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Age
groups defined by William Strauss and Neil Howe in
their book, Generations (New York: William Morrow,
1991), which are characterized by a shared coming of age
experience. The following generational descriptions are
currently found on their website, www.fourthturning.com. |
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The Builders (born circa 1901 to 1924):
“The Builders (Strauss and
Howe call this group the GI Generation) developed a special
and “good kid” reputation as the beneficiaries of new
playgrounds, scouting clubs, vitamins, and child-labor
restrictions. They came of age with the sharpest rise in
schooling ever recorded. As young adults, their uniformed
corps patiently endured depression and heroically conquered
foreign enemies. In a midlife subsidized by the G.I. Bill,
they built gleaming suburbs, invented miracle vaccines,
plugged “missile gaps,” and launched moon rockets. Their
unprecedented grip on the Presidency began with a New
Frontier, a Great Society, and Model Cities, but wore down
through Vietnam, Watergate, deficits, and problems with “the
vision thing.” As “senior citizens,” they safeguarded their
own “entitlements” but had little influence over culture and
values.” |
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The Silents (born circa 1925 to 1942):
“The Silent Generation grew
up as the suffocated children of war and depression. They
came of age just too late to be war heroes and just too
early to be youthful free spirits. Instead, this
early-marrying Lonely Crowd became the risk-averse
technicians and professionals—as well as the sensitive rock
‘n rollers and civil-rights advocates—of a post-crisis era
in which conformity seemed to be a sure ticket to success.
Midlife was an anxious “passage” for a generation torn
between stolid elders and passionate juniors. Their surge to
power coincided with fragmenting families, cultural
diversity, institutional complexity, and prolific
litigation. They entered elderhood with unprecedented
affluence, a “hip” style, and a reputation for indecision.” |
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The Boomers (born circa 1943 to 1960):
“The Boom Generation basked as children in
Dr. Spock permissiveness, suburban conformism, Sputnik-era
schooling, Beaver Cleaver friendliness, and Father Knows
Best family order. From the Summer of Love to the Days of
Rage, they came of age
rebelling against the worldly blueprints of their parents.
As their “flower child,” Black Panther, Weathermen, and
Jesus Freak fringes proclaimed themselves arbiters of public
morals, youth pathologies worsened—and SAT scores began a
17-year slide. In the early 1980s, many young adults became
self-absorbed “yuppies” with mainstream careers but
perfectionist lifestyles. Boomers entered midlife (and
national power) trumpeting values, touting a “politics of
meaning,” and waging scorched-earth Culture Wars.” |
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The Survivors (born circa 1961 to 1981):
“The Survivors
(Strauss and Howe call this group Thirteeners, or the 13th
Generation) survived a “hurried” childhood of divorce,
latchkeys, open classrooms, devil-child movies, and a shift
from G to R ratings. They came of age curtailing the earlier
rise in youth crime and fall in test scores—yet heard
themselves denounced as so wild and stupid as to put The
Nation At Risk. As young adults, they maneuvered through a
sexual battlescape of AIDS and blighted courtship
rituals—they date and marry cautiously. In jobs, they
embrace risk and prefer free agency over loyal corporatism.
From grunge to hip-hop, their splintery culture reveals a
hardened edge.
Politically, they lean toward pragmatism and
nonaffiliation, and would rather volunteer than vote.
Widely criticized as “Xers” or “slackers,” they inhabit a
Reality Bites economy of declining young-adult living
standards.” |
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The Millennials (born circa 1982 to 2001):
“The
Millennial
Generation first arrived when “Babies on Board” signs
appeared. As abortion and divorce rates ebbed, the popular
culture began stigmatizing hands-off parental styles and
recasting babies as special. Child abuse and child safety
became hot topics, while books teaching virtues and values
became best-sellers. Politicians defined adult issues (from
tax cuts to deficits) in terms of their effects on children.
Hollywood replaced cinematic child devils with child angels,
and cable TV and the internet cordoned off “child-friendly”
havens. While educators speak of “standards” and
“cooperative
learning,” school uniforms are surging in popularity.
With adults viewing children more positively, U.S. test
scores are faring better in international comparisons.” |
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Generation Z (born
after 2001):
Based upon the historic cycle explained
in Generations this newest generation is expected
to be adaptive and conforming, following the strong
Millennials. In fact, they are sometimes referred to as the
“New Silents”. |
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