Promoting the co-existence of different generations based on dialogue and respect
Faced with the aging process of the Cuban population, issues like social cohabitation, conflicts and dialogues involving different generations loom large in the country
In recent years professors Vanessa Pérez Bocourt and master in science Teresa Orosa Fraíz from the School of Psychology, conducted a study entitled The inter-generational dialogue as a generator of quality of life in the elderly, in which a group of university students was selected as a sample, together with another from the University Elderly Faculty both groups from the University of Havana.
“Our experience has first enabled us to go deep into an issue of great social repercussion. Its inclusion in educational spaces has also had impact on the professional growth of young students and older adults, in the face of the necessary rapprochement it has caused in both generations. In third place it has led to personal reflection and the creative search for actions promoting the future bonds between young and old adults. Moreover, the experience has favoured personal growth and the understanding of inter-generational processes in its diversity, distancing and conflicts.”
At first, during the study, they assumed that the youngsters define themselves as elements shaping their generation being studious, joyful, free, clever, creative, rebellious; while considering the elderly inflexible, on the decline, deteriorating, disabled, nearing death, bearer of sad emotional expressions, anguish, sorrow and discouraged.
The elderly sample studied, deemed itself as socially active, dynamic, optimistic, eager for work, aware of its limitations, capacities and abilities.
The main conflicts identified by the youth when relating with the elderly, were rooted in the difference of habits (music, social norms, social respect), in adapting and accepting new trends and aesthetic taste, in the limited participation at different levels in the social scale, in the non-handover of power the elderly have held for ages.
In the study of the professors of the School of Psychology other sources of conflicts mentioned by the youth were the homophobic stance, the low acceptance of the youth’s sex initiation, the still underlying racial prejudices in the society, the differences in the political-ideological front and the incompatibility and interference of the proposals to iron out conflicts.
The main topics perceived by the elderly as generators of conflicts in the relation with the youth mostly resulted in the difference of interests and habits, the daring fashions and the outlandish aesthetic tastes of the youth, economic factors (lack of financial support and the role of youth in home economy), redistribution of physical spaces at home, lack of respect for the elderly, little attention or acceptance of expertise, disrespect for social norms because of lack of formal education and the little social demand thereof, the use of bad language, the constant social inconformity, opportunism and double standards of the youth.
At large both generations referred as generational conflicts: Exclusion vs. Inclusion (social participation), Imposition (power) vs. Autonomy, ethic inconsistence (double standards) vs. Authenticity.
The researchers noted that the participants were basically guided by social stereotypes and founded on the ignorance of the psychological characteristics which define each generation.
A Common Platform for Improvement of generational Relations
The lack of empathy between the generations studied was another proof which confirmed the need of continuing to go deeper into the generational issues. The respect in the treatment and the opinions held by one group or another in the relation are elements to keep deepening, they stated
Although the contents exposed of social representations and the cause of generational conflicts, featured in the differences of both generations, it was important to highlight confluence of criteria between the youth and the elderly.
The divide narrowed down notably by showing that they had a common platform of thoughts and reception on the need to improve generational relations, and give solutions to the conflicts which impede an effective rapprochement
The actions proposed by the youth were to share households, ask the rest of the family about what they have done lately, to sit around the table, call up the relatives they do not live with, set a day for going out together, to have a chat with the grandparents and make time to visit them in the home.
On the other hand, the elderly recommended systematic family meetings, chats with professionals of different generations, debates involving political and union leaders with members of youth’s grassroots organizations, to listen to the problems and concerns of the young generation at home and at work, and systematic union meetings with members of grassroots political organizations and young and retired workers, to keep chats around the table, letting aside the arrogance of the elderly, and talking to youngsters about different topics rather than lecturing them.
Our current challenge is to spot common grounds between the new generations and those who are part of an historical legacy, the researchers said, and maybe they will agree on the criterion that generational coexistence in Cuba must not be characterized by physical or psychological abuse against the elderly.
Translated by ESTI