Cultural Diversity: Looking at Age

CULTURAL DIVERSITY: LOOKING AT AGE CULTURAL DIVERSITY: LOOKING AT AGE Generation Gaps In Society Today

Nicole Davis

Cultural Diversity

G. McMahon

Davis |1 Generation Gaps in Society Today CULTURAL DIVERSITY: LOOKING AT AGE

SOC 210

5.21.12

We surveyed Fortune 500 executives across the country and found that 80% of

them find communication across generations to be a most challenging issue in the

workplace. In fact, many businesses are paying more attention to the generation

gap now than ever before, and it all seems to boil down to how different

generations perceive technology…and use it.

(Savitz & Weiss)

In surveying articles within the subject of age, I came across a good majority of them having to do with the correlation between the generation gap today, technology, and conflict in the workforce. This may have to do with a wide array of things; from work ethics to money management, from natural political experience power-hierarchies to the dynamics of respect relationships. Orinta Zvikaitė-Rötting, a Lithuanian youth worker and peace activist, adds:

An old proverb says that any friendship ends when it comes to money. Is

the current generation gap between the growing members of seniors and growing

generations of “double income, no kids” the loss of generational friendship? If

there is a gap, there is a conflict; and if there is a conflict, it needs resolution.

(Zvikaitė-Rötting)

In this same article Zvikaitė-Rötting addresses conflict resolution between generational relationships:

2 CULTURAL DIVERSITY: LOOKING AT AGE

Most conflicts of generational communication come from the tension

between needs and rights that are incompatible. Norms and needs are different

for each generation and even more so for each person.

The more well-known examples of the so-called generational conflict are:

the discussion around generational contract; the question of segregation between

the generations; and the question of ambivalence in generational relationships.

(Zvikaitė-Rötting, pg. 61-62, 60)

What I gather from these statements is the fact that each generation has conflicting norms, needs, and rights, which accounts for most of the intergenerational conflict and tension. Also that there may be some ambivalence in generational relationships; differing generations do not know how to interact with each other. These findings lead us to look closer at the differing condition of our culture:

The unclear multiple goals of education, planning future politics,

controlling demographics and interests of each group are the mirrors of the

generational relationship.

Each culture has a differing viewpoint as to how to go about supporting and/or opposing any and all of these issues. To clarify, when I say “each culture”, I am referring to the culture of: different ages, mindsets, countries, religions, you name it!

In this context we are specifically approaching the cultural differences in generational age gaps.

Our times are the product of individualism.

Davis |3 Generation Gaps in Society Today CULTURAL DIVERSITY: LOOKING AT AGE

Another indicator of the culture we live in today is prevalence of individualism in our cultural mindset. This may or may not affect mostly the younger generations, due to older generations having pride in their generation’s culture and times, feeling as if a more socially-minded culture is better. Fact is, older generations may not agree or condone individualism, whereas younger generations may see it as the best thing since sliced bread.

Works Cited

Savitz, Eric, and Scott Weiss. "Generation Gap: How Technology Has Changed How We

Talk About Work." Generation Gap: How Technology Has Changed How We

Talk About Work - Forbes. Forbes, 16 May 2012. Google.com. Web. 21 May

technology-has-changed-how-we-talk-about-work/>.

Zvikaitė-Rötting, Orinta. "Generation Gap: Resolving Conflicts Between Generations."

PDF Article. N.p., n.d. Google.com. Web. 21 May 2012.