Help me with Sociology question!

For some reason, I am stuck on this. I cannot think of any historical and individual experiences that could cause a social/behavioral change between Generations. Here are the questions, with my response to question 1 in italics. But I am stuck with questions number 2! Maybe my mind just can't word it correctly any words I think up.  


1. Identify ways in which the current generation thinks and behaves in comparison to past generations.
The current generation is different in most ways then past generations. My generation, or generation Y as it is mainly said, have thoughts and beliefs that differ from that of Generation X or the Baby Boom Generation. Nowadays, couples my age will live together before marriage, and more and more couples will have a pregnancy atleast once before marriage. Also, Generation Y & the current generation are more giving of gay rights, while many older generations are not.
When it comes to politics, the Generation Y & Z lean more towards an Independent stature, while older Generations tend to be either staunch Republicans or Democrats.


2. Discuss how some historical and individual experiences could have influenced these changes.

I'm bad at this but would for the historical aspect be what you already mentioned? Things like gay rights, women have more freedoms type of stuff.

Does the media explosion count? It's resulted in widespread desensitization, so all of a sudden living together isn't a huge shocker, nor are many other things.

Quoting :*:CHRiSTiNe:*::" I'm bad at this but would for the historical aspect be what you already mentioned? Things like gay rights, women have more freedoms type of stuff."

But what exactly caused the "gay rights movement"? Where did it start, stuff like that.

I don't know - maybe the Hippie/Free Love movement of the 60s and 70s?

A difference in racism maybe?

Divorce and children out of wedlock were taboo. I think what started it was when the draft happened and women were needed to work the jobs that men typically did. This gave women more freedom financially which meant they didnt need men to provide for them so they could leave an unhappy marriage if they wanted. Women became more empowered and seeked education to land careers. Its a snowball effect. It truly started with Susan Anthony, Victoria Woodhall and Elizabeth Sutton. All of which fought for women's rights. Vixtoria took it a step farther and said that women should have sexual freedom. She was the first to speak in front of congress about women's rights. People werent ready to hear about sexual freedom because they were worried that the sanctity of marriage would suffer. Victoria was angry that men would sleep around before and during marriage. Sociaty at the time was accepting of this. Homosexuals and women having affairs or premarital sex were taboo.