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Generation and discourse in working life stories.
1Sociology, Carleton University. karenrebeccafoster@gmail.com
The British Journal of Sociology
|May 30, 2013
Summary
This study explores generation as discourse, not just cohort. Understanding generational thought and its effects is crucial for analyzing social change and perceived generational conflict.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Scholars caution against conflating 'generation' with 'cohort' due to analytical and political risks.
- Cohort analysis is a common but potentially limiting method for studying generational differences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose understanding generation as a matter of discourse, supplementing the view of generations as definitive groups.
- To analyze how discursive forms of generation shape perceptions of difference, agency, and social change.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of interviews with 52 Canadians.
- Application of James' principle of pragmatism to generational theory.
Main Results:
- Discursive constructions of generation in narratives often frame difference, agency, and social change in atomistic or voluntaristic terms.
- Extreme manifestations of these themes are linked to perceptions of generational conflict.
Conclusions:
- Viewing generation as a contingent 'thought' with social 'effects' is as vital as examining its structural aspects.
- A discursive approach enriches the sociological understanding of generations and their perceived conflicts.
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