Feb 07 2010
Can Gen X, Gen Y, and Baby Boomers Co-Exist? – The Debate Rages
Here are the thoughts from one of our panelists, Dr. Greg Stebbins
“The people of our generation started to radically change the corporate infrastructure. First mini-computers, then personal computers, then the Internet, email and finally the Web.
Gen X and Gen Y have leveraged the technology, but didn’t invent it. So there are some fundamental disconnects when discussing depth of understanding. They know how to do it, but don’t know why it’s done that way.
Today, all of that has changed. Gen X and Gen Y were raised totally different from each other. As boomers we were expected to go out and produce or lose our job or get demoted. Gen X – the slacker generation – just didn’t care about that. They wanted a life and most were willing to sacrifice praying to the alter of gold coins. Gen-Y – the coddled generation – calls their Mum and asks what they should do.”
You will not want to miss the lively discussion! You can even join in – FREE, with my compliments – register HERE
Interesting blog, Jonathan, but it’s missing an important part of the equation: Generation Jones (between the Boomers and Generation X). Google Generation Jones, and you’ll see it’s gotten a ton of media attention, and many top commentators from many top publications and networks (Washington Post, Time magazine, NBC, Newsweek, ABC, etc.) now specifically use this term. In fact, the Associated Press’ annual Trend Report chose the Rise of Generation Jones as the #1 trend of 2009. Here’s a page with a good overview of recent media interest in GenJones: http://generationjones.com/2009latest.html
It is important to distinguish between the post-WWII demographic boom in births vs. the cultural generations born during that era. Generations are a function of the common formative experiences of its members, not the fertility rates of its parents. And most analysts now see generations as getting shorter (usually 10-15 years now), partly because of the acceleration of culture. Many experts now believe it breaks down more or less this way:
DEMOGRAPHIC boom in babies: 1946-1964
Baby Boom GENERATION: 1942-1953
Generation Jones: 1954-1965
Generation X: 1966-1978
It is important to distinguish between the post-WWII demographic boom in births vs. the cultural generations born during that era. Generations are a function of the common formative experiences of its members, not the fertility rates of its parents.