Globalization=Homogenization?

In the age of globalization, it seems that materialism and competitive nature of the West knows no bounds. The working population in rural China has even abandoned centuries of reverence for their elders in hopes of striking it rich in the allusive cities.

Over the next few weeks, I will blog about articles and books concerning the work ethic and values of different generations in two cultures.

I find the influence of the West on Eastern cultures very fascinating; what makes the lure of the sophisticated West so appealing? I want to understand how children from two cultures view their parents and work/school, and vice versa. How do ethnic values and practices shape one's work ethic? What happens to a recent immigrant who is absorbing values from their heritage as well as from their new society? Will they absorb values from both societies and develop a melting-pot outlook on life?

Those Darn Tech-Savvy Kids

Generation Y (the current twenty-somethings) is really irritating. Here they are, with all of this modern technology know-how, and they refuse to share it with their Baby Boomer coworkers. As this article exposes, those kids don't bother explaining to their elders how they fix computer problems...they just fix them. The Millennials need to pay back the Baby Boomers for all those years of higher education. Young adults need to take some of the hours a day they spend texting the person sitting next to them and methodically explain technology. After all, don't those young hotshots understand that they need to hold their elders' hands through their technological woes? They need to understand that older adults cannot figure things out independently. How dare younger people overestimate the intellectual and technological capacity of their seniors? Come on, Generation Y. Show some respect.

Newly Endangered Species: ChildsPlay

Obama, if kids could give you ratings, I believe your ratings just plummeted. MORE SCHOOL? The horror of it all! Life just got shorter. Childhood is doomed to die… I know it. What kind of man is this?!

But wait! Wait for me, my inner child. Who told you that childhood gets left behind when it comes to school? Did the friends you make tell you that? Was it in the notes you passed during conference hour? Was it The Gossip at the lunch table?

I bet childhood use to be the idea of playing out in the backyard with your friends and your neighbor’s dog, taking breaks for lemonade, having to be called in five times as dusk. But now, childhood seems a different thing. For me, my best childhood memories were with people I found at school. The lessons I learned came not only from the classroom, but also from the world that lived around the classroom.

Hey. Maybe my life is just me. But when childhood and education go hand-in-hand like they can do now, why not give the president man his due? Obama, me and my inner child support you.

Don't Lose Your Head a Quarter-Way through Life

Volcanically greasy, artificially gooey, lusciously bubbly. Rich, warm years of adolescence tucked into a breaded role of cheese, brimming with vitality. Say goodbye to those mozzarella sticks of youth because college graduation has passed, and it’s time to face… life!

From this point forward I intend to blog about articles that deal with the ups and downs; ins and outs; overs and unders of quarter-life crises. Not only have I been consciously ignoring the fact that I’ll be twenty in less than six months, but I’m also just slowly coming to terms with the concept of life after graduation. Sooner or later I’m going to hit the quarter-life mark, and I’m looking forward to exploring the ranges of emotions, experiences, and longings that instigate such “trauma.”

What are the major factors that cause the onset of a quarter-life crisis, and how have its effects and results changed from generation to generation? Are there any preventative measures that can be taken to mitigate the negative repercussions of facing the real world?

I’m also planning on researching how the symptoms of this crisis may vary across various portions of the American or even international population. If are any particular racial, socio-economic, or gender-related trends, I’d like to take them into consideration as I narrow my overwhelming number of questions related to this topic to a single research point.

The Secret Life of a Centenarian

The average life expectancy for people back in the early 1900’s was around the age of 40-45 years. Lets fast-forward a century. The life expectancy today is well above 75 years of age in America. Living, breathing, experiencing life for 75+ years is quite a feat to some; for others who live in Okinawa, Japan or Ovadda, Sardinia, 75 years is an extension of their midlife. For those who live in Okinawa or Ovadda, life expectancy is 100 + years. This rare group of people is known as the centenarians. For the weeks to come, I plan to update everyone on my findings about centenarians through news articles, photos, videos, and books.

This unique group of people intrigues me because they are able to live for a long time without any medical surgeries or alterations. Longevity is something we all desire, yet these people don’t have to because they live it. I wonder what specific factors contribute to their longevity: the environment or is it the people themselves who possess a unique genetic makeup? Why hasn’t the world adopted the practices and lifestyles of the centenarians in Sardinia and Japan? Do the off-springs of the centenarians also live to be 100 years of age? What benefits and challenges do these people face? What effects do or will the population of centenarians have on society? Stay tuned as we delve into the world of centenarians

The Social Role Theory: Why we do what we do!

Why do we criticize the 12-year-old that wears too much make-up? Or the old man that hangs out at singles bars? And why was it even an issue that basketball star Troy Bolton joined his High School's Musical? These questions may seem to have blatant answers, but do they really? In psychology, the Social Role Theory is one of many theories that concerns human development and accounts for why we act the way we do at different ages. This is a subject that I have been recently intrigued by. So in the next few weeks, I will blog about new things that I read concerning explanations of behavior at different ages for different genders, as proposed by the Social Role Theory. This topic is interesting because it concerns everyone: it (attempts to) explain why I am diligently completing my assignments now, why I will go for a run afterwards, why I am dressed in a particular way -- the list goes on. So in a narrower sense, I'd like to investigate stereotypes of females in Western culture and examine how prevalent social role expectancies are in today's generation. Through this I will ask several questions: How do stereotypes change and differ from young to old age? Where did these expectations originate? In what institutions or settings are they most present? These questions, I hope, will allow me to achieve a more thorough understanding of my topic of specific focus.

Human Development: Emphasis on the Environment's Influence

The book "Theories of Human Development" presents three major families of theories that attempt to account for the "how" and the "why" we are the way we are. The three categories are biological theories, environment-based theories, and theories that emphasize an interaction between biological environmental and self-directed forces. I gave special attention to the theories that emphazised the environmental forces that shape human growth; namely the Learning Theory and the Social Role Theory. In the Learning perspective, a phenomenon called "Social Learning" is explained. Here, Albert Bandura suggested that "much learning takes place[...]because of the person's tendency to ovserve and imitate other people's behavior." I can see how this is true, as we see many teenagers today dressing up and acting like their favorite celebrities, young athletes always trying to be the hero, and young children playing "doctor." The theory also suggested that modeling depends on the conditions in the environment and the type of model; and can take place at any age so long as the model is influential enough.

In Social Role Theory, we see that there is movement through age roles. In other words, as one ages, they are forced to change and take on different roles in society. These social roles are "meaningful, demanding, and compelling aspects of [...] identity." This theory accounts for the differences in behavior between parents, children, teachers, competitors, lovers, salesmen -- the list goes on. There is an emphasis on the environment as a determining factor in one's acquisition of new skills that allow them to adapt to the restrictions and opportunities of a new age role. When we achieve these new age roles, we have to give up our old ones. It is this theory that accounts for why we tell our tattle-tale classmate to "stop being such a baby" and why we criticize old people that get facelifts and hair transplants for not "growing old gracefully."

The Next "Greatest" Generation?

As a young adult in 2009, I may naturally relate more easily to ninety-five year-old men at the nursing home I volunteer in than my own parents. This understandably sounds outlandish at best--but it is also true. Over the next several weeks, I am going to explore a common theme in the study of generational politics: how the current "Millennial" generation (born between 1982 and 2003) actually resembles the GI (a.k.a. the "Greatest" or "World War II") generation more so than any other generation of the past eighty years.

It seems rather counterintuitive to consider today's young people on par with the generation that defeated Nazi Germany--the apparent differences are infinite. But many political scientists and sociologists view this as exactly the case. As it turns out, many crucial similarities exist between the two seemingly polar opposite generations--a sense of civic duty, trust of government, and the confrontation of massive domestic and global challenges. Personally, I am fascinated that we can use historical patterns to predict the future. If the current generation can be evaluated as a political force, the direction of the country and the world can be more fully understood. What will be the political impact of another truly "great" generation? Will the United States lean left, right, or towards the center? Will the future technological advancements of the highly educated Millennials come primarily from the public or private sector? Taking historical context into consideration, will a culturally renewed faith in government lead expansions of federal power mirroring those of the 1930s and 40s? Or will, given the current political structure, this generation manifest its greatness in a different political way? Essentially, if the Millennial Generation is the next "greatest" one, how will the nation reflect this greatness?

Adolescents and War

An excerpt from Brian K. Barber’s book entitled “Adolescents And War” vividly depicts the negative effects violence has on our youth and adolescents today, and how it can either facilitate, or more commonly impede, their transition from adolescence to adulthood. Barber illustrates how violence causes youth to “[have] a negative sense of the future” and “can thwart their ability to thrive in postconflict society” (p.178). He also notes instances where the youth, which covers the broad spectrum of individuals in their twenties to eight-year-olds, refer to themselves as children to avoid any possible correlation to adulthood. Barber basically addresses the problem of adolescents’ quaky transition into adulthood, and how the growing problem of violence in our society is partly to blame for this mishap. By drawing a direct correlation between the stress war and other violence-related events incur, Barber accounts for the youth who have been “significantly handicapped” as a result and ventures into what “the psychological and social mechanisms are that underlie this damage” (p.25). I like Barber’s approach to this issue because instead of solely blaming adolescents for their deplorable actions in a post-conflict society, he takes into consideration all the underlying factors that could’ve contributed to their downward slide into a deleterious lifestyle. In addition, he also ventures to explicate their inability to smoothly transition from adolescence to adulthood in terms that not only hold them accountable, but also blame the footprint society has left on them as well. This broad-spectrum way of thinking fully accounts for the transition problem from youth to adulthood many youths are facing today.

The Death of Conservatism?

Perhaps its time we start preparing for the burial of the big old elephant in the room. The elephant I'm referring to is the symbol of the GOP, a party that took a huge hit in the 2008 election and may continue to loosen its stronghold over American politics according to the author of this Op-Ed piece from the New York Times (May 13, 2008). Columnist Bob Herbert asserts that the rising millennial generation is poised to become the first generation to do less well economically than their parents, and that these so-called "millennials" are looking to government to help lessen the blow. According to a study composed by a progressive think tank, millennials have become disenchanted with the conservative viewpoint that government is the problem, and are instead looking for a more interventionist approach to tackle issues such as education, health care, jobs, and all-around economic growth.

What interested me most about this piece is how it corresponded with Jean M. Twenge's argument in her book, Generation Me, that the millennial generation has astronomically high expectations for themselves despite the harsh realities they face. It make sense that millennials, instilled with a strong sense of entitlement, are expecting the government to help them meet these expectations. While I support the fact that the millennials are starting to hold their government accountable for helping combat the myriad issues they face, I can't help but wonder if Gen Me is only setting itself up for disappointment by assuming that the government can provide a quick fix. The expectations on the current administration are so high that it seems Gen Me is only priming their elected leaders for failure.

The Evolution of the Quarter-Life Crisis

In August, the unemployment rate spiked to 9.7%--the highest it has been in 26 years. Horror stories abound of college graduates competing for paralegal jobs. A Michigan State University report eloquently summarizes, "In two short years, we have moved from a zenith of exuberant and aggressive college hiring, through a period of cautious optimism, to a place of quiet desperation."

In short, the time is ripe for quarter-life crises as college graduates find themselves without promising job offers, which leads to struggles with identity and future goals. In the coming weeks, I will be researching and blogging about the origin and evolution of the quarter-life crisis.

The idea of the quarter-life crisis began to interest me as it became more prevalent this past year. From popular movies like Post-Grad to my sister's endeavors at finding a job in New York after graduating from college, it seems like every twenty-something is struggling, particularly because of the current state of the economy. I think this is an issue of significance because while there are valid reasons behind the quarter-life crisis, it seems almost like an excuse for postponing adulthood. I'm wondering what effect the quarter-life crisis will have on generations to come as well and if there are ways to combat the quarter-life crisis. Will the family structure change because young adults will wait to settle down until their mid-thirties or forties? What is the effect of the quarter-life crisis on popular culture? Are there any solutions? These are some of the questions I will be exploring in the weeks to come.

The Peter Pan Syndrome

Envision a world where adulthood was an optional state of mind; where responsibility was a nagging notion of the past; where we could all dwell in the blissful realm of Neverlands we’ve mentally erected as refuge from the pressures of society. In actuality, a profuse amount of individuals have encapsulated themselves in this state of interminable adolescence—a medical condition known in pop culture as the Peter Pan Syndrome. Formally dubbed as Puer Aeternus, this condition is attributed to young adults and adults alike who haven’t fully matured--both mentally and emotionally--out of their adolescent state, and still possess a maternal attachment to their care givers. In what is hopefully the first of many posts to come, I will be discussing this Peter Pan Syndrome that is afflicting a substantial chunk of individuals in this day and age. Though society pressures and forces these individuals to be weaned off the nipples of life, the question that peaks my interest is what are the social, economic, and political factors that contribute to this condition? In other words, I want to know how are we, as a society, responsible for these individuals’ inability to cope with growing up, and, if possible, by pinpointing the source of this disorder, can we prevent future cases of this from occurring?

Generation We?

We are responsible. We are tolerant. We are well-educated. But are we? Eric Greenberg and Karl Weber, the authors of Generation We, think so. In their kid-friendly book (complete with charts, pictures, and easy-to-read font), they argue that it is the responsibility of people born between 1978-2000 to take up the call of duty and fix global problems. According to Greenberg, we are the best qualified because we are the people coming of age in a diverse and technologically savvy world. Greenberg's argument is flattering and especially refreshing after reading Twenge's "Generation Me." Some of Greenberg's points are exceptionally foretelling, especially when he comments that Generation We has effected national elections in profound ways. His book was published one month before Obama's victory in November. However, I think the one flaw in his reasoning is that he gives Generation Me too much credit. As some people pointed out in our last class, teenagers often do volunteer work because they're fulfilling a school requirement or hoping to round out their resume.

Is Steroid Addiction A Risk For Young Athletes?

Steroids can help an athlete feel indestructible, placing them upon a pedestal where they believe no one can take them down. Being an athlete, I believe guilty players make a mockery of what real athletes should be: honest, hardworking, responsible and intelligent. Young athletes are starting to use steroids out of fright and insecurity, as many coaches and parents are putting too much pressure on them. According to this article, steroid use could be life threatening. It can lead to depression causing athletes to become suicidal. In today's society, cheating has become almost acceptable when instead it should be firmly punished. Why can't Athletes realize that fame and fortune comes from hard work and discipline not an injection?

Our Personal Neverlands

The picture to the right is a mere snippet of the grandeur Michael Jackson's Neverland once possessed. Erected to mirror the realm Peter Pan and his buddies found refuge in from a world leading them on the dreadful path to adulthood, the late Michael Jackson in a way let himself succumb to the seductive allure of the miniature theme park and what it stood for. In reality, his erection of such a fantastical abode epitomized his inability to cope with growing up--both physically and mentally, spiritually and emotionally. I feel as if there is a little Michael Jackson in us all that wants to hold on to the grandeur those awkward, puss-filled pimple years of our adolescents, in retrospect, possess in our eyes as we stand on the border between teenage years and adulthood. In contemporary society, this unwillingness to take that leap into adulthood has been dubbed as nostalgia. The fact of the matter is that we need to plunge into adulthood in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, image, and relationship with society; stutter stepping into adulthood could prove to be detrimental to our development as a society on a whole in the years to come.