Generational Stereotypes and Prejudices
Admittedly, I can definitely identify with some of the attributes. For example, no word describes me better than impatient. Every line at the supermarket checkout drives me crazy. I’m also no stranger to going to bed early – after all, I have to get up at 5:30 a.m. during the week. And without sleep I become even more impatient and then maybe I’m really less resilient. So I wouldn’t dismiss all prejudices. But for others I think: That’s not true at all.
Luckily, it’s not just my generation that struggles with prejudice. Baby boomers, for example, are said to struggle with all types of technology, while Generation X is said to only buy branded products. And the people of the newest Generation Alpha are already seen as “crisis children,” as my colleague Imre Grimm explains. Because they don’t know a world without crises.
You can read here which generation you belong to and what characteristics should be associated with it. And I assure you, you will find that characteristics of other generations will also apply to you. Then why is this in-generation thinking? From the point of view of some experts, it only conveys stereotypes that promote discrimination. In reality, there would hardly be any differences between generations. So no more digital natives, millennials or Together boomers! Actually, we should all be the “Together” generation.
Are you tired of spring? This phenomenon actually exists. “It is ultimately a process of the body adapting to the changing season,” explained psychotherapist Christa Roth-Sackenheim to my colleague Heidi Becker. Because in winter we are outside less and absorb less sunlight, so our brain releases more of the sleep hormone melatonin. In spring the body gradually gets going again, and with the time change the melatonin release also changes. Some experts would describe spring fatigue as a “leftover from hibernation,” says Roth-Sackenheim.
But what helps against spring fatigue? My colleague has put together several tips, for example: Ignore tiredness by actively moving outside and avoiding an afternoon nap. Drinking enough water and eating a balanced diet (with as much fruit and vegetables as possible) can also combat tiredness, as can a cold shower in the morning. Alternatively, acupressure can help – or peppermint chewing gum. However, prolonged fatigue and exhaustion can also be caused by depression, warns the expert.
With all love
Nina de Vries is a sexual assistant. She is even considered a pioneer of sexual assistance. For 22 years she has been supporting older people in need of care and people with disabilities in their sexuality – something that these vulnerable groups of people sometimes have difficulty with. In the latest edition of our sex podcast “Together, come,” de Vries explains what exactly her work as a sexual assistant looks like and why sexual accompaniment is still a taboo topic in Germany.
And again it is awake, screaming, crying, calling for mom and dad. At first it looked as if it had finally fallen asleep. So you get up again, go into the children’s room and try to bring some calm. Good sleep with a toddler? Many parents would probably say “forget it” at this point. But toddler teacher Susanne Mierau disagrees. In the RND interview, she gives tips on how both children and parents can relax and drift off into dreamland.
In order for children to fall asleep, they – like adults – need sleep pressure. So you should move as much as possible during the day. Then it is more likely that the first signs of tiredness will appear in the evening – such as rubbing your eyes, yawning or a glazed look. “It’s important to create beautiful rituals when falling asleep,” says Mierau. This could be, for example, a book that you read together before going to bed, or a massage.
The expert only recommends the concept of “co-sleeping”, i.e. parents and children sleeping together, “if it is okay for everyone involved”. If you prefer your child to sleep alone, you don’t have to feel guilty about it. Mierau makes it clear that parents also have a right to sleep well. To make the child feel comfortable alone in his room, the favorite cuddly toy or the bedside lamp can help. And then it’s best to proceed as follows: “First, as a parent, I stay with the child to fall asleep, then I can say: I’m going to do something in the kitchen for a moment and come back afterwards. This way the child can be sure that someone else will come and check on them.”
