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Generation Gap: Reality or a Psychological
Prejudice
To my mind
generation gap is rather reality than a psychological prejudice.
It has always been a topical problem and it still remains urgent
nowadays.
So what does a
generation gap mean? It is a popular term used to describe big
differences between people of a younger generation and their
elders. This can be defined as occurring 'when older and younger
people do not understand each other because of their different
experiences, opinions, habits and behavior'. The term first came
into prominence in Western countries during the 1960s, and
described the cultural differences between the Baby Boomers and
their parents. Although some generational differences have
existed throughout history, during this era differences between
the two generations grew significantly in comparison to previous
times, particularly with respect to such matters as musical
tastes, fashion, drug use, culture and politics.
Nowadays you will
hardly find a boy or a girl satisfied with their parents.
Neither will you find a grown-up, a parent not grumbling over
'younger generation' of their children. Pop music, ultra-modern
clothes, noisy parties and children's wish to have more freedom
become a stumbling-block on the way of mutual understanding
between adults and their offspring and help foster differences
between parents and teenagers. So it seems that in most families
parents don't understand their children and children don't
understand their parents.
According to the
older generation teenagers are lazy, carefree, ungrateful,
impolite and rude. They wear ridiculous clothes, listen to awful
music and all they think about is parties, dates, friends and
entertainment. Teenagers have very little responsibility and
very few problems. But is it really so? If we look inside the
mind of a teenager, we will see a very different picture.
Teenagers are greatly worried about a great number of things:
their appearance, relations with friends, parents and teachers,
the way other people (especially their peers) treat them. They
suffer from pimples, bullies, problems at school,
misunderstanding with their boyfriend/girlfriend, lack of
self-confidence, etc. Teenagers often don't know what they are
good at and their future seems to be rather vague. Every day
they face a lot of stressful situations and feel depressed.
Besides they have constant pressure from betters and elders as
to how they should act, behave, look and feel.
There are a lot
of books and films devoted to the problem of the generation gap.
One of such films is 'Freaky Friday' (2003). The wide generation
gap between Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her teenage
daughter Anna (Lindsay Lohan) is more than evident. They simply
cannot understand each other's preferences. They have absolutely
different views on clothes, hair, music, duties and even people.
On a Friday morning the mother and the daughter switch bodies.
As they adjust with their new personalities, they begin to
understand each other more and eventually they gain respect for
the other's point of view. It is 'selfless love' that changes
them back.
But of course
there is no magic in real life, that's why there should be some
other way to bridge the gap between parents and their children.
To my mind communication is the best way to solve the problem.
The more time adults and children spend together, the more they
talk and discuss different things the better they understand
each other. It is very important to be selfless and open-minded,
patient and sincere. Despite the great changes in the electronic
and technological environment in the last several decades, a
defined gap does not separate today's generations as it did in
the sixties and seventies. So the 'generation gap' can
disappear. If we are a little wiser, children will find a key to
the heart of their parents and vice versa.
1. Complete each sentence (A—H) with one of the endings
(1—8):
A. 'Generation gap' is a popular term used to describe
B. The term first came into prominence
C. Pop music, ultra-modern clothes, noisy parties and children's
wish to have more freedom become
D. According to the older generation teenagers are
E. Teenagers are greatly worried about
F. Besides they have constant pressure from betters and elders
G. The more time adults and children spend together, the more
they talk and discuss different things
H. Despite the great changes in the electronic and technological
environment in the last several decades
1. their appearance, relations with friends, parents and
teachers, the way other people treat them.
2. the better they understand each other.
3. big differences between people of a younger generation and
their elders.
4. a defined gap does not separate today's generations as it did
in the sixties and seventies.
5. in Western countries during the 1960s.
6. lazy, carefree, ungrateful, impolite and rude.
7. a stumbling-block on the way of mutual understanding between
adults and their offspring.
8. as to how they should act, behave, look and feel.
2. Explain in other words
• to come into prominence
• generationaI differences
• to grumble over
• a stumbling block
• to foster differences
• lack of self-confidence
• stressful situations
• to have constant pressure from smb
• to bridge the gap
3. Answer the questions
1) Why do generational differences exist?
2) How can you describe a typical teenager/grown-up?
3) What problems do teenagers usually face?
4) What books and films devoted to the problem of the generation
gap do you know?
5) What are the ways to bridge the gap between parents and
children?
6) Does a defined gap separate today's generations? Why?
7) How can you characterize your relationships with your parents
and grandparents? Do you understand each other's opinions,
habits, behavior and preferences?
8) Do you agree that children's job is 'to try their wings' and
parents' job is 'to let them fly away'? Comment on your answer.
4. Read the letters written by the teens who have problems
with their parents. Give them some tips
Kathie, 16.
My parents don't understand me! 'They treat me as if I were
a kid though I am already 16! I want to go clubbing and bowling,
I want to meet my friends and go to different parties. 'But they
tell me to think^more about school and my studies. 'When I go
somewhere I have to be at home not later than 10 1"M. It's
ridiculous and all my friends laugh at me. fMy father almost had
a stroke when he learnt that I had a boyfriend. Jiow can I make
them understand that I'm not a child any more?
Ben, 15.
My classmates bully me. I don't know why. Maybe because I'm
shy and a bit fat or wear spectacles. I told my parents about my
problem but they said it was quite all right and that I had to
patch things up myself. They seem to be absolutely indifferent
to what's going on in my life. They don't care about what I feel
or what I want. I'd like to become a computer programmer, but
Юad says I must become a lawyer. But what about my dreams? I'm
torn between wanting to take a stand, and not wanting to upset
my parents.
Nelly, 14.
My parents are too harden me. 'We have great difficulties
with understanding each other. Tvery day I hear ''Don't listen
to this music', 'Don't talkito this girl - she is spoilt',
''Don't invite your friends' ... Sometimes I feel irritated and
we quarrel. I'm really tired of such a don't-do-it way of
upbringing. My parents are convinced that everything I do is
wrong. T)o I really deserve such an attitude?
5. Read the quotations below. Choose any statement and comment
on it
• 'The lessons of the past are ignored and obliterated in a
contemporary antagonism known as the generation gap.' (Spiro T.
Agnew)
• 'Parents often talk about the younger generation as if they
didn't have anything to do with it.' (Haim Ginott)
• 'Every generation needs a new revolution.' (Thomas Jefferson)
'Trouble is, kids feel they have to shock their elders and each
generation grows up into something harder to shock.' (Ben
Lindsey)
'Every generation revolts against its fathers and makes friends
with its grandfathers.' (Lewis Mumford)
'Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the
one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after
it.' (George Orwell)
'Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it
because it stands on the shoulders of that generation.' (Ronald
Reagan)
Look at the picture by Bidstrupp. What can you say about the
artist's understanding of the problem of the generation gap? The
words and word combinations in brackets can help you.
(a topical problem, to remain urgent, to exist throughout
history, to grumble over younger generation, a stumbling-block,
generational differences, to have different views on smth, to
bridge the gap, the lessons of the past, to shock parents, to be
at war with elders, to revolt against, to make the same
mistakes)
A. Give the definition of generation gap.
B. Read the text 'Generation Gap: Reality or a Psychological
Prejudice'. Comment on the title of the text.
Из учебного пособия
"Открывая
мир с английским языком. Современные темы для обсуждения.
Готовимся к ЕГЭ" Юнёва С.А. 2012г.
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