Ending the Generation Gap
Historically, most youth have showed respect for their elders through simple gestures such as standing up when an elder enters a room or offering them a seat on public transportation. It was taken for granted as the thing to do. This tradition is less common now. While this may seem like a minor facet of the Generation Gap, it is indicative of a widening viewpoint held by differing generations.
Growing up in Toronto in the late 1950's, I remember most youth showing the elderly respect. On public transportation, many demonstrated that respect by standing or "rising up" and offering a seat to a senior; it was just taken for granted as the thing to do—a simple but meaningful way of honouring the "hoary head." Regrettably, that tradition is less common now.
What is often called the "generation gap" refers to differences in opinion and preferences that seem to exist between one generation and another, often involving facets of life such as clothing styles, music and entertainment, and the use of technology. The previous generation is seen as a group whose time has passed, to be supplanted by a newer and "improved" generation that considers the seniors of society a financial burden.
Most people accept average life expectancy as a general gauge of a country's overall health. In most parts of the ancient world, life was short—especially in cities. Average life expectancy in the Roman Empire as an example was around 50 years, when excluding high infant mortality rates.
Flash forward to the mid-20th century, where improvements in sanitation, medicine, and nutrition increased average life expectancy to around 60 years of age in many developed nations—like Canada . By 2011, that number had reached 81 ("Life Expectancy," conferenceboard.ca). Today in Canada, the number of people 65 years old and over exceeds those 14 years old and younger .
According to the National Post,
"StatsCan said the latest figures were driven by a trend that took root in 2011 and has continued to accelerate—the aging of the baby boomers… Baby boomers now account for 30 per cent of the senior demographic, the agency said," (McQuigge, Michelle, "Canadian seniors outnumber children for the first time in recorded history, StatsCan says," NationalPost.com, September 29, 2015).
The ever-growing baby boomer population strains and burdens Canada's pension support system. The eligibility age for Old Age Security (OAS) and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is 65 years, just a year younger than the average lifespan in Canada when the plan was first introduced. Since then, the average lifespan has increased by almost 20 years. The primary reason however, as to why the large number of older "baby boomers" are stressing the system, is due to the fact that younger generations are not having enough children. Falling birth rates over the past 40 years mean fewer young workers and less contribution to the economy .
Is there discrimination toward the elderly, often referred to as ageism? Does the "generation gap" reinforce this sentiment of scorn towards those who are advanced in years?
In a 2014 article on the website o.canada.com, David Kates asks,
"What do you think of when we talk about seniors? Do you think of someone who is rich with life experience, perhaps a grandparent, working hard in the community to share his or her expertise and wisdom with younger generations? Do you think of a poor, helpless old man or woman, isolated and unable to leave their house?" ("Aging in Canada: How well are we treating our elders?" June 13, 2014).
He goes on to illustrate that a severe problem has developed:
A 2013 report on ageism from the International Federation on Ageing (or IFA) illustrated that "63 per cent of seniors, aged 66 or older, said they had been treated differently because of their age, while a third of all respondents admitted to having treated someone differently because of their age. Among Gen X and Y respondents, the number was 43 and 42 per cent, respectively. Over one in five respondents, furthermore, said they believed older Canadians were a burden on society [emphasis ours]."
Kates points to Greg Shaw, the head of the IFA, who says that such unwarranted discrimination against the elderly is widespread in Canada—something Shaw hopes to combat by bringing the young and the old together in shared activities.
In ancient Israel. instruction was given regarding respect for the elderly:
"You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man…" (Leviticus 19:32).
There was a time when the elderly were more highly regarded, respected, and consulted, but now they are too often neglected by a society that wishes to "move on".
Are the oldest members of our society still a valuable resource? Can they still be contributors in our society? The growing number of seniors —a group referred to as the "hoary-headed"—have contributed greatly to the country, and many are still gainfully employed. Taking time to access the advice and experience of people who have achieved much in their lives makes the minds and memories of this demographic of great potential worth, if the young will value it.
Hopefully there will be a future when the "generation gap" will be no more and where the old and young will mix together with mutual love and respect.