Introduction
Groups of people, born in a particular period and sharing main historical events, have been given names to mark them as a generation. The title for each of them is granted based on the cultural values and ethical background experienced by individuals living in the same generation. In this essay, the reasons for the naming of the preceding generations will be examined with the speculation on the future label of the current one.
Main body
The Silent Generation, or Matures, is a generation of people endured massive cultural changes in the United States, struggling with divisive ethics, concepts, and desires. Members of this generation were born between 1922 and 1945 (Carbary et al. 1). In some cases, it was claimed that Matures were one of the least understood generations from the last century. Perhaps, the prevalent conditions were the determining factors that gave the name to the generation, molding its behavior and individuality. The circumstances, such as harsh and unsatisfying economic pain, namely the Great Depression, shaped the generation. Despite some free-spoken activists, most of the members were quiet, laborious people, focused on their careers and families. However, due to the comparatively small size, children of the Silent Generation could take advantage of the reduced competition. Many of them laid the foundation for technological developments, constructing state-of-the-art novelties. Hence, the Matures are known for their mute response to societal dilemmas and financial hardship.
Baby boomers are people born after World War II, getting their name from the increased birth rates. Despite the fact that children were born from 1945 to 1955, the name did not emerge until the end of the generation (Beckett 7). When the world economies could not recover after the war, baby boomers caused the most rapid economic growth, boosting the living standards. They gained from the time of increasing prosperity and raised income levels relative to their antecedents, following a surge in consumerism. Considering the character features, self-sufficiency appears to be the main quality of baby boomers, staying concentrated and focused on the task. Therefore, it can be noted that the label for this generation stands on the ground of its significant socio-economic impact.
The term Generation X, or Gen X, defines people born between the early 60s and early 80s. The simplicity and spotless originality are meant to disclose its lower effect on society and inferior financial clout. While the previous generation had taken the most significant positions, Gen X found it challenging to be employed and enjoy the fruits of economic expansion. Nonetheless, Xers are responsible for considerable influence on technology usage and the first internet adaptation. The vast majority of internet brands have been created by innovators of that generation. According to Lissitsa and Kol, Generation X is remarkable for being one of “the most highly educated generations in history and is characterized by technological and media savvy, skepticism and pragmatism” (304). This generation’s lifestyle can be portrayed as harmonious, where family values are preferred to career paths. Thus, Gen X, growing in the shadow of Baby Boomers, did not draw as much of critics’ attention.
Millennials received their name for several reasons, including tech-savvy and humanitarian aspects of the generation. Fishman suggests that a Millennial is a person born between the years of 1982 and 2000 (250). They are also identified as Generation Y, Gen Y, or the net generation. Millennials are already paving their way in business, politics, philanthropy, and global activism. Gen Y was raised learning computers and the Internet, being flexible at comprehending interfaces and various visual languages. In addition, millennials are known for fast adjustment to brand-new programs, software systems, and devices more readily than previous generations. A collaborative approach for solving social problems is another significant step taken by Gen Y. Thereupon, Generation Y has an exclusive set of features that will reshape our world through cooperative methods of tackling global issues.
Thinking of a name for the current generation is a complicated task to perform as it is still unclear about its social and economic commonalities. Generation Z, or Gen Z, is the most used term, continuing the alphabetical order, beginning with Gen X or Millenials. At the same time, some people favor more joyous titles like Centennials or the iGeneration. There is a complete misconception that Gen Z includes only children, while the oldest representatives are now up to twenty years old. They are the newest candidates to the employment and polling stations, becoming the most rapidly growing class of workers and consumers.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that each of the mentioned generations obtained the names in accordance with moral values, economic conditions, and response to the ever-changing environment. From Matures to Generation Z, it is clear that all of them tried to adjust to various situations, be it technological advances or financial position. As for the title for the newest generation, experts and amateurs are still debating over the topic, coming to Gen Z in most cases.
Works Cited
Beckett, Francis. What Did the Baby Boomers Ever Do for Us? Routledge, 2016.
Carbary, Kelly et al. “Generation Gaps: Changes in the Workplace due to Differing Generational Values.” Advances in Management, vol. 9, 2016, pp. 1, 8.
Fishman, Ann. “How Generational Differences will Impact America’s Aging Workforce: Strategies for Dealing with Aging Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers.” Stragetic HR Review, vol 15, no. 6, 2016, pp. 250-257.
Lissitsa, Sabina, and Ofrit Kol. “Generation X vs. Generation Y – a Decade of Online Shopping.” Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, vol. 31, 2016, pp. 304-312.