generation gap
Age-based cultural chasm
The generation gap is the difference in attitudes, values, and experiences between younger and older people—typically between children and their parents or grandparents.
The term gained currency in the 1960s when cultural upheaval made the divide especially stark: The generation gap made it hard for them to discuss politics.
Any perceived disconnect between age groups qualifies: There's a generation gap in how people use technology.
1946-1964 birth cohort
- millennialsThose born 1981-1996
- Gen XPost-boomer demographic cohort
- Gen ZPost-millennial demographic cohort
- eldersSenior community members
youth · teenagers · seniors · adolescents · middle-aged · twentysomethings · retirees · grandparents
Failure to grasp meaning
- disconnectTo break a connection
- tensionStretched or strained state
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- disagreementAbsence of shared opinion
friction · estrangement · alienation · resentment · rebellion · communication breakdown · cultural divide · family conflict
Current popular trend
- slangInformal in-group vocabulary
- humorAmusing quality
- entertainmentAgreeable diversion of attention
- gender rolesExpected behaviors by sex
marriage · parenting styles · media consumption · pop culture · counterculture · nostalgia · trends · lifestyle
Custom passed through generations
- progressivismPhilosophy advocating societal reform
- conservatismPreference for existing institutions
- liberalismPhilosophy valuing reform, tolerance
- individualismDoctrine of personal independence
collectivism · work ethic · loyalty · respect · authority · independence · conformity · idealism
Those raised with technology
- digital immigrantsThose who adopted technology later
- social mediaOnline content-sharing platforms
- smartphonesHandheld touchscreen computers
- internetInterconnected computer systems
texting · video calls · email · handwriting · vinyl · streaming · television · rotary phone
baby boomers
1946-1964 birth cohort
- millennialsThose born 1981-1996
- Gen XPost-boomer demographic cohort
- Gen ZPost-millennial demographic cohort
elders · youth · teenagers · seniors · adolescents · middle-aged · twentysomethings · retirees · grandparents · grandchildren
misunderstanding
Failure to grasp meaning
- disconnectTo break a connection
- tensionStretched or strained state
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
disagreement · friction · estrangement · alienation · resentment · rebellion · communication breakdown · cultural divide · family conflict · disapproval
fashion
Current popular trend
- slangInformal in-group vocabulary
- humorAmusing quality
- entertainmentAgreeable diversion of attention
gender roles · marriage · parenting styles · media consumption · pop culture · counterculture · nostalgia · trends · lifestyle · attitudes
tradition
Custom passed through generations
- progressivismPhilosophy advocating societal reform
- conservatismPreference for existing institutions
- liberalismPhilosophy valuing reform, tolerance
individualism · collectivism · work ethic · loyalty · respect · authority · independence · conformity · idealism · pragmatism
digital natives
Those raised with technology
- digital immigrantsThose who adopted technology later
- social mediaOnline content-sharing platforms
- smartphonesHandheld touchscreen computers
internet · texting · video calls · email · handwriting · vinyl · streaming · television · rotary phone · typewriter
- generation gapsdigital natives, cultural shifts, communication gaps, youth culture
- family generationsgrandparents, grandchildren, grandparent, grandchild, family tree
- Parenting Teensadolescence, puberty, rebellion, teen rebellion, curfew
- Sixtieshippies, Beatles, Woodstock, Vietnam War, JFK
- age-gap romanceage difference, older man, older woman, younger woman, cougar
- social divisionsclass divide, racial divide, social divide, religious divide, cultural divide
generation gapmutual understanding
Shared agreement between parties
generation gaptradition
Custom passed through generations
shared values · heritage preservation · cultural inheritance · social cohesion · timeless values
generation, generations, regeneration, gapped, degeneration, generational, degenerative, regenerations, intergenerational