blog post 2: youth of the 1960's compared with the Youthof today

The Meaning of  values among youth of 1960's compared with the same values of today

By Elijah Soussan

The 1960s was a time of change, a time where young people across America decided to reform and rebel against the previous generations that came before. (Making sense of the sixties).  This revolution by the youth of the 1960’s would continue to evolve and shape many values such as appearance  money, and happiness; causing a constant change of what each generation’s perception on these values which were once static and non-changeable in perception prior to the rebellion of many  youth of the 1960’s.

     

youth as hippies during the 1960's 

 youth of the sixties 

   

Prior to the revolution instilled by the hippies of the 1960’s, money was considered a very important value to have.(Making sense of the sixties).  Money was a value highly associated with the American dream, the dream that with enough hard work an individual could go from “rags to riches”. However during the emergence of the hippies, many youth had begun rejecting the entire idea of the American dream, stating it affected the peace and balance of harmony which hippie society claimed to have achieved (Class notes).  However once the 1960’s faded away and the hippies grew older, the value of money had gone through many changes with the newer generations to come.  It should be obvious that today’s millennial generation of youth has grown up quite the opposite from the youth of the 1960’s.  They have the idea that money is something that we should all strive for, making its importance known through rap music and the media. Youth, especially those attending universities, also worry heavily on money with an estimated 35 percent saying their finances were “traumatic or difficult” (American college health association, 2013)

idea of money with youth today

1960's youth rejecting american dream

                       

Youth of the 1960’s had the idea that appearance should be expressed as an expression of their rebellion against the previous generations. (Class notes).  For example Instead of combed and neat hair that the older generations prior to the 60’s possessed, they decided to keep it messy and wild, demonstrating the social rebellion which was occurring. (Making sense of the sixties).  However today youth do not have one fundamental social issue to rebel on, causing youth to dress differently based on the social circle they are a part of.   As a youth of the millennial generation, I think it should be quite evident that our society has way more than just one main social issue. These different social issues prevent us from our generation coming together as a group to face one common problem. 

1960's youth  rebellion in fashion

 Happiness in the 1960’s among youth was a value that was held very important as seen with the society which they were trying to establish which was primarily based on tranquility and being truly happy.( Class notes).  According to social behaviorist Wu Hong youth today are actually quite the opposite. According to him today’s young people are “often angry” (Hong, 8). 

anger popular among youth today

Values such as money, happiness, and appearance in 1960’s among youth in comparison to the youth of today are outstandingly different. The values have now taken on a different meaning as generational thinking has given youth of the millennial generation a different perception and attitudes on the same values present in youth of the sixties.