Talking+bout+my+Generation....+Same,+Same...+but+Different

Leisa Windley  n7529163   Tutor: Katie Page **//'Talking 'bout my Generation: Same,//** **//Same... but Different.'//**

// This article discusses the health issue of experimental and risk taking behaviours of Generation X and Generation Y. It will be argued whether or not these behaviours are indicative of one generation in particular, or whether they are stereotypical of youth regardless of the generation. The comparison between these two generations will be displayed through two images. The first image displaying the Woodstock music festival in 1985 representing Generation X and the second representing Generation Y during the Big Day Out in 2010. A literature review and theorist analysis of Bourdieu and Durkheim will reaffirm the argument that such behaviours are not a generational issue at all, but rather a health problem surrounding youth within society. //

__** Artefact **__

These two images of the Woodstock music festival in 1985 and the Big Day Out in 2010 are representative of our social and cultural world today. They are symbolic of the stereotypical behaviours of youth. Specifically, that youth are risk takers when it comes to alcohol consumption, drug use, smoking and sexual activity, all of which are behaviours associated with attendees at music festivals. These behaviours are a major health issue concerning Generation Y, as they are the current generation occupying the youth age group. However these behaviours are not a new rendition and therefore cannot be considered a Generation Y health issue but rather a health issue surrounding youth. This is evident through the similar representation of the young people depicted in both photographs. Both images are of two different generations, Woodstock 1985 depicting Generation X (1965-1979) and the Big Day Out 2010 representing Generation Y (1980-1994) yet there appears to be little differences in the representation of both generations (McCrindle, 2006).

__** Theoretical Analysis **__

Experimental and risk taking behaviours such as alcohol consumption, drug use, smoking and sexually transmitted diseases are often associated with behaviours stereotypical of Generation Y. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS] 2007 national drug survey showed that 18-30year olds had the highest alcohol consumption rates of any other age group. This same survey showed 23% of young people aged 17-30years reported using illicit drugs in the last 12 months. In 2004-05 the ABS recorded that smoking prevalence was again highest in the youth age group. These rates clearly provide evidence that supports the fact that the youth within Generation Y are the mostly likely to part take in these experimental and unhealthy behaviours. However, this does not prove that these behaviours are a Generation Y problem. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare drug survey in 1998, showed the alcohol consumption, drug use and smoking rates were highest in the 17-29 age group. This age group is representative of the youth of Generation X, it provides evidence for the idea that these experimental and unhealthy behaviours are reflective of the youth age group not the generation.

Durkheim’s theory of mental categories refers to our cognitive architecture. He theorized that our judgements are made up of essential ideas based on categories of understanding, categories such as ideas of time, class, cause, substance, personality etc. Mental classifications are based on a framework that provides a definitive form with which many categories of thought can fall into so long as they are fitting with the societies model. Durkheim’s theory that our basic categories of thought are based on society as its model means that these mental perceptions are learned and reinforced through one’s participation within society (Bergesen, 2004). This idea that we shape our identities through societies preconceived ideas can perhaps explain why youth participate in experimental and risk taking behaviours. This is further supported through research that suggests that our sense of identity is based on the norms, values and attitudes of society. These preconceived ideas of particular groups in society construct a stereotype (Bukin, 2011). In this case a negative stereotype of youth as irresponsible and risk takers likely to experiment and participate in risky behaviours. Such behaviours have been normalized by society as indicative of youth. Literature confirms that participation in experimental and risk taking behaviours is the most prevalent during the 17-30 year age bracket (Reyna et al., 2006). This statement reinforces the social perceptions of this age group by society, resulting in the negative stereotyping of the Generation Y youth (Bukin, 2011). It is also important to understand the irrationality of the decisions made by 17-30 year olds that often results in such risky behaviours, through the theory of evolution and adaptive behaviours associated with this theory (Reyna et al., 2006). These decisions can be attributed to social status and roles associated with being part of a group in society therefore creating a sense of identity (Anderson, Kirkham, Browne & Lynam, 2007).

Bourdieu’s theories are based around three main terms habitus, capital and field. Habitus refers to the unconscious identity that is based on our physical and social environment, and how these environments influence how we behave, think and feel. They also create a social structure with which we feel pressured to conform too, as it is what is perceived as socially acceptable. It is this social structure that creates a sense of belonging within society. This can be linked to the way society has established this negative stereotype of Generation Y as risk takers. This stereotype is created through these preconceived notions of youth and behaviours typically associated this age group. These physical and social environments within society therefore influencing upon youth’s perceptions of their place in society and how they should behave think and feel. The pressure to conform to these social structures can also be attributed to why youth are even more likely to participate in experimental and risk taking behaviours if they are in a group. There are four factors that represent Bourdieu’s theory of capital they are economic, cultural, social and symbolic. These are commodities that people strive for in order to maintain their place within society. The attainment of such commodities creates certain levels of class within society as these commodities allow us to place ourselves on a continuum in relation to each other. This is another way that we grasp our place in society. Field is the final term Bourdieu used to base his theories upon and can be described as an area of speciality. This links how differing levels of capital influences upon possible profits and gains within the field (Veenstra, 2010). This idea of possible profits and gain within the field can be linked to what youth perceive as rational behaviours. Such rational behaviours are dependent on factors such as immediate pleasure, presents of peers and the trade off between risks and benefits of the behaviour (Reyna et al., 2006). The main limitations of the studies discussed is that they do not suggest possible changes for the future, that may work towards eradicating this health issue surrounding 17-30 year olds. Bourdieu’s theory also fails to propose any possibilities for change in regard to how people approach their place in society based on his theory of habitus, capital and field (DiGiorgio, 2009).

**__ Cultural Analysis __**

It is important that unhealthy behaviours such as alcohol consumption, drug use, smoking and sexual activities associated with experimental behaviours among youth be addressed. This is because a reduction in such behaviours would have a positive impact upon society in regard to reducing disease, injury and human suffering associated with risky behaviours (Reyna et al., 2006).These behaviours are regularly reported through various media outlets, often representing Generation Y in a negative way. However many of these reports are describing the actions of the youth within society, 17-30 year olds. This is where the negative stereotype of Generation Y occurs, as this is the generation primarily made up of societies youth today (17-30 year olds). It seems that the behaviours of youth today are reflective of Generation Y. However, is this an accurate assessment of Generation Y? Research reinforces the fact that experimental and risk taking behaviours are most commonly associated with societies youth. The irrational decision-making by youth, often resulting in risk taking behaviours is due to their incomplete brain maturation. This is why experimental and risk-taking behaviours associated with alcohol and drugs is highest in youth rather than adults. Adults are able to appropriately differentiate between non-risk and risky situations (Reyna et al., 2006).

Durkheim’s theory of mental representations and the idea that they are based on participation in society supports the reasons for such behaviours. Categories of understanding such as ideas of time, class and personality are all factors that influence upon youth and their view on their place within society (Bergesen, 2004). Bourdieu’s theory also reinforces these youth perceptions based on how they interpret their place within society through the theories of habitus and capital in particular (DiGiorgio, 2009). Therefore the negative stereotype created surrounding Generation Y based on their behaviours is irrelevant when you consider what literature says about the thought processes of youth and the statistics on Generation X and Y. It should then be evident that Generation X when they were 17-30 years of age, did not behave any differently to the way the youth of Generation Y do today. The changes that have occurred that have influenced upon Generation Y possibly making this generation seem different to previous one’s is the advancement in technology. Generation X and Y are no different in their unhealthy and risk taking behaviours, instead they interact differently, and they do so through social medias consistent with popular culture today.

The Internet specifically, Facebook is possibly the best example of differing social contexts in which people can create their identities not only within society but also within the cyber world. The same principles of how we interpret our place in society and how we do so through societies social construct can also be applied to the online social world. The way that users of Facebook can gain a sense of where they are positioned within the social hierarchy of the cyber world can be best explained through the number of friends that people have on Facebook. Someone who has too many friends resembles someone whose relationships have little meaning, someone with too few friends could reflect a person who is perhaps not cool (Freishtat & Sandlin, 2010). Based on these social identities created through technological mediums is different to how the youth of Generation X communicated their identities however, it is only the way in which they created their identities that differs.

__** Analysis of Artefact **__ The two images of Woodstock in 1985 representative of Generation X and the Big Day Out in 2010 portraying Generation Y. These images are good representations depicting experimental and risk taking behaviours associated with music festival attendance. Behaviours such as alcohol consumption, drug use, smoking and sexual activity are unhealthy behaviours which are said to be reflective of the health issue surrounding Generation Y. However, I believe that this is not a Generation Y issue but a health issue surrounding youth 17-30 year olds. I think that Bourdieu and Durkheim’s theory of social constructs of our identities and our metal categories are important in the understanding of how youth perceive their place in society. The behaviours that have been normalized through the preconceived ideas of society on youth can be linked to what youth deem as rational behaviours stereotypical of their age group (Stanovich, 2006). Statistics on alcohol consumption, drug use and smoking rates are highest during the 17-30 year age bracket. Statistics of these behaviours of Gen Xs during the 17-30 year age bracket shows this and therefore providing evidence suggesting that there is no difference between Gen X and Gen Ys unhealthy behaviours. Research further supports this notion that it is not a Generation Y health issue with evidence supporting that experimental and risk taking behaviours are most likely to occur during the 17-30 year age bracket (Reyna et al., 2006). I believe that music festivals are a good case and point of this health issue of experimental and risk taking behaviours. I have learned that Bourdieu and Durkheim’s theories are important in understanding the impact that society has and how we view our place within it.

**__ References __** Anderson, J., Kirkham, S., Browne, A & Lynam, M. (2007). Continuing the dialogue: postcolonial feminist scholarship and Bourdieu- discourses of culture and points of connection. //Nursing Inquiry, 14//(3), 178-188. [|http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/ehost/detail?vid=6&hid=107&sid=9b73e794-ff8a-4ebc-8c12-cca8269534ab%40sessionmgr110&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=afh&AN=26260923] Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2008). //Australian Social Trends, 2008.// Cat. No. 4102.0. Canberra: ABS. Retrieved from: [] Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2006). //Alcohol Consumption in Australia: A snapshot, 2004-05.// Cat. No. 4832.0.55.001. Canberra: ABS. Retrieved from: [] Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2001). //Illicit Drug Use, Sources of Australian Data, 2001.// Cat. No. 4808.0. Canberra: ABS. Retrieved from: [] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2000). //1998 National Drug Strategy Household Survey.// Canberra. Retrieved from: [] Bergesen, A. (2004). Durkheim’s theory of mental categories: A review of the evidence. //Department of Sociology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 30//, 395-408. doi: 10.1146/annurev.soc.30.012703.110549 Bukin, V. (2011). The self-identification of provincial young people in the context of social-status affiliation. //Russian Education and Society, 53//(6), 29-41. DOI 10.2753/RES1060-9393530602 DiGiorgio, C. (2009). Application of Bourdieuian theory of the inclusion of students with learning/physical challenges in multicultural school settings. //International Journal of Inclusive Education, 13//(2), 179-194. DOI: 10.1080/13603110701350622 Freishtat, R & Sandlin, J. (2010). Shaping youth discourse about technology: Technological colonization, manifest destiny, and the frontier myth in fcebook’s public pedology. //American Education Studies Association, 46//, 503-523. DOI: 10.1080/00131946.2010.510408 McCrindle, M. (2006). New generations at work. //McCrindle Research.//[] Reyna, V & Farley, F. (2006). Risk and rationality in adolescent decision making. //A Journal Of The Association For Psychological Science, 7//(1), 1-49. DOI: 10.1111/j.1529-1006.2006.00026.x Stanovick, K. (2006). Rationality and the adolescent mind. //Psychological Science In The Public Interest, 7//(1) [|http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/ehost/detail?vid=9&hid=107&sid=9b73e794-ff8a-4ebc-8c12-cca8269534ab%40sessionmgr110&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=afh&AN=22407778] Veenstra, G. (2010). Culture and class in Canada. //Canadian Journal of Sociology, 35//(1), 83-111. []

= ** Reflections ** = Tim Long You make an interesting argument regarding the public health issue surrounding technology in today’s society and you had some really great information to support what you were saying. By having read this it has made me realise just how much of a public health issue technology is for Generation Y and the importance of the issue. I like the creativity in your choice of artefact as it is a very good representation of the convenience of technology today. All together a very well thought out discussion of the issue, well done!

Nicole Gunthorpe I really enjoyed your discussion regarding women in sport. It was a unique way of addressing the issue and more importantly a well thought out discussion of the public health issue surrounding the lack of participation of women in sport, reasons that caught my attention. I particularly liked your choice in your chosen artefact as it is a fantastic representation of your argument. Your analysis of the issue was well written and very thought provoking, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done!