I have just come back from a nice week in the USA, visiting San Fransisco and the gambling hell they call Las Vegas.
Now, when I managed to wrestle myself away from the slot machines and dancing girls, I had a good look at the locals and how they interact -sort of like a modern day Desmond Wilcox.
When I was there, I noticed one thing which will probably anger any American reading this post.
I did not got the sense that Americans valued their role as grandparents as much as we do.
Whilst they revel in their age and the rights they get because they are xx years old, I didn’t see many grandparents with their grandchildren and the media was slightly bereft of content or advertising around grandparenting, which shocked me a bit considering how savvy the American media normally is when it comes to identifying groups they can target advertising to.
Maybe I was looking in the wrong place and, let’s face it, Vegas isn’t really the place to take kids, but I really do get the sense that being a grandparent matters more this side of the pond.
As ever, let me know what you think by adding a comment below.
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Hey Dude
Vegas and San Fran are not America. Try taking a slow trip through the Mid West communities or into the South. Vegas is not about intergenerational life .Its the American Dream gone warped
and twisted.
Hi Paul,
Totally agree with you on the last point – LV can't be used as a litmus test for normal life in the US. And you are right to say that you probably cannot judge the whole of a nation by one or two places. But, I did watch a lot of TV and listen to a lot of radio over there (like the media geek I am!) and I really did not get the sense of integrated families or grandparents from either the programming or advertising (which you do on British TV).
Also, when I went to a football game at Candlestick Park one Sunday it was quite clear that going to the game was a family affair – there were parents and kids all over the place – but not a grandparent with their grandchild to be seen.
Hi Mark
I find that the media often describes countries and their people as if they are somehow One Thing.My experience is that different realities and communities live together sharing only the same language but are disconnected culturally. Just take a look at US TV. We know they produce some of the best comedey and drama series and are continually innovative. But spend a day marooned in a motel in Chucksville Arizona and see the dross churned out all day.The Top 100 Heavy Metal Bassists Part 2 comes to mind.
Overall I think that unless you can show glamour,wealth.youth,winning,celebrity you have a much smaller US market. And grandparenting is not particularly about those things.Continuity,family history and culture, holding it all together is what grandparenting delivers.Thats not part of the Dream- a false idea promoted by capitalism and even supported by Americas sad version of Christianity.
Aside from the rant have a good break and probably speak in the New Year