Influence of New Technologies in the Generation Gap
Generational gap refers to the differences between a younger generation and their seniors. Each generation developed in a different period, with different ways of living and with different ideals. Although these differences have been present throughout history, old generations have to be confronted at the cultural change which affects the actual society, particularly with the new generations X and Y.
The basic purpose of this paper is to show that the development of medias and new technologies have a great influence on the Generation Gap. All these improvements have widened the gap between two particulars generations, the Baby Boomers and their grandchildren who compose the generation Y.
In the following pages we will first look at the characteristics of these two different generations; then we will examine how the new technologies have influenced the dissimilarity between them, before finally turning back to complicity and the similarity among these two generations.
Born between the years 1676 and 1964 during the Post-World War II, baby boomers represent the rejection of traditional values of the society at this time and tend to think of themselves that they symbolize a special generation, particularly because they join the social movements of the 1960s and take part in the revolt against the conservative norms at that time. Because they are very hardworking and motivated by their professional position, they are known to be work-centric and goal-oriented in their career. As Gelston puts it, “everyone thinks the Baby Boomers are self-absorbed workaholics”. One characteristic of this generation is also the competitiveness in their workplace and in their life, because they believe in hierarchal organizations and in the association between work and self-esteem. Baby Boomers are independent and self-sufficient, and they believe in the fact that the can change the world because they grew up in a period of reform and social modifications. In Flannery O’Connor’s
The basic purpose of this paper is to show that the development of medias and new technologies have a great influence on the Generation Gap. All these improvements have widened the gap between two particulars generations, the Baby Boomers and their grandchildren who compose the generation Y.
In the following pages we will first look at the characteristics of these two different generations; then we will examine how the new technologies have influenced the dissimilarity between them, before finally turning back to complicity and the similarity among these two generations.
Born between the years 1676 and 1964 during the Post-World War II, baby boomers represent the rejection of traditional values of the society at this time and tend to think of themselves that they symbolize a special generation, particularly because they join the social movements of the 1960s and take part in the revolt against the conservative norms at that time. Because they are very hardworking and motivated by their professional position, they are known to be work-centric and goal-oriented in their career. As Gelston puts it, “everyone thinks the Baby Boomers are self-absorbed workaholics”. One characteristic of this generation is also the competitiveness in their workplace and in their life, because they believe in hierarchal organizations and in the association between work and self-esteem. Baby Boomers are independent and self-sufficient, and they believe in the fact that the can change the world because they grew up in a period of reform and social modifications. In Flannery O’Connor’s
Cited: : Crowley, Michael. "The New Generation Gap." Time. November 2011. Print. Gelston, Steff. “Gen Y, Gen X and the Baby Boomers Workplace Generation Wars” CIO. 30 January 2008. Web. 19 February 2012. Hewlett, Sylvia Ann and Sherbin, Laura and Sumberg, Karen. “How Gen Y and Boomers Will Reshape Your Agenda”. Harvard Business Review Magazine. July 2009. Print. Kersten, Denise. “Today’s generations face new communication gaps”. USA Today. 15 November 2002. Web. 20 February 2012. O’Connor, Flannery. “Everything that Rises Must Converge”. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Alison Booth, J.Paul Hunter and Kelly J.Mays. New York: W.W Norton & Company 2006. 400-410. Print.