Unique Experiences Shape Generational Differences
Which of the following telephones do you most use, or remember using as a youth?
- Party-line telephone
- Land-line telephone
- "The brick"—the first cell phone
- Flip cell phones
- Text messaging
Your answer depends on your age or, more specifically, your generation. While telephones may seem trivial, the fact is that all the experiences, ideas, technology, and values shared by people of different generations makes each look at the world, and define what they want and expect out of life, differently.
Generations are defined by common experiences during their youth that changed their world view or the way they lived as a society. Defining or influential events, by generation, include:
Silent Generation (born between 1925 and 1945)
- World War II
- The Great Depression
Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964)
- Vietnam War
- Civil rights movement
- Women's rights movement
- Assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
- Advent of rock and roll
Generation X (born between 1965 and 1976)
- Dual earning parents
- High divorce rate of parents
- Parents' job loss from layoffs
- Grunge rock
- Poor economy of the 1980s
Millennials (born between 1977 and 1994)
- Prosperous economy
- Very involved parents
- September 11, 2001
So how are these generations different? The chart below lists some general characteristics of each generation's members.
The Research Service is in the final phases of completing a study of Generation X and Millennial parents. Look for results of the survey, and ideas for your council to use when recruiting youth and volunteers from these generations, in ProSpeak during 2007.
| |
Silent Generation
1925-1945 |
Baby Boomers
1946-1964 |
Generation X
1965-1976 |
Millennial
1977-1994 |
| Generation size |
49,000,000 |
79,000,000 |
49,000,000 |
75,000,000 |
| Growing up |
- Many rules
- Pressure to conform
|
- Fewer rules
- Nurturing environment
- Stay-at-home moms
|
- Latchkey children
- Increasing day care use
|
- Attended day care
- Parents very involved in their life
|
| Economy |
- Prosperity has increased over their lifetime.
- They remember the Depression.
|
Have lived during generally prosperous times |
- Began entering the workforce during the '80s' economic downturn
- Prosperity during the '90s
|
Prosperity has increased over their lifetime. |
| Employment |
- Expected stability and lifelong employment
- Single earners
|
- Women entered the workforce in record numbers.
- Dual earners
|
- Look for a job they enjoy
- Will leave for a better job
- Do not expect lifelong employment
|
- Just entering the workforce
- Most are mission-driven.
|
| Average age at first marriage |
|
|
|
N/A |
| View on children |
Should be seen and not heard |
- Should be nurtured
- Want to spend quality time
|
- Should be a friend
- Want to spend quantity time
|
N/A |
| Personal communications |
In writing |
Telephone |
E-mail |
Instant and text messaging |
| Defining ideas |
Duty |
Individuality |
Diversity |
Optimism |