How does Generation Gap affect the society in the United States - Term Paper Example

Impact of the generational gap in the U.S Society Introduction A society is made up of the young, the youth, middle agedpersons and the old aged. This ensures healthy relations and societal responsibility among a populous in any society. It is expected that the numbers in each age group balance in order to facilitate the family responsibility and national planning. In America, the gap between the old aged and the young is increasing at a tremendous rate, hence distorting the idealized identity and responsibility of each individual in the society.

The American society has developed a controversial yet rave generational gap that has altered the societal co-existence, bringing about certain impacts to the overall progressive development of the society. Isolation of the younger generation from societal activities is a major impact of the generational gap in the U.S. the current century has changed the ideologies of the young and the youth unlike in the previous centuries. Technology advancements, research, and personal autonomy differentiate the ideals and methods of the young from the old (Gardner et al, 2008).

The adult take upon this disparity to self-impose habits and practices to the young. Due to the gap created, the young feel compelled to rebel against the old that do not understand. This consequentially has led to isolation and other psychological disorders that leave the young prone to societal ills such as crimes, suicide and engagement in drugs. The existence of a generational gap in the American society has led to the over-reliance of the old in important institutional positions in the societal set up.

The older generation tends to be inclined to the ideologies of the young, while the former think they are always right in any capacity thinking. Political positions, important religious and educational positions are allocated to older people. Incidences of allocating the young with such positions to sharp their experience in societal responsibility are shunned away with the notion that they cannot get things done accordingly. In the event of providing the young with opportunities, the older generation individuals marginalize.

The youth in the American society had been set back from the older generation from their fear of disappointment. Until recently, the youth are now compelled by the current contemporary times to come out of the older generations’ ‘shadows’ (Connerney, 2009). The young people are currently inventing influential positions in the society, thereby creating positions for the older generation to. An example is Mark Zuckerberg, the C.E.O of Facebook Inc, the largest global social network, who despite the age has been able to surpass generational differences to prove that the young are innovative and concerned about the welfare of the society, nevertheless the older generation keep on ensuring that their key positions in societal positions is maintained.

The American societal lifestyle has improved from the current generational gap created. This has affected the family, educational, religious and political lifestyles. The young generation is known for embracing the advancements of research and technology. In educational institutions, the young expect the provision of decent education amongst other co-curriculum activities (Hargrove, 2011). They expect that such an opportunity is feasible in providing a definitive path towards career building.

This was unlike the learning ideologies of the older generation. The intensity of technology among the young has also compelled the older to automatically adapt to these social changes. In addition, by influencing lifestyle changes in the major social standings in the American society, the current generational gap has destroyed conventional values. Influences from technology, advanced education have changed the relations between the old and the young. Indiscipline and inter-personal conflict have risen from the development of the gap (Prasad, 1992).

In summation, the current generational gap experienced in the United States is as a result of the environmental and social climate change. In addition, each individual experience differentiates experiences in his or her cognitive development. According to sociologists the generational gap has both positive and negative influences in the society. The underlying aspect is that every society has to consider on the relativity of its generational gap, if it is wide and the impact more positive, then it ought to be upheld among other considerations.

This is crucial as every societal aspects dwells on the relations of people differentiated by the generational gap.Thesis Statement Thesis statement: The American society has developed a controversial yet rave generational gap that has altered the societal co-existence, bringing about certain impacts to the overall progressive development of the society.OutlineI. Introductioni. Brief information on the society and the development of the generational gap in Americaii. What makes up a society?iii.

Generational gap in AmericaII. Impact 1i. Topic sentence: Isolation of the younger generation from societal activities is a major impact of the generational gap in the U.S. the current century has changed the ideologies of the young and the youth unlike in the previous centuries.ii. Reasons for the Reasons for isolation between the old and the youngiii. Consequential result of isolation among the young generation in AmericaIII. Impact 2i. Topic sentence: The existence of a generational gap in the American society has led to the over-reliance of the old in important institutional positions in the societal set up.ii. Position where the society is more inclined towards the older generationiii.

Initiatives the young generation have taken up to deal with such generational gap over-relianceIV. Impact 3i. Topic sentence: The American societal lifestyle has improved from the current generational gap created. This has affected the family, educational, religious and political lifestyles.ii. Examples of social lifestyles that have changed as a result of generational gapiii. Relation of the change of social lifestyles to societal valuesV. ConclusionOverall perception of the generational gap and its impact to the American society in accordance to the sociologists’ viewsIn-Text Citations(Connerney, 2009)(Gardner et al, 2008)(Hargrove, 2011)(Prasad, 1992)Full ReferencesConnerney, R. D. (2009).

The Upside Down Tree: India’s Changing Culture. Chicago: Algora Publishing.Gardner, J. N., Jewler, J. A. & Barefoot, B. O. (2008). Your College Experience: Strategies for Success. New York: Cengage Learning. Hargrove, J. J. (2011). Closing the Achievement Gap in America. New York: Barnes & Noble. Prasad, R. (1992). Generation Gap, a Sociological Study of Inter-generational Conflicts. New York: Mittal Publications.