they can do things the way they want. Most of these people saw both their parents working and the impact it had on them was not good. Hence, they give preference to their family life over their job. This generation is known to have pushed for flexible working hours.

The Generation Y

This is the group of people born between 1981 and 1999. Most of them have just entered the workforce. This group is interested in indulging into meaningful work and also looks forward to quick feedback. People from this generation are quite creative. They like working with creative individuals and at places where they are allowed to explore their creativity. This is a source of motivation for them and keeps them alive. This is also a generation that tends to get bored very quickly. Unlike the traditionalists, they change their jobs quite frequently.

The human race is constantly evolving and hence there is a change in the ideologies of people belonging to different generations. While it is completely alright to have an opinion different from the other however it should never turn into a cause of conflict.

Generation Gap Essay – 5 (600 words)

Generation gap is a natural phenomenon. The studies conducted in this direction state how one generation is bound to be different from the other. It is something that comes naturally to them and it is in a way a good thing as this is how the human species is evolving.

Generation Gap – Impact on Relations

Fresh ideas and view points are always good. This is how the world around us evolves at different levels. However, the difference of opinions and ideas between two generations, especially parents and children, often becomes a point of clash. This clash has resulted in numerous strained relationships.

Parents have huge expectations from their kids. They have a set image of how their child should behave based on their tradition, values as well as the way the other kids in their extended family are doing. They think they know best about how and what their kids should do in life. Now, the problem arises when the child has a different bent of mind (which happens in most of the cases). This is when the conflict begins. This is not to say that the parents are absolutely wrong each time. They are elders and are certainly a great guidance and at times take the right decision for their kids. However, the younger generation seldom understands this. It is sad how generation gap has been a cause of numerous estranged relationships.

How to Bridge the Gap?

Parent-child relationship is the most beautiful relationship in the world. It should be nurtured with love and handled with care. It is unfortunate to see how these relationships are strained at the hands of something as trivial as difference in opinion.

It is seen that the older generation always claims to be a better judge and a better decision maker and the younger generation is often made to feel like the culprit. It is time to understand that neither is completely wrong or completely right in what they do. In fact, the definition of right and wrong in this case is different for different generations. There is a need for acceptance and understanding here.

People from the older generation must understand that their children are born in a different age and hence their mindset is different from them. Parents and grandparents need to pay attention to why their children are behaving in the way they are behaving and as to why they have an opinion different from them rather than blindly imposing their rules and ideas on the later.

Parents must become friends with their children to understand their psyche. Children, on the other hand, must respect their parents. They must trust their parents and share their thoughts with them. Children must be open to feedback and understand that the advice coming from their parents is not wrong. It will only help them progress in life.

Parents must not judge their children and allow them the space to do things on their own rather than poking in everything. While parents give their children space, they must define certain boundaries that the later should respect the same. Two-way communication is the basis of a strong relationship and both parents and children must ensure they maintain the same. Any issues must be discussed and both the parties must try to understand each other’s point of view rather than debating against it.

Generation gap occurs because the world is constantly changing. It should be understood that people born in different ages are bound to be different from one another. People must respect each other for their individuality rather than imposing their ideas and beliefs on each other.

Related Information:

Speech on Generation Gap

Regions & Countries

4. age, generational cohorts and party identification.

Today, age is strongly associated with partisanship – and this pattern has been in place for more than a decade.

Bar chart showing that a majority of registered voters under 30 align with the Democrats; Republicans have the edge among those over 60.

The Democratic Party holds a substantial edge among younger voters, while the Republican Party has the advantage among the oldest groups.

About two-thirds of voters ages 18 to 24 (66%) associate with the Democratic Party, compared with 34% who align with the GOP.
There is a similarly large gap in the partisan affiliation of voters ages 25 to 29 (64% are Democrats or lean that way vs. 32% for Republicans).
Voters in their 30s also tilt Democratic, though to a lesser extent: 55% are Democrats or Democratic leaners, 42% are Republicans or Republican leaners.

Neither party has a significant edge over the other among voters in their 40s and 50s:

Half of voters in their 40s associate with the Democratic Party, and 47% are affiliated with the Republican Party.
The shares are reversed among voters in their 50s: 50% align with the Republicans, 47% with the Democrats.

Among voters ages 60 and older, the GOP holds a clear advantage:

Republican alignment is 10 percentage points higher than Democratic alignment (53% vs. 43%) among voters in their 60s.
Voters ages 70 to 79 are slightly more likely to be aligned with the GOP (51%) than the Democratic Party (46%).
About six-in-ten voters 80 and older (58%) identify with or lean toward the GOP, while 39% associate with the Democratic Party.

Older voters overwhelmingly identify with a party; among younger voters, substantial numbers lean

Bar chart showing that older registered voters overwhelmingly identify directly with a political party. Among younger voters, substantial numbers instead only lean toward one party.

In addition to the differences in the overall partisan tilt of younger and older voters, younger voters are considerably more likely than older voters to opt out of identifying directly with a party.

For instance, among voters 80 and older, 77% identify with a party (49% as Republicans, 28% as Democrats). About two-in-ten instead say they are “something else” or independent, with most of them leaning to one of the parties.

By comparison, only about half (52%) of voters under 25 identify directly with a party (38% Democrat, 14% Republican). About half instead say they are something else or independent, with 28% leaning Democratic and 20% leaning Republican.

Partisanship among men and women within age groups

The age differences in partisanship seen in the public overall are evident among both men and women.

Bar chart showing that among registered voters, men and women under 30 are oriented toward the Democratic Party by wide margins. Republicans have a substantial advantage among men 50 and older, while women this age are about equally likely to affiliate with each of the two parties.

For instance, both men and women under 30 align with Democrats by about a two-to-one margin.

Men and women voters ages 30 to 49 are fairly divided in their partisan allegiances, though the Democratic Party holds a modest edge among women in this age group.

Republicans have a substantial advantage among men 50 and older, while women this age are about equally likely to affiliate with each of the two parties.

Race, age and partisanship

Among White, Hispanic and Asian voters, older adults today are generally more Republican (and less Democratic) than younger adults.

But this is not the case for Black voters: 17% of Black voters under 50 identify as or lean Republican, compared with just 7% of Black voters 50 and older.

In surveys dating back to the 1990s, younger Black voters consistently have either been somewhat more Republican than older Black voters (as in 1999, when 15% of those under 50 were or leaned Republican vs. 8% of those 50 and older), or there has been no difference in Black partisanship by age.

Dot plots comparing registered voter party affiliation by age, race and ethnicity. Black voters in all age groups are overwhelmingly Democratic, but younger Black voters tend to be somewhat more Republican than older ones.

The partisanship of generational cohorts

Looking at the partisanship of people born at roughly the same time (age cohorts) allows us to compare across generations over time. (For details on the age cohorts, visit Appendix C .)

Today, each younger age cohort is somewhat more Democratic-oriented than the one before it. But that has not always been the case. For instance, in the late 1990s, the balance of partisanship of voters across age groups (cohorts) varied only very modestly:

Bar charts showing snapshots of the partisanship of age cohorts in 1999, 2009 and 2023. Today, each younger age cohort is somewhat more Democratic-oriented than the one before it. But that has not always been the case. For instance, in the late 1990s, the balance of partisanship of voters across age groups (cohorts) varied only very modestly.

In 1999, voters who were in their 70s at the time – those who were born in the 1920s and came of age during the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt – were 52% Democratic in their orientation, 46% Republican. The youngest age cohort at the time – voters in their 20s, born in the 1970s – had the exact same partisan makeup. Only one age cohort stood out as different – those born in the 1960s (then in their 30s) were more Republican, on balance, than other age groups.
Ten years later, in 2009, the then-youngest age cohort (people born in the 1980s, then in their 20s) was clearly more Democratic-oriented than older groups, but there was little difference between the older cohorts (though those born in the 1960s remained slightly more Republican than both groups older and younger than them).

Now, and for the last several years, a starker – and more linear – age pattern is evident. Those born in the 1990s (now in their mid-20s to early 30s) are more Democratic than those born in the 1980s, who are in turn more Democratic than those born in the 1970s. And the oldest age cohorts are the most Republican-oriented.

Partisanship of age cohorts over time

Voters born in the 1940s (ages 74 to 83 in 2023) have had a Republican tilt for the last several years – but were evenly split in their partisanship a decade ago. The Democratic Party last had an edge among this group in the first year of the Obama administration.

Trend charts showing partisanship among age cohorts of registered voters, based on decade born. Voters born in the 1940s have had a Republican tilt for the last several years – but were evenly split in their partisanship a decade ago. Voters born in the 1990s are more aligned with the Democratic Party than those in older age cohorts. 62% of voters born in the 1990s currently associate with the Democrats.

Voters born in the 1950s (ages 64 to 73 in 2023) are more likely to be Republicans or Republican leaners (52%) than Democrats or Democratic leaners (44%). The GOP has held an edge with this group for the last several years, following growth in GOP affiliation over the last 15 years.

Compared with those born the decade after them, voters born in the 1960s (ages 54 to 63 in 2023) have tended to be more closely aligned with the GOP throughout their adulthood. Currently, the GOP has a 5 percentage point edge over Democrats among these voters (50% to 45%).

Voters born in the 1970s (ages 44 to 53 in 2023) have historically been more likely to align with Democrats than Republicans. Democrats have had a 3-point or greater edge among these voters in 17 out of 23 years since 2000. However, today these voters are about equally split between associating with Republicans (49%) and Democrats (48%).

Voters born in the 1980s (ages 34 to 43 in 2023) favor the Democrats in their affiliation and have done so since they first reached adulthood. But the gap between the two parties has narrowed considerably among these voters in the last few years. Currently, 52% of voters born in the 1980s associate with the Democrats and 44% with Republicans.

Voters born in the 1990s (ages 24 to 33 in 2023) are more aligned with the Democratic Party than those in older age cohorts. About six-in-ten voters born in the 1990s (62%) currently associate with the Democrats, and a similar share were Democrats or Democratic leaners when they first entered the electorate almost a decade ago. (Note: Most of those born in the 2000s are not yet eligible to vote.)

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NPR suspends veteran editor as it grapples with his public criticism

NPR suspended Senior Editor Uri Berliner for five days without pay after he wrote an essay accusing the network of losing the public's trust and appeared on a podcast to explain his argument.

NPR has formally punished Uri Berliner, the senior editor who publicly argued a week ago that the network had "lost America's trust" by approaching news stories with a rigidly progressive mindset.

Berliner's five-day suspension without pay, which began last Friday, has not been previously reported.

Yet the public radio network is grappling in other ways with the fallout from Berliner's essay for the online news site The Free Press . It angered many of his colleagues, led NPR leaders to announce monthly internal reviews of the network's coverage, and gave fresh ammunition to conservative and partisan Republican critics of NPR, including former President Donald Trump.

Conservative activist Christopher Rufo is among those now targeting NPR's new chief executive, Katherine Maher, for messages she posted to social media years before joining the network. Among others, those posts include a 2020 tweet that called Trump racist and another that appeared to minimize rioting during social justice protests that year. Maher took the job at NPR last month – her first at a news organization .

In a statement Monday about the messages she had posted, Maher praised the integrity of NPR's journalists and underscored the independence of their reporting.

"In America everyone is entitled to free speech as a private citizen," she said. "What matters is NPR's work and my commitment as its CEO: public service, editorial independence, and the mission to serve all of the American public. NPR is independent, beholden to no party, and without commercial interests."

The network noted that "the CEO is not involved in editorial decisions."

In an interview with me later on Monday, Berliner said the social media posts demonstrated Maher was all but incapable of being the person best poised to direct the organization.

"We're looking for a leader right now who's going to be unifying and bring more people into the tent and have a broader perspective on, sort of, what America is all about," Berliner said. "And this seems to be the opposite of that."

Conservative critics of NPR are now targeting its new chief executive, Katherine Maher, for messages she posted to social media years before joining the public radio network last month.

He said that he tried repeatedly to make his concerns over NPR's coverage known to news leaders and to Maher's predecessor as chief executive before publishing his essay.

Berliner has singled out coverage of several issues dominating the 2020s for criticism, including trans rights, the Israel-Hamas war and COVID. Berliner says he sees the same problems at other news organizations, but argues NPR, as a mission-driven institution, has a greater obligation to fairness.

"I love NPR and feel it's a national trust," Berliner says. "We have great journalists here. If they shed their opinions and did the great journalism they're capable of, this would be a much more interesting and fulfilling organization for our listeners."

A "final warning"

The circumstances surrounding the interview were singular.

Berliner provided me with a copy of the formal rebuke to review. NPR did not confirm or comment upon his suspension for this article.

In presenting Berliner's suspension Thursday afternoon, the organization told the editor he had failed to secure its approval for outside work for other news outlets, as is required of NPR journalists. It called the letter a "final warning," saying Berliner would be fired if he violated NPR's policy again. Berliner is a dues-paying member of NPR's newsroom union but says he is not appealing the punishment.

The Free Press is a site that has become a haven for journalists who believe that mainstream media outlets have become too liberal. In addition to his essay, Berliner appeared in an episode of its podcast Honestly with Bari Weiss.

In the rebuke, NPR did not cite Berliner's appearance on Chris Cuomo's NewsNation program last Tuesday night, for which NPR gave him the green light. (NPR's chief communications officer told Berliner to focus on his own experience and not share proprietary information.) The NPR letter also did not cite his remarks to the New York Times , which ran its article mid-afternoon Thursday, shortly before the reprimand was sent. Berliner says he did not seek approval before talking with the Times .

Berliner says he did not get permission from NPR to speak with me for this story but that he was not worried about the consequences: "Talking to an NPR journalist and being fired for that would be extraordinary, I think."

Berliner is a member of NPR's business desk, as am I, and he has helped to edit many of my stories. He had no involvement in the preparation of this article and did not see it before it was posted publicly.

In rebuking Berliner, NPR said he had also publicly released proprietary information about audience demographics, which it considers confidential. He said those figures "were essentially marketing material. If they had been really good, they probably would have distributed them and sent them out to the world."

Feelings of anger and betrayal inside the newsroom

His essay and subsequent public remarks stirred deep anger and dismay within NPR. Colleagues contend Berliner cherry-picked examples to fit his arguments and challenge the accuracy of his accounts. They also note he did not seek comment from the journalists involved in the work he cited.

Morning Edition host Michel Martin told me some colleagues at the network share Berliner's concerns that coverage is frequently presented through an ideological or idealistic prism that can alienate listeners.

"The way to address that is through training and mentorship," says Martin, herself a veteran of nearly two decades at the network who has also reported for The Wall Street Journal and ABC News. "It's not by blowing the place up, by trashing your colleagues, in full view of people who don't really care about it anyway."

Several NPR journalists told me they are no longer willing to work with Berliner as they no longer have confidence that he will keep private their internal musings about stories as they work through coverage.

"Newsrooms run on trust," NPR political correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben tweeted last week, without mentioning Berliner by name. "If you violate everyone's trust by going to another outlet and sh---ing on your colleagues (while doing a bad job journalistically, for that matter), I don't know how you do your job now."

Berliner rejected that critique, saying nothing in his essay or subsequent remarks betrayed private observations or arguments about coverage.

Other newsrooms are also grappling with questions over news judgment and confidentiality. On Monday, New York Times Executive Editor Joseph Kahn announced to his staff that the newspaper's inquiry into who leaked internal dissent over a planned episode of its podcast The Daily to another news outlet proved inconclusive. The episode was to focus on a December report on the use of sexual assault as part of the Hamas attack on Israel in October. Audio staffers aired doubts over how well the reporting stood up to scrutiny.

"We work together with trust and collegiality everyday on everything we produce, and I have every expectation that this incident will prove to be a singular exception to an important rule," Kahn wrote to Times staffers.

At NPR, some of Berliner's colleagues have weighed in online against his claim that the network has focused on diversifying its workforce without a concomitant commitment to diversity of viewpoint. Recently retired chief executive John Lansing has referred to this pursuit of diversity within NPR's workforce as its " North Star ," a moral imperative and chief business strategy.

In his essay, Berliner tagged the strategy as a failure, citing the drop in NPR's broadcast audiences and its struggle to attract more Black and Latino listeners in particular.

"During most of my tenure here, an open-minded, curious culture prevailed. We were nerdy, but not knee-jerk, activist, or scolding," Berliner writes. "In recent years, however, that has changed."

Berliner writes, "For NPR, which purports to consider all things, it's devastating both for its journalism and its business model."

NPR Investigative reporter Chiara Eisner wrote in a comment for this story: "Minorities do not all think the same and do not report the same. Good reporters and editors should know that by now. It's embarrassing to me as a reporter at NPR that a senior editor here missed that point in 2024."

Some colleagues drafted a letter to Maher and NPR's chief news executive, Edith Chapin, seeking greater clarity on NPR's standards for its coverage and the behavior of its journalists - clearly pointed at Berliner.

A plan for "healthy discussion"

On Friday, CEO Maher stood up for the network's mission and the journalism, taking issue with Berliner's critique, though never mentioning him by name. Among her chief issues: she said Berliner's essay offered "a criticism of our people on the basis of who we are."

Berliner took great exception to that, saying she had denigrated him. He said that he supported diversifying NPR's workforce to look more like the U.S. population at large. She did not address that in a subsequent private exchange he shared with me for this story. (An NPR spokesperson declined further comment.)

Late Monday afternoon, Chapin announced to the newsroom that Executive Editor Eva Rodriguez would lead monthly meetings to review coverage.

"Among the questions we'll ask of ourselves each month: Did we capture the diversity of this country - racial, ethnic, religious, economic, political geographic, etc – in all of its complexity and in a way that helped listeners and readers recognize themselves and their communities?" Chapin wrote in the memo. "Did we offer coverage that helped them understand – even if just a bit better — those neighbors with whom they share little in common?"

Berliner said he welcomed the announcement but would withhold judgment until those meetings played out.

In a text for this story, Chapin said such sessions had been discussed since Lansing unified the news and programming divisions under her acting leadership last year.

"Now seemed [the] time to deliver if we were going to do it," Chapin said. "Healthy discussion is something we need more of."

Disclosure: This story was reported and written by NPR Media Correspondent David Folkenflik and edited by Deputy Business Editor Emily Kopp and Managing Editor Gerry Holmes. Under NPR's protocol for reporting on itself, no NPR corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before it was posted publicly.

COMMENTS

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Much of their conflict is rooted in their differing communication. methods, styles, and how big the gap between the two generations is. Venter (2017) found that. Baby Boomers prefer to communicate face to face, over email, and via telephone, while. Millennials prefer to communicate face to face as well, over social media networking sites, and.
Generation Gap Essay
The first essay is a long essay on the Generation Gap of 400-500 words. This long essay about Generation Gap is suitable for students of class 7, 8, 9 and 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants. The second essay is a short essay on Generation Gap of 150-200 words. These are suitable for students and children in class 6 and below.
The big idea: why the generation gap isn't as wide as you think
The big idea: why the generation gap isn't as wide as you think. Pitting boomers against millennials is a distraction from the inequality that affects us all. Bobby Duffy. Mon 6 Feb 2023 07.30 ...
Essay on Generation Gap
Essay on Generation Gap: People belonging to different age groups, who have different ideologies often self create generation gaps. They do so because of the difference in their opinions, likings, thoughts, and interests. Physical and mental strength also changes with the due course of time and is also responsible for the creation of a generation gap.
Generation Gap Essay
Find out what generation gap means and how it affects society, family, and communication. Read sample essays on generation gap and explore career options in various fields.
Full article: Bridging the generation gap in the workplace: how I
The millennial generation (those born between 1981 and 1996) [1]—also called 'Gen Y' or 'Gen Me'—has a bad rap. ... Bridging the generation gap in the workplace: how I learned to stop worrying and love working with the millennial generation. Thanakorn Jirasevijinda Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, ...
Essay on Generation Gap for Students in 1000 Words
Learn about the origin, changes, indicators and classification of generation gap in this 1000-word essay. Find out how to bridge the gap between different generations and their views, beliefs and attitudes.
Generation gap
A generation gap or generational gap is a difference of opinions and outlooks between one generation and another. These differences may relate to beliefs, politics, language, work, demographics and values. The differences between generations can cause misunderstandings, but it is possible for generations to overcome their differences and maintain functional relationships.
It's Time to Stop Talking About "Generations"
The sociologist Karl Mannheim, in an influential essay published in 1928, used the term "generation units" to refer to writers, artists, and political figures who self-consciously adopt new ...
Generation Gap: The Differences Between New Generation ...
Introduction. Today's generation is very different from their parents' generation. Essay on the topic of the generation gap will shed light on these differences.
Generation Gap Essay in English
Find essays on the generation gap in English for different word counts and IELTS essays. Learn about the causes, consequences, and solutions of the generation gap in society.
Essay on Generation Gap: Samples for Aspirants
Learn how to write an essay on generation gap for the IELTS exam with two samples and tips. Find out the impact of generation gaps on your family and how to overcome them.
Essay on Generation Gap in English for Children and Students
Generation Gap Essay - 4 (500 words) Introduction. Generation gap is basically the gap between different generations. The theory of generation gap launched in the 1960's states that the younger generation is always seen questioning and challenging the ideas, viewpoint and beliefs of the older generations.
Age, generation and party identification of registered voters
But the gap between the two parties has narrowed considerably among these voters in the last few years. Currently, 52% of voters born in the 1980s associate with the Democrats and 44% with Republicans. Voters born in the 1990s (ages 24 to 33 in 2023) are more aligned with the Democratic Party than those in older age cohorts. About six-in-ten ...
NPR suspends veteran editor as it grapples with his public criticism
Published April 15, 2024 at 11:01 PM HST. Uri Berliner. NPR suspended Senior Editor Uri Berliner for five days without pay after he wrote an essay accusing the network of losing the public's trust and appeared on a podcast to explain his argument. NPR has formally punished Uri Berliner, the senior editor who publicly argued a week ago that the ...
Iranians fear their brittle regime will drag them into war
Many Iranians blame his inexperienced ideologues for crippling Iran's economy (the rial reached a new nadir against the dollar after the April 13th attack). And they fear that their zealotry ...

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Generation Gap Essay

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Generation Gap Essay

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