Whatever happened to the generation gap? Research highlighted in times2 today suggests that it has all but disappeared. Instead of the modern teenager being a rebellious sort whose favourite phrase is “you don’t understand me”, the new youngster is so tethered by parents striving not only to understand him or her but also to be “mates” that they are incapable of fending for themselves. The contemporary middle-class mentality is, according to one expert in the field, that it is no longer acceptable for a parent to tell their offspring that they should take on a Saturday job to pay for going clubbing. The cash will simply be handed over and the child asked meekly if the adult could come clubbing with them. How sad.
Lots of complicated sociological reasons are being offered for this development. It is argued that members of Generation X (born between the mid1960s and the mid1970s) grew up with traditionally distant relations with their parents (and only three channels on television) and are attempting to compensate with their children the Generation Y (in which case, bring on Generation Z as soon as possible). Or, alternatively, it is because the modern parent feels guilty at spending too much time at work and lavishes (mostly electronic) gifts on the kids by way of apology.
These theories may be too charitable. In truth, parents seem desperate to narrow the generation divide because by doing so they themselves then feel younger. That they are turning their teenagers into hamsters with iPods appears to be immaterial to them. It might look kindly but it will lead to a Generation YOY if the trend continues unabated. Some parents should grow up fast. Bring back the generation gap, all is forgiven.