Nowadays, you do not have to travel abroad to observe different values, lifestyles, etc. The world has become a global village. As I reflect on the years I have been in Turkey, I see it as a different place from what I saw when I first visited in 1979. I was surprised by how little Turks knew about other places when I lived in Turkey in the early 1980s.
One significant change I have noticed since then is that many Turkish children, teens and young adults are much more informed about many things in other parts of the world than they used to be. You could say we have the Internet to thank for this. I find as I talk with young Turks, they share many of the same viewpoints and interests as my nieces and nephews and their children back in the US.
We have all heard the terms boomer and Generation-X. Our heroes, aspirations and parents’ expectations change with each generation. Many of my friends, both Turkish and expats, who are parents and grandparents, share how they can no longer raise their children to share their beliefs by isolating them from opposing beliefs: They find it is simply is not physically possible. Part of this is because of the change in demographics and neighborhoods; the other part is global exposure through the Internet. You also just have to recognize that, these days, teens just want to make their own choices and decisions.
It is not unusual to see Turkish teens and young adults walking down the street or sitting on the bus listening to their MP3 players and caught up in their own little worlds. It is entertainment, but also a form of escapism, too. Their choice of music, hairstyle and clothing are often similar to those of an average person raised in the West. Similar to youth anywhere else, they go out into their peer groups and try out their values. Especially the ages from the mid-teens into the 20s are becoming important years for young Turks to see how their values compare and which will endure.
When I was growing up in the 1950s, the beginning of the generation gap had begun. You could hear songs playing over and over on the radio by Elvis Presley and Ricky Nelson and, later in the 1960s, by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Diana Ross, Mama and the Papas, Jimi Hendrix, etc. These artists sung lyrics that expressed what teens felt. The words of these songs were about going against the rules of society and the establishment and bringing about political and sexual revolutions; they were about drugs and eventually became pro-environment. Actually, the lyrics then were not much different from those today; they’re just sung in a different style now.
During the 1950s and early 1960s in the US, the average American was family-centered and the dream was to live in an affluent suburban neighborhood. We observe this desire in Turkey, Russia, China and other places now. In America, the 1960s were a decade of major change. You could say that virtually every value and sphere of life was examined and challenged. In many ways today you can observe this among the young people in Turkey. For America back then, it was the beginning of seeing materialism as the corrupting force of society. Greed and lust for power increased social inequalities for women and minorities. Many youth lost respect for authority. The youth also seriously began to reject adult values. Young adults demanded free speech, freedom to have sex and freedom to do their own thing. The rejection of the practice of traditional religion increased. Many young people turned to Eastern religions such as Buddhism, and movements like New Age, Transcendental Meditation, etc. In Turkey, you see young people choosing values that reflect either moderate Islam or the secular West.
Young people today in Turkey and around the world are more informed and face new challenges. Young people have major concerns, such as uncertainty about the future and obtaining a good job. They are concerned about increases in suicide and AIDS in the world and about the environment. They carry around their agendas on their smart phones to keep track of their activities and daily schedules.
The gap between generations of the same culture can be as challenging as living abroad in another culture.
Note: Charlotte McPherson is the author of “Culture Smart: Turkey, 2005.” Please keep your questions and observations coming: I want to ensure this column is a help to you, Today’s Zaman’s readers. Email: c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com
