In any society, several aspects go systematically and keep changing with the current changes in the world. The factors are the political changes, economic development, and cultural growth. From one generation to another it is not possible to have the same trends that were in the previous. One of the main similarities in the Chinese people is the regard for family. There is a significant value that is placed on being related by blood or even distantly (Sun & Wang 72). Despite the fact that the younger generation seems to be more secular, they still believe in family and everything it represents (Sun & Wang 73). However, current trends indicate that the younger generation has taken a more individualistic approach to family. They value family but the not the old extended family aspect. This change gives a challenge to the older generation who were brought up differently and would like to raise their children as they were. But with the understanding that things have significantly developed they have had to adjust. The people are more educated now. They have to keep their jobs. Some have to move to where the jobs take them. The current modernization does not give proper basis for the previously valued family living. It promotes individualist and secular lifestyles
China is said to have a population of 500 Million people. Who are under the age of 30 years. In this population in 2015, there was an increase from 33.7 Million Internet users to 513 Million in 46 cities (Bergstrom para 2). This translates to the number of young people that are currently connected by technology to other parts of the world. Different from the grandparents’ era where communication was not refurbished. Making the Chinese people more vulnerable to change. Although the Chinese people have tried to keep the country from the Western civilization. Some of the things have changed. Previously the people had strong beliefs in religion and their ideology known as the Chinese thought. They had strong works of art that represented who they are, poetry, music and ceramics. Food was a major part of the society in daily activities as well as special celebrations. The people of the 1930s are thought to be a new era is the culture of China (Meissner 45). They sought to change few things. Modernization was steadily taking the center of global activities and changes were implemented to the current generation which just like the old holds some of its culture. Modern chefs maintain their original recipes. Artists still draw some of the works of the past. The fashion trends in as much as they have changed they keep a feel of China. China has become a modern nation that still holds close the previous cultural beliefs.
Politics of the world have changed significantly over the past years. The previous generations were marred with civil wars, but the current era is fighting different kinds of wars. Majorly depoliticalization, crimes, private and predatory issues unlike the old which were even noble, ideological and collective. The main similarity is that there has always been a challenge in power transition from the earlier leaders which has been carried to the current leadership. The country has challenges in the creation of adequate power change institutions from one generation to the next. It happened back when the leaders were a monarch. There were many empresses of Chinese Empire. China practiced female infanticide for the purpose of managing future heir so as to ensure they planned the next leader to be male strategically. In the 1930s, Mao Zedong was the leader and was described as the communist who led people during the era of the Long March. The leader was viewed by the people as a form of god. The current leadership which is the 18th Party Congress that came to rule in 2012 is referred to as the fifth generation. The leadership now is accused of being a more educated lot. With most growing from the old renown and associated career choice of being engineers and becoming more of managers. The primary challenge faced currently is that the leaders will be replaced soon a new generation will take authority over what they have transformed the country to be. The modernization of systems which they hope that will not be undone to help the people of China stay relevant in world politics.
China has had a significant change over the generations. The current generation has shifted and become more modernized. The contributing factors being that the social transformation has played a major part. Politics have also changed with people moving from the perception of leaders as gods to the current ones who are publicly corrected when the need arises. Culturally much has changed as well with trends of fashion being different and more modern but still they have the old touch that connects them to China.
Work Cited
Bergstrom, Mary. Chinese Culture and Generation Gap: What the West is Missing. Bullish on Books. CNBC. (http://www.cnbc.com/id/46996458).
Meissner, Werner. China’s Search for Cultural and National Identity from the Nineteenth Century to the Present. China Perspectives.2006 (https://chinaperspectives.revues.org/3103).
Sun, Jiaming and Wang, Xun, Value Differences Between Generations in China: A Study in Shanghai. Journal of Youth Studies. 2010. 13:1,65-81
