X is for Gen X
Generation X, a term typically used to describe the generation of Americans born between 1965 and 1980, although some sources used slightly different ranges. It has sometimes been called the “middle child” generation, as it follows the well-known baby boomer generation and precedes the millennial generation. It has fewer members than either of those groups, which is one of the reasons that Generation X is considered to be forgotten or overlooked when the generations are discussed.
Members of Generation X, or Gen Xers, grew up in a time when there were more dual-income families, single-parent households, and children of divorce than when boomers were growing up. Consequently, many Gen Xers were latchkey kids, spending part of the day without adult supervision, as when they got home from school while their parents were still away at work. Gen Xers were the first generation to grow up with personal computers to some extent, thus becoming tech-savvy. They also experienced shaky economic times as children and young adults in the 1980s and ’90s. Gen Xers are typically described as being resourceful, independent, and keen on maintaining work-life balance. They tend to be more liberal on social issues and more ethnically diverse than boomers. Gen Xers were sometimes described as slackers or whiners, particularly in the 1990s, although those descriptions have been contested.
Source, here.
Ted and I are early Gen Xers, right on the cusp. Richard and Ted’s siblings are all boomers, my sisters are Gen X. I’m not a big fan or believer in the whole ‘Generations’ thing, but the description above does describe us. We were both latchkey kids. Due to the changes in the rules for immigration in 1965, it makes sense that Gen X would be more culturally diverse. We did graduate from college into a recession, meaning we could not find jobs that paid more than our college jobs, which in our case sent us back to school for our graduate degrees. Are we slackers? Probably, if by slacker you mean not wanting to be part of the entire rat race. That is the work/life balance that the quote above is talking about.
Maya is cuspy Gen Z. She is horrified by stories that link her in with Millenials. Is that a cuspy thing? Trying to identify with one generation vs. another? If someone is born in the middle of an identified generation, are they more comfortable with the whole silly thing? I don’t feel like my experiences in life were any different from Richard’s, while we are technically different generations. But perhaps our experiences were different from those born more solidly in the Boomer generation or Gen X. Someone born in the 1950s, or the mid 1970s might feel more different from us than we do, just 2 years apart.
What about you? Do you feel like you identify with the generation you have been lumped in with? How yes, how no?
4 Comments
nance
I was born in 1959, which places me solidly in Boomer territory. I find all these tags largely irritating and, in the case of Boomer, really offensive a lot of the time. According to a lot of the stereotypes, I have no idea how to do email without hitting Reply All, am befuddled by my smartphone, insist that all young people spend too much money on avocado toast and that’s why they can’t afford a house, and think the best way for whippersnappers to find a job is to go into businesses day after day and insist that they give them one. I’m also a republican, a racist, a supporter of 45*, and have ruined the environment for my future generations.
All of that is complete bullshit. It doesn’t even describe my brother or my sisters, also Boomers. It doesn’t even describe my mother, who is 91–not a Boomer, but older and still none of those things and addicted to her iPad. 😉
I understand that there are exceptions to every rule and that there are stereotypes for a reason. But since the advent of the snotty “Ok, Boomer” putdown, these groupings have become more negative, I think.
Then again, what hasn’t these days, right?
Have a lovely Thanksgiving, dear Julie. Enjoy it all.
J
You are right, the boomers get a lot of bad press to be sure. And it’s ridiculous to think that all boomers fit these stupid stereotypes. I don’t know a single one that does, actually, so there you go.
Enjoy your family today Nance!
Ally Bean
I think there might be tendencies within generations, but it’s not destiny. I describe myself as a Gen X prototype. I was born during the Boomer years but lived a life that aligns with the typical Gen X one. Both parents worked, then my father died and I was living in a one parent household, me responsible for me with my latch key in hand. Not a bad childhood, just one that differed dramatically from my Boomer friends whose mothers served them cookies and milk when they got home from school.
J
I like that, tendencies, but not destiny. Being a latch key kid is certainly a tendency of the Gen X generation, but not singular. Many generations of kids grew up without a parent, for whatever reason. I think the improvements in medicine, antibiotics, and vaccinations meant that for a generation or two, there were more kids growing up with two parents. Then the economy and divorce laws changed, and you get more latch key situations.