How do older generations' experiences of repression contrast with younger generations' culture of expression?
I will discuss how different generations have experienced and expressed their feelings about repression and freedom of expression. Repression is defined as the act of keeping something from being seen or heard. Older generations have been more repressed than younger generations when it comes to expressing themselves freely, but they also had less access to resources that would allow them to be expressive in the ways that young people can today. Younger generations are able to express themselves in many ways through technology, such as social media, blogging platforms, and video games. They also have access to more information than previous generations due to technological advances.
Some argue that this has led to a lack of self-control and an increase in narcissistic behavior. Some suggest that older generations were better at balancing repression with expressiveness than young people are now because they learned to cope with limited opportunities for creativity without becoming consumed by it. This idea is explored further below.
Older generations have lived through times when there was more government censorship and suppression of speech, which resulted in less opportunity for personal expression compared to what is available today. They grew up during periods where public protests against authority figures were not commonplace, so they did not feel comfortable speaking out against those in power. The internet makes it easier for younger generations to voice their opinions on social issues without fear of punishment or retaliation, even if these views are controversial or unpopular.
In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation allowing American citizens to sue broadcasters who broadcast indecent material before 10 pm. The new technology allowed individuals to watch whatever they wanted whenever they desired. These changes ushered in a new era of sexual freedom and experimentation that had previously been unavailable. Today's youth enjoy more leisure time, more entertainment options, and greater access to diverse ideas about sex, gender roles, and relationships. Young people can explore topics that were once taboo such as polyamory, kink, BDSM, and other non-traditional forms of intimacy. Older generations may find this shocking or immoral due to their own cultural backgrounds, but some argue that this is part of the natural progression of humanity and should be embraced rather than feared.
Older generations often believe that young people lack self-control when expressing themselves freely online or offline. They worry that narcissism is becoming an epidemic among millennials because everyone wants attention from others regardless of how much effort was put into getting it, which leads to poor behavior both online and offline. Some suggest that older generations learned how to handle repression better than current ones do by finding ways around censorship through subtextual writing or secret codes used during World War II. Others say older generations had to work harder for everything, including creative outlets, which made them appreciate what little opportunities they had even more. A study published in Psychology Today found that people who grew up without many resources tend to value those things more later on in life than those who did not experience scarcity early on in life. This could explain why older generations were less likely to engage in risky behaviors like drug use, alcohol abuse, or promiscuity despite living under stricter social norms compared to today's youth.
While younger generations have access to more freedom of expression than ever before thanks to technology advances, some question whether this has led to a decrease in self-discipline and an increase in narcissism. Older generations may view these changes as negative due to their own cultural backgrounds but acknowledge that times change over time. The key is learning to find balance between repression and expressiveness so one can maintain healthy relationships with family members and friends while still enjoying the benefits of modern society's freedoms.
How do older generations' experiences of repression contrast with younger generations' culture of expression?
Older generations have experienced a society where expressing one's thoughts was seen as disrespectful towards authority figures and sometimes led to punishment. They were taught that certain topics such as politics or religion should not be discussed openly and that it was important to maintain a sense of decorum in public. On the other hand, younger generations have grown up in a culture where social media has allowed them to easily express their opinions on these topics and many others online without fear of retribution.