A few years ago it was popular to speak of a generation gap, a disagreement between young people and their elders.
A
few
years
ago
it
was
popular
to
speak
of
a
generation
gap
,
a
disagreement
between
young
people
and
their
elders
.
Parents said that children did not show them proper respect and obedience, while children complained that their parents did not understand them at all.
Parents
said
that
children
did
not
show
them
proper
respect
and
obedience
,
while
children
complained
that
their
parents
did
not
understand
them
at
all
.
What had gone wrong?
What
had
gone
wrong
?
Why had the generation gap suddenly appeared?
Why
had
the
generation
gap
suddenly
appeared
?
Actually the generation gap has been around for a long time.
Actually
the
generation
gap
has
been
around
for
a
long
time
.
Many people argue that a gap is built into the fabric of our society.
Many
people
argue
that
a
gap
is
built
into
the
fabric
of
our
society
.
One important cause of the generation gap is the chance that young people have to choose their own ways of life.
One
important
cause
of
the
generation
gap
is
the
chance
that
young
people
have
to
choose
their
own
ways
of
life
.
In more traditional societies, when children grow up, they are expected to live in the same area as their parents, to marry people that their parents know and agree to, and to continue the family occupation.
In
more
traditional
societies
,
when
children
grow
up
,
they
are
expected
to
live
in
the
same
area
as
their
parents
,
to
marry
people
that
their
parents
know
and
agree
to
,
and
to
continue
the
family
occupation
.
In our society, young people often travel great distances for their education, move out of the family home at an early age, marry or live with people whom their parents have never met, and choose occupations different from those of their parents.
In
our
society
,
young
people
often
travel
great
distances
for
their
education
,
move
out
of
the
family
home
at
an
early
age
,
marry
or
live
with
people
whom
their
parents
have
never
met
,
and
choose
occupations
different
from
those
of
their
parents
.
In our easily changing society, parents often expect their children to do better than they did: to find better jobs, to make more money, and to do all the things that they were unable to do.
In
our
easily
changing
society
,
parents
often
expect
their
children
to
do
better
than
they
did
:
to
find
better
jobs
,
to
make
more
money
,
and
to
do
all
the
things
that
they
were
unable
to
do
.
Often, however, the strong desire that parents have for their children are another cause of the disagreement between them.
Often
,
however
,
the
strong
desire
that
parents
have
for
their
children
are
another
cause
of
the
disagreement
between
them
.
Often, they discover that they have very little in common with each other.
Often
,
they
discover
that
they
have
very
little
in
common
with
each
other
.
Finally, the speed at which changes take place in our society is another cause of the gap between the generations.
Finally
,
the
speed
at
which
changes
take
place
in
our
society
is
another
cause
of
the
gap
between
the
generations
.
In a traditional culture, elderly people are valued for their wisdom, but in our society the knowledge of a lifetime may become out of date overnight.
In
a
traditional
culture
,
elderly
people
are
valued
for
their
wisdom
,
but
in
our
society
the
knowledge
of
a
lifetime
may
become
out
of
date
overnight
.
The young and the old seem to live in two very different worlds, separated by different skills and abilities.
The
young
and
the
old
seem
to
live
in
two
very
different
worlds
,
separated
by
different
skills
and
abilities
.
No doubt, the generation gap will continue to be a feature of American life for some time to come.
No
doubt
,
the
generation
gap
will
continue
to
be
a
feature
of
American
life
for
some
time
to
come
.
Its causes are rooted in the freedom and changes of our society, and in the rapid speed at which society changes.
Its
causes
are
rooted
in
the
freedom
and
changes
of
our
society
,
and
in
the
rapid
speed
at
which
society
changes
.
A few years ago it was popular to speak of a generation gap, a disagreement between young people and their elders. Parents said that children did not show them proper respect and obedience, while children complained that their parents did not understand them at all. What had gone wrong? Why had the generation gap suddenly appeared? Actually the generation gap has been around for a long time. Many people argue that a gap is built into the fabric of our society.  One important cause of the generation gap is the chance that young people have to choose their own ways of life. In more traditional societies, when children grow up, they are expected to live in the same area as their parents, to marry people that their parents know and agree to, and to continue the family occupation. In our society, young people often travel great distances for their education, move out of the family home at an early age, marry or live with people whom their parents have never met, and choose occupations different from those of their parents.  In our easily changing society, parents often expect their children to do better than they did: to find better jobs, to make more money, and to do all the things that they were unable to do. Often, however, the strong desire that parents have for their children are another cause of the disagreement between them. Often, they discover that they have very little in common with each other.  Finally, the speed at which changes take place in our society is another cause of the gap between the generations. In a traditional culture, elderly people are valued for their wisdom, but in our society the knowledge of a lifetime may become out of date overnight. The young and the old seem to live in two very different worlds, separated by different skills and abilities.  No doubt, the generation gap will continue to be a feature of American life for some time to come. Its causes are rooted in the freedom and changes of our society, and in the rapid speed at which society changes.