A few things come to mind when we think of generational thinking. Whether it be how we handle our technology or identify ourselves, there are a number of ways it can be used. However, there can be an abuse in generational thinking, as well. An example I’ve personally found on the internet is the response to Biden’s debt forgiveness for student debts. Most students rejoiced as they had their substantial debts paid off by this action, but others had a more negative reaction. They felt like this was unfair, as most of these people have already paid their debts off or wish they could have gotten their debt forgiven like this. The notion that previous generations think that this is unfair is understandable. I would think it would be unfair if I had already paid off student debt only to hear that more other students have been forgiven their debt. However, the difference in generational thinking here is mainly governed by an economic issue. There would also be the notion of how hard the people of the previous generation had to work off those student debts, while the people of the newer generation are having an easier time by being let off such debts. It seems like the Gen X-ers and Millenials are most affected by this issue, which may be a result of a period effect on their thinking. Pew Research Center defines a period effect as “events and circumstances, like economic booms for example, that have simultaneously impacted everyone, regardless of age” (Pew 4.) This is a contributing factor to the generation’s frustrations, as they would have gone through a more difficult time in the past to get get rid of their student debt. It does appear that the generational thinking that they have is a lot more negative towards the newer generation from an event like this, but some pay their dues and congratulate the people of the newer generation for getting their debts cleared. Time will tell as the situation, but the hope would be that there would be peaceful conservation about another circumstance like this. The government could possibly try to address the debts of the older generation in the future. For now, this is an example of generational thinking and how generations react to one another in the real world as new policies are made.
The main claim in this post is about how generational differences can occur as a result of economic issues. Rather than the way generations are viewed based on identities, the main thesis of this post shows that there are other things which separate generations. In this post the example is student debt forgiveness and how that creates divide between generations. Economic occurrences impact how different generations react to various things based on how it affects them.
Yes, and I believe it would be good to include some insight about how economic issues can create almost concrete divides between generations. This would occur especially when the occurrence favors one generation over the other. I think this would give more insight to the idea that regardless of which generations are in question certain things can create distinctions/gaps between generations
Jinay, I’ve been amazed by the intensity of this conversation about student debt. In a society where wealth is accumulated over long stretches of time, debt becomes potentially an issue of “inter-generational justice.”. I think one can find examples of both abuse and use of generational thinking in the debate. And I like your analysis because it suggests that both sides in the debate are using the generational lens–which doesn’t mean that both sides are equally correct; rather, it gives us a way to start comparing the two sides in more detail!
Writing note: using the specific linguistic distinction between “period effect” and “cohort effect” would clarify your analysis.