Edit] The 1950s, 1960s and 1970s: Baby Boomers vs. the Older Generation
As the 1940s ended and the 1950s emerged, marked differences between teenagers and parents began to emerge. From a transformation of the dating system (going steady and early marriage became the norm, as opposed to the "rating and dating" trend that was fashionable before the war), to new medium of television gaining widespread popularity and often portraying teenagers as juvenile delinquents. 'JDs' followed the standard black, The War in Southeast Asia, and the rise of counter-culture hippies during the mid and late 1960s with diverging opinions about the draft and military involvement in Vietnam as well as the use of drugs were significant topics of the generation gap of this era. The cover of Mad Magazine No. 129 by artist Norman Mingo, dated September 1969, showed a split Alfred E. Neuman, the "old" Alfred on the left wearing a "My Country: Right or Wrong" lapel button, and the "young" long-haired Alfred on the right with a "Make Love Not War" button, and the cover statement "MAD Widens the Generation Gap."[6] The widespread influence of the Beatles and their 1964 film A Hard Day's Night contributed to the "generation gap" in that the Beatles became role models who observed and articulated the shortcomings of adults.
The TV series All in the Family focuses on the generation, as a conservative-minded middle-aged man repeatedly quarrels with his independent-minded wife and staunchly liberal daughter and son-in-law.
edit] Generation X: The 1980s
The 1970s and 1980s are characterized as being an era rampant with child neglect, as shown by such phenomenon as latchkey kids. This period lies between the family-oriented 1950s and 1960s and the "Baby on Board" parenting?focused era of the late 1980s to the present. The media notably labeled Generation X as "slackers".[7]
Generation Gap. Most people say that ? family is very important for them. They like to repeat that families give them ? sense of tradition, strength and purpose in their lives. ??Our families show what we are", they say. Most parents teach their children to respect elder people and observe holidays. But the most important thing for ? family is to give an emotional support and security. The right family values help boys and girls to gain confidence and resist the influence of bad friends. Teenagers often consider their parents old-fashioned, unaware of the latest style. As for their parents they do their best to give their children ? better chance than they had themselves. After finishing school children often try to get complete independence, they leave their homes and sometimes even their native towns. Staying with parents has its negative and positive aspects but children must understand that parents don' t want to do them any harm. That's why sometimes young people have to listen to criticism from their parents. Some people often speak about the so-called "generation gap" that is ? gap in views between parents and teenagers, but the majority of people think that this generation gap is sometimes exaggerated. Very often children feel neglected in their families. When they find cruelty, indifference and misunderstanding in their families they become divide and heartless themselves. As ? result children feel hurt and some of them try to escape from the reality by tuning to alcohol and drugs. So all of us should pay more attention to family problems, we must avoid quarrels and look for consent. We must remember about spiritual values and all people should live in peace and harmony.