Values And Attitudes Of Today's Generation example essay topic

Over the past 40 years the world had changed in countless ways that directly affect the values and attitudes of today's generation. The majority of these changes are negative, giving children the wrong perspective of positive attitudes and good wholesome values that is so important for the future. Since the majority of a persons values and attitudes are acquired early in life, children are the most influenced by the issues affecting the world today. Because of the high demand of today's society, most families need two working parents to enhance their income. Unfortunately, in single parent families, which are now more common, these demand are intensified.

In the past, nuclear families with a working father always had a mother around for their children's supervision. Now, while parents are working to support their families, there is a lack of supervision during significant periods of time children are basically free to do what they choose. The children of the two parent-working family are called "latch key kids". The time these children have alone give them the opportunity to engage in behavior that would be unacceptable if properly supervised. Another factor, peer pressure has always existed in American society. I believe that it now has a greater impact on children because of the proportionally lesser impact the working parents have on their lives.

The need of children to be accepted by their peer group can be a very powerful force in their formative years. Unfortunately, minimal levels of supervision result in children being exposed to peers of different and often lesser values. This peer pressure will result in the acceptance of these lesser values by the entire peer group. One of the biggest factors in today's world that influence attitudes and values is the entertainment industry. Television, movies and music start to effect people from the time they are babies until they are teenagers and beyond. Compared to television years ago, the standards have drastically decreased.

In the 60's and 70's the language and subject matter in television shows was a lot less provocative and belligerent and a lot more civil. The biggest issue concerning today's television is sex and violence. The influence of these two prevelant aspects of the entertainment media has resulted in a less civilized and more aggressive behavior in today's children. This unfortunate reality also results in the desensitization of children to the pain and suffering of others. Modern movies, containing violent and sexual material, are generally viewed by an older audience of children. These still impressionable youths, although older, are very much influenced by their exposure to this type of entertainment.

Today's music, especially heavy metal and rap, are filled with profanity and extremely antisocial messages. These issues are and not limited to murder, gangs, drugs, degradation of women and sexual promiscuity. Profanity was not allowed in movies or television until the late 50's, even then it was in progressive and varying degrees. Sex was never exploited, it was only inferred.

Ricky and Lucy even had separate beds! Much of today's music, which children listen to, is filled with the most vile profanity that years ago would not dare be uttered in mixed company. Now these words are generally accepted in a growing segment of the population resulting in this profanity becoming part of the vocabulary of today's youth. The impact on today's adolescence stemming from all types of music is profound. Crime, drugs, sex and violence have of course always existed. Parents of previous generations of children realized the negative impact it had on still developing young minds so these subjects were considered taboo and a then more civil society tried to protect the children from being exposed to this type of behavior.

Seeing that values or morals are at the core of religious beliefs, something must be said of today's attitudes towards religious instructions. Generations ago peoples lives revolved around their churches. Religious schools though good values and prayer was permitted in public schools. Starting in the 60's people have begun to slowly turn away from the church. Participation in church activities declined at the same time there was a push nation wide to enforce the separation of church and state clause of the Constitution. Needless to say the decline of religious participation resulted in a mirror like decline in values.

This decline began with the parents of today, who were then children. If today's parents have lower morals and values then their parents did, what are we passing on to our children? All of these issues that are prominent in the society today create and detail the values and attitudes of our future. This is what the world has evolved to and I do not believe that there is specific way to change these current problems or influences.

Personally, I know that I will raise my children with the same great values and attitudes my parents raised me with.