Generational Change (1)

docx

School

Colorado State University, Global Campus *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

101

Subject

Political Science

Date

Oct 30, 2023

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by JudgeSnow11362

1 Generational Change Maria Battaglia Colorado State University Global POL101: Political Science Cynthia Counsil Aug 27, 2023

2 Generational Change At some point in our lives, we all get involved in politics as we are constantly exposed to varying worldviews. It is an inevitable occurrence. Recognizing how politics affects us is important. As a Gen Z, I interviewed my mother, a baby boomer, and discovered that back in her time, politics was viewed differently. Even now she has a different view on politics especially with the way things have happened recently with our former president Trump. First Learning About and Involvement in Politics My mother was an immigrant from Mexico, who came here to the U.S. when she was 5 years old and grew up in a small town in Texas called Comfort. She grew up with her father and mother talking about politics and was taught that it was a very important thing in the U.S. My grandfather was a passionate community member with a love for history. He used his knowledge to discuss politics and current events with people. At the time my mother came to the U.S., my grandfather was already a citizen of the U.S. He would attend town halls and meetings to make sure his voice was heard and his ideas were taken into account. When my grandfather would go to these meetings my mother would somewhat tag along and would listen to what everyone had to say. Politics as a Young Adult When my mother was a young adult, she gained her knowledge about politics by watching television with her father. He taught her about various topics, such as the proceedings needed for acts to pass and the functioning of elections. She realized that having her father explain such important aspects of politics made her more knowledgeable. He also emphasized the importance of gaining more information and fully understanding political issues so that she could passionately defend her opinions during debates. Voorpostel (2015) says that parents who

3 "provide their children with relevant knowledge about participation, and political and civic involvement is more likely to be discussed at home when it is actually practiced" (p.297). My grandparents, who were actively involved in politics and taught their own children as well, are an example of the intergenerational transmission of political engagement. However, their daughter, my mother, was not as passionate about politics, despite having learned a lot from her father. She enjoyed spending time with him and listening to what he had to say, but her enthusiasm for politics was relatively low. Instead, she preferred to engage in activities that other young people were doing. It wasn't until later that I realized it may not have just been a case of peer influence, but rather that the government itself failed to capture the interest of young adults. Vaillant states that " the responsibility for the lack of interest in formal political participation should be placed on the political system and the political parties themselves, which have not been effective or efficient in attracting young people" (p. 388). Currently, my mother uses both television and social media to stay up-to-date on political events. She finds social media to be a fast and convenient source of information, which is often quicker than waiting for afternoon news broadcasts. She also tends to use Yahoo News the most to find all the up-to-date information. With new technology it is more convenient to look things up on her phone, she can explore multiple articles on a topic and gain valuable information from different perspectives, which helps her understanding of the issue at hand. She prefers having multiple sources of information, enabling her to form opinions faster than relying solely on television broadcasts. Learning About and Involvement in Politics As a young adult, my mother was very knowledgeable about politics, but her interest had not peaked. She had very little participation in politics besides the times she would go to meetings with her father. She didn't see how she could make changes as a young adult.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

4 Now my mother has a lot of interest in politics because she can see how it will affect her children and grandchildren. She happily speaks up on things she agrees and disagrees with. My mother has the passion my grandfather taught her when it comes to topics that she feels very strongly about. She votes at every election and believes that every vote counts and if you believe in something you need to have your voice heard. Conclusion I have learned many things after having a dissucsuion with my mother about her interest and how she participates in politics. I knew she had a pretty good understanding of how politics work and how informed she was but she was never really as interested in politics till her older age. I have always thought she has been involved in politics but after having a family and raising kids she has changed her view of life. If people dont take part in politics in this country and dont stand up for what they believe in, it could potentially affect the future generations.

5 References Vaillant, G. (n.d.). The politics of temporality: An analysis of leftist youth politics and ... https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14742837.2012.723367 Voorpostel, M., & Coffé, H. (2014, September 26). The effect of parental separation on young adults’ political and civic participation - social indicators research . SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11205-014-0770-z