Baby Boomers and members of Generation X grew up in different worlds. They played with different toys, listened to different music and expressed themselves with different fashion trends. All these influences may have led to very different characteristics from one generation to the next.
Major Cultural Changes
The Baby Boomer generation spans a wide time frame, including people born between 1946 and 1964. Baby Boomers are often defined as non-conformists who want to make a difference and redefine many aspects of living. They grew up during times of unrest, including the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and the Cold War. Many Baby Boomers were the radicals of the 1970s and the yuppies of the 1980s.
Born between 1965 and 1980, members of Generation X also grew up during a period of change. Many were children of divorced parents or lived in families where both parents worked, and their latch-key status may have led to a greater sense of independence. They grew up during the energy crisis and the end of the Cold War. They grew up on technology, but before the explosion of cell phones and social media.
Economic and Technological Differences
Depending on when they were born, Baby Boomers grew up with many different fads, fashions, and trends. They were the first to have televisions in their homes and they watched memorable achievements including early space exploration and man’s first steps on the moon. Today, they continue to want to change the world for the better, often getting involved with politics, volunteering, and other community outreach projects.
For Generation X, growing up on emerging technology, while also watching an economic instability that often led to their parents being laid off, meant looking for new ways to shape their careers. Many Gen Xers became entrepreneurs, seeking to create their own paths and explore new opportunities that came about with the growth of the Internet.
The Millennials
With the rise of the Millennials, those born between 1981 and the early 2000s, Generation X is sometimes overlooked. Especially since the wide time frame of the Baby Boomer generation means that Baby Boomers could have children who are part of either Generation X or the Millennial generation.
Today’s active adults, aged 55 and up, are still from the Baby Boomer generation. Yet this year, the oldest of Generation X are turning 50. Does the generation gap grow smaller as adults grow older? Do Baby Boomers and Gen Xers bond over not understanding Millennials? What do you think the differences are between Baby Boomers and Generation X?
Let us know in the comments below.
