Jennie Bristow Knihy

Parenthood, we are told, requires a massive adjustment to our lives, emotions, and relationships, and we have to be taught how to deal with that. But can it really be so bad that we need constant counselling and parenting classes? It is a myth that today's parents are hopeless and in many ways, we have become too diligent, too hopeful of great outcomes and clear rewards, to the point where we lose ourselves in trying to provide some kind of professional service to our children. The current obsession with perfect parenting increases our insecurity and distrust of each other, and diminishes our authority over our kids. This book is about Why have we invited Supernanny into our living rooms - and how can we kick her out?

A decisive intervention in the war between generations, asking who stands to gain from conflict between baby boomers and millennials

How teenagers' experiences of lockdown will impact on their future.

The book critically examines the narrative that Baby Boomers have monopolized opportunities, leaving younger generations at a disadvantage. Bristow explores this discourse by connecting it to broader societal ambivalence regarding the legacy of the Sixties, analyzing how cultural perceptions shape intergenerational relationships and the impact of historical events on contemporary life.

Focusing on the relationship between generations, the book examines how society conveys knowledge across time. It reflects on Mannheim's essay, highlighting the contemporary academic and policy interest in generational dynamics. The author, Bristow, discusses how modern education, teaching, and parenting practices attempt to address the challenges of a risk society by creating an artificial separation between generations, ultimately questioning the effectiveness of these approaches in fostering genuine understanding and connection.

Employing a generational analysis, this book offers an original approach to the study of Higher Education and documents the changing nature of the relationship between academics and students. Examining wider issues of culture and socialisation, this is a timely contribution to current debates about the University around higher education.