福建师范大学外国语学院 2001级1班　方艺玲

What is generation gap? Generation gap refers to a vast difference in cultural norms between a younger generation and their elders. It’s a distressing thing for the phenomenon which occurs around the world. In my opinion, the lack of communication, different views on certain problems and different attitudes towards life may cause the generation gap or even widen it.

First, one of the major factors for this misunderstanding between two generations is that parents and children lack communication. Young people seldom reveal their feelings to their parents, and often complain that their parents are out of touch with modern days, that they are dominant, that they do not trust their children to deal with crises, and that they talk too much about certain problems. So when young people meet some problems, they would rather turn to their classmates or their friends for help. The lack of communication widens the generation gap.

Another factor is that parents and their children see almost everything from different perspectives. Take choosing career as an example. Parents generally believe it is their responsibility to plan the career for their children. Some hope their children will go in for professions that will bring them greatest prestige and economic benefits. Some hope children will have a stable job with a regular income. But the youth may think they should be free to make their own decisions as to their future career. Young people explain that true success is not a matter of money or position, instead, it is a matter of self-fulfillment. While children often complain that their parents are out of touch with modern ways, their parents criticize their children for the radical ways to deal with things.

Finally, with the change of the world over decades, the attitude of the young have altered too. There are differences in such matters as musical tastes, fashions, drug use, sex and politics between the young people and their elders. Nowadays long hair on young males is viewed as fashion by the young, but it is frequently considered as a shocking act of rebellion against social norms by parents. Most parents find it hard to accept their children’s attitude, for they themselves have been brought up to respect traditional values.

With the factors mentioned above, I think to bridge the generation gap, mutual understanding is very important. On one hand, parents view does reflect their concerned for the wellbeing of their children. On the other hand, children should talk with their parents and understand them well. Therefore, it will be wise for parents and their children view each other as friends.