Inter-generational Clash: Career Paths Chosen by Parents and their Influence on the Youth. A Case of JC De Graft’s Sons and Daughters.

Growing up in the early 2000s, one of the most commonly used words in Tanokrom Zongo was "Tankas". It bounced on our tongues and flipped out our lips unapologetically on a daily basis. On one occasion, my childhood best friend and I were questioned by his mother about what we'd want to become in future. Axiomatically, we both blurted out the word "Tankas". His mother, obviously infuriated, reprimanded us and forced us to say: doctor and pilot. That very day, whenever I recollect it, I believe, marked my awakening to the brutal contrasts between our generation and that of our parents. "Tankas" is a colloquial word that was derived from "Town Council"; a corrupted form of it due to the inability to pronounce English words correctly. These people's work was to move from suburb to suburb inspecting the environment and charging those found guilty of being extremely dirty.

As kids growing up in that era, what we enjoyed about them was that
they moved in cliques, like we did, and were always generous to us; that generosity earned their profession an enviable place in our hearts so much so that without having a clear idea of what it entailed, we were passionate about wanting to join their ranks. At that early stage, for us, career was only reflective of passion, but for our parents, it had to be an embodiment of prestige and monetary value.

I recount that anecdote from my early days to make the point that it is far too common that parents choose career paths they so admire for their children without considering their interests, passion and capabilities. As devastating as this can be, it only points to the desperation of parents who forcefully choose career paths for their wards in wanting them to live their lives as extensions of the parents’. When this happens, they get to make decisions and control everything from behind the scenes as if it is their own lives. Such parents are narcissists and the consequences of their unbridled narcissism are always bore by the youth.

Published in the 1960s, JC De Graft's Sons and Daughters depicts a typically post-colonial Ghanaian family whose head, James Ofosu, a Semiliterate and authoritarian, has a habit of choosing courses of study for his children with very little consideration to their choices. The father of four has been successful in executing his plans with his two elderly children, George and Kofi. George becomes a medical doctor and Kofi remains on the path to becoming a chartered accountant. For him, a career's prestige goes hand-in-hand with its ability to rake in money. In his own words, "money is what matters, money is power!". A huge challenge is thrown at him as he finds his two other children opting for courses that conflict with his utopian conception of prestige in relation to career paths.

Though he acknowledges that monetarily they have prospects of fetching huge rewards, his reluctance lingers because, apparently, they conflict with his idea of what ideally prestigious careers are. Aaron, the youngest, is hell bent on reading a programme in painting whilst his elder sister, Maanan, wants to read traditional dance drama. This sets the tone of conflict between the two generations: that of James and his children.

As evidenced by Maanan's later entanglement with Lawyer Bonu, parents imposing career paths on the youths often forces them into extremely polarized situations that mostly end up traumatizing them emotionally and beyond. When pushed further, dreams are forcefully put on hold and forced to wither with the passing of time. Referencing the time Maanan spent working in Lawyer Bonu's office instead of pursuing her passion and honing her dancing skills, one can say that such parental impositions do nothing than rob the youth, in a gradual manner, of their talents and passions–especially if they are ones that require constant practise and indulgence in order to be sustained.

Concluding, I would say that the best way is the middle way. The younger and older generations should be encouraged to engage in dialogues aimed at bridging the generational gap and bringing to the limelight the various perspectives at play. The younger generation should be made to understand that the older generation makes such impositions with nothing but foresight and good intentions, albeit, intentions seldom affect outcomes and consequences. Also, the older generation should rid themselves of the myopia of prestige and their lack of consideration when it comes to what their wards are passionate about. When both parties are able to see from each other’s respective perspective, there will be better ways of resolving the many inter-generational conflicts and ensuring that the youths, whose lives are under discussion, are awarded the required priority and not have their lives pushed into jeopardy.