Preview

Generation X

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1328 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Generation X
Generation X, commonly abbreviated to Gen X, is the generation born after the Western post–World War II baby boom ended.[1] While there is no universally agreed upon time frame,[2] the term generally includes people born from the early 1960s through the early 1980s, usually no later than 1981 or 1982.[3][4][5][6][7] The term had also been used in different times and places for various subcultures or countercultures since the 1950s.[8]
Generation X: the letter "X" originally suggested the ambiguous, misunderstood, disheartened generation. The ambiguity has since been clearly defined, so its alternative name Thirteenth Generation (we are the thirteenth generation since the founding of the country) should be more appropriately used. Gen X can be described as growing up with MTV, Pac Man and The Breakfast Club. Pressed between two large generations of the Baby Boomers and Gen Y, Gen X is also characterized with having the middle child syndrome - always being ignored and underappreciated. Like sibling rivalry, with Boomers as the self-righteous eldest and Millennials as the pampered baby with a sense of entitlement. The media has focused a lot of its attention on the Baby Boomers entering into retirement, social security problems, health issues and the rise of biotech. With even more spotlight, the media is fascinated with tabloids of today's youth, their lifestyle, their relationships, and more of the same monotony. Gen X are feeling overlooked and invisible. So we have a generational chip on our shoulders, but how about coverage on success of a X turning 40, X icons, or X as a technologically influential generation? Is it too much to ask for more face time, more visibility, more recognition?
Generation Y: the offsprings of the Baby Boomers make up of today's teens and twenty-somethings. They love fame, celebrities, technology, brand names, and six degrees of separation through social networks. Somewhat ironic, Millennials inherited and benefited from the creation of

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The Pew Research Center released an article called “Most Millennials Resist the ‘Millennial’ Label.” Within the article they say “Despite the size and influence of the millennial generation, however, most of those in this age cohort do not identify with the term ‘Millennial.’ Just 40% of adults ages 18 to 34 consider themselves part of the ‘Millennial generation,’ while another 33% -- mostly older Millennials – consider themselves part of the next older cohort, Generation X.” (Pew) They go on to explain how that the oldest group, which is the silent group has the least chance of referring to themselves with a generation label, unlike the other groups of Americans. This divides the millennial group up again into the group that refers to themselves as Millennials and ones that…

    • 805 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Millennials Pros And Cons

    • 782 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Millennials are people born between the years of 1980 and 2000 and they are roughly between the ages of 18 and 33. Some generations prior to millennials are Generation X, Baby Boomers, and the Silent Generation. Millennials in many ways are different from any other generation. Millennials are the most racially diverse, less percentage of them are married, and also studies have shown that many millennials are considered to be helicoptered by their parents. These parents are called helicopter parents. Helicopter parents can be causing more harm than good to their kids.…

    • 782 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Marketing Chapter Outline

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages

    3. Generation X- first people to grow up where both parents worked, get married later and buy houses later in life, astute consumers, demand convenience and tend to be less likely to believe advertising claims or what salespeople say…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Boomers were raised in very hard times when there was little work, food or places to live. As World War 2 ended and the depression was over, Boomers raised families under the premise that they didn't' want to see their children suffer as they did. They gave them everything that they wanted, and rather than teach them the importance of money and the value of family, they were content not to see their children in need as they had been. This began to develop the idea of instant gratification. People have become basically spend-happy and for the most part, and choose to live outside of their means. Racking up crippling school debts and poor choice spending habits upon entering the work force has forced many Generation X-ers to postpone things like having children, purchasing houses, and saving money for retirement. All of which are important elements of family. And as the Boomers set a financial precedent that their children simply cannot attain, due to higher requirements for education and higher costs of this education, to earn the same amount of money at the same stages in life, is next to impossible. Generation X has had difficulty in measuring up to their boomer parents in the financial…

    • 1379 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Who is the Millennial Customer? The “Millennials,” otherwise known as “Generation Y,” is the consumer group that was born anywhere from 1982 – 2001.…

    • 4174 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Zach Stewart Professor Koesjan English 1301 16 December 2014 The Crossroads Generation In Ann Hulbert's "Beyond the Pleasure Principle", she outlines the Millennial Generation and some of the qualities that set this unique generation apart from the rest of the generations. The Millennial Generation is at one of the greatest social crossroads in our history as a country, as political ideology divides the nation like no time ever before. We as a generation are growing up in a time when political ideology threatens to gridlock the country; A time where media outlets spin and manufacture the news to suit one political ideology or the other; A time in which multiple social issues are being pushed to the forefront of political platforms. This is the setting for my generation and the influence that it has on us. I am the Millennial Generation.…

    • 824 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Generation X is the descendants of the Baby Boomers generation, and it was born between 1966 and 1981. Miller and Yu. “Leadership and…

    • 776 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Critique Essay

    • 1020 Words
    • 5 Pages

    According to the article Koc outlines: The millennial generation includes individuals born between 1980 through 2000. These individuals are new college graduates that make up the major of the workforce. This group had a number of names associated with them such as Boom Echo and Generation Y – ever since this group started appeared, causing enrollment capacity issues at public school districts around the country. This millennial generation has caught the eye of many researchers because the millennial generation is looked upon ‘as a game changer’ and will play a major role in the future of the United States economy (Koc, 2008, P. 14). The vital element to future success of an organization is understanding how the Millennials view the world and using that knowledge to motivate them in a way that works.…

    • 1020 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Generation X. This is the group born between 1965 and 1980. They are self-reliant, global thinkers who value fun, balance and informality.…

    • 1708 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Generation Me Response

    • 1656 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Justin Ford Intro. to Sociology Generation Me It is very apparent that today’s generation has changed greatly since generation of the “baby boomers”. Children in the current generation are coming into a completely different world than it was just 30 years ago. From almost every kid owning a cell phone, televisions being flat, and social networking, it is obvious this isn’t the same world that our grandparents, and even our parents were raised in. Looking back at the generation of the “baby boomers”, it’s hard to even imagine what life would have been like. The “boomers” grew up in a time of where war was an occurring thing, from World War I, World War II, and even the war in Vietnam. They grew up in the time of the great depression, where bread lines and soup kitchens were a part of many families’ lives. Even technology was far from what it is today. Families were lucky to have one television in their house, people actually used land-line telephones, and a person having a cell phone was unlikely. The book Generation Me does a great job of pointing out any difference between the “boomer” generation, and generation “me”. From the way kids are taught in school, the way kids treat other people, and even the attitude about one’s self has completely changed. The author, Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D., notices every minor change that has occurred between the two generations, and comprised a book that will have you noticing things about yourself that you may have never noticed before.…

    • 1656 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Generation Y

    • 1373 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Abdyrakhmanov1 Azat Abdyrakhmanov Comparative Analysis Paper Patricia Silvestro Date due: 04/07/11 Many people believe that previous generation of Americans was completely different than the generation that lives now days. Ideology and interests have completely changed. For instance, we all know that previous generation cared a lot for peace in the world, human rights and equality of mankind. Martin Luther King, John. F. Kennedy and Malcolm X are people who fought for equality among people and most famous representatives of Generation X. But compared to the previous generation, my generation is completely different, and many people are having a debate whether it’s good or bad. Thomas Friedman in his essay “Generation Q” called current generation quiet American for a good reason. In his opinion they are not outraged as they should be (98-100). On the other hand, Rob Fishman argues that “Generation Q” is too ready to defer to technology (72-75). After reading these articles, it’s clear that both authors define this generation from different perspectives; however, they both discuss an influence technology had on people. In Friedman’s perspective, this generation has become too quiet because of what technology has brought. But according to Fishman’s response, people of this generation are taking full advantage of technology in good ways rather than hiding behind screens…

    • 1373 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Generation X is a defined as the group of people born after the demographic baby boom, from roughly 1964 to 1979. They grew up very quickly amid rising divorce rates, latchkeys, violence and low expectations. They entered the job market in the wake of the Boomers, only to be confronted with new terms like "downsizing" and "RIFs" as the economy plunged into recession. It's hardly surprising, then, that they tend to be skeptical toward authority and cautious in their commitments. Their self-reliance has led them, in unprecedented numbers, to embrace "free agency" over company loyalty. Ambitious and independent, they're now striving to…

    • 1107 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    A generation is a group of individuals who are born at a specific time period. Generations range from every alphabet letter known to man. I myself, am from generation Y. This is the generation that has become victims to so many trends and fads of this world. The Y generation differs in many things from the baby boomer 's generation.…

    • 913 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Generation Z, people born between the years 1996 and beyond. A generation responsible for some of the greatest inventions, ideas and changes in history. Many people believe that the people of generation z are the dumbest generation and have not lived up to the standards of the past generations. Their main argument is that technology is blame and that it contributes to a decrease in productivity. Generation Z is actually the most diverse, technologically and multicultural generation in history. The Centennials has been exposed to a myriad of new ideas and learning platforms, innovative ways of thinking have emerged affecting everybody whether they realize it or not.…

    • 563 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The concept of “Generation X” traits makes reference to the generation of people born after the cold war era and is typically referred to as the Slacker generation. This reference comes from stats showing that males in this age classification earned less and worked less yet had a higher education background. Members of this age classification reflect the philosophy of “working to live not living to work”. From the film one could tell that both characters were educated, through their dialogues. Another trait with high prevalence in Generation X is the individualism of the person. The ability to be self sufficient, ambitious, and adaptive to tolerate different lifestyles makes Generation X not only an interesting member to be but also an interesting generation to study.…

    • 833 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays