Meet The Generations

Who Is the Silent Generation?

The Silent Generation, sometimes called Traditionalists or Radio Babies, is the demographic cohort between The Greatest Generation and the Baby Boomers. Time Magazine first used the term “Silent Generation” in the 1951 article “The Younger Generation,” describing them as a still, small flame that doesn’t make speeches, doesn’t carry posters, doesn’t issue manifestoes, or speaks out. Their silence was a startling fact, very different from the Greatest Generation. Their parents wanted to change the system, while the Silent Generation aimed to work within the system. They kept their head down, worked hard, and played it safe. Today, members of this generation are between 77 and 97 years old.

Defining Events for The Silent Generation

Similar to the Greatest Generation, members of the Silent Generation were born during times of war and survived the Great Depression. However, the low birthrates during these decades made the Silent Generation relatively small. Their parents faced hardship and struggled to provide for their families. So, they imposed a strict childhood discipline, where members of the Silent Generation were raised to earn their way through life using a strong work ethic. They needed to be seen and not heard. In turn, they got their name for being so conformist.

Note

While the majority of this generation kept silent, there were exceptions – influential, not-so-silent members who joined the Civil Rights Movement and shaped the world in significant ways.

The Silent Generation had many education and job opportunities after WWII. However, they also lived through lean times, McCarthyism, and never-seen-before threats, imposing high levels of uncertainty and discomfort. Due to this, they especially value comfort, stability, and security.

Other Defining Events:

• Born During World War II
• The Great Depression
• The Dust Bowl
• Economic and Political Uncertainty
• The Fall of Nazism
• Growth in Cold War Tensions
• Potential for Nuclear War
• The Rise of Communism
• The Korean War
• McCarthyism and The Red Scare
• The Golden Age of Radio
• Rise of Trade Unions
• Development of Transatlantic Flight
• Discovery of Penicillin
• The Start of The Civil Rights Movement

Characteristics of The Silent Generation

The defining events have led most members of the Silent Generation to:

• Consider working as a privilege, become especially hard-working, and develop a strong sense of determination
• Silent Generation is willing to go the extra mile to earn a living and distrusts overnight success
• Value consistency, stability, and safety – the Silents usually stay with a single company their entire life or at least the majority of their careers; they want to contribute, opt for recognition and long-term value
• Be highly reliable, ethical, and loyal to their employer, family, religion, and relationships
• Adopt cautious, conscientious behavior, conformity, and conservatism
• Become thrifty and tactful due to war rationing and economic uncertainty
• Develop into very traditional persons, follow the rules and guidelines, respect authority
• Prefer established hierarchical structures with a top-down chain of command in the workplace where age equals rank
• Value obedience over individualism
• Become team players with excellent interpersonal skills who avoid conflicts in the workplace

Who Are the Baby Boomers?

Baby Boomers are the demographic cohort between the Silent Generation and Generation X. Upon the return of soldiers from WWII during the Mid-20th century, the birth rates worldwide spiked, hence the generation’s name. Various newspaper reporters described the post-war population increase as a ‘boom.’ However, the first recorded use of the term “Baby Boomer” was in a January 1963 Daily Press article by Leslie J. Nason, referring to a massive surge of college enrollments as members of this generation were coming of age. Today, members of this generation are between 58 and 76 years old.

Defining Events for Baby Boomers

People put off starting families during the War and Great Depression. However, they felt confident that the upcoming period would be more economically prosperous and secure with increased wages, thriving businesses, and expanded product selection available. The Boomers’ parents moved from the cities to the suburbs and bought affordable homes, cars, and appliances. However, as Baby Boomers approached adolescence, they defied their parents and the suburban ethos of the ideal family with a provider husband and a stay-at-home housekeeper wife. Boomers had a wild youth, fueled the counterculture movement of the 1960s, reinvented parenting, and invented family meetings.

Note

The spike of new babies after World War II, them being the largest generational cohort at the time, and the relative prosperity of the economy during their careers made the Baby Boomers an economically influential generation. Their influence on the longevity economy and its outlook is referred to as the Baby Boomer Effect or Baby Boomer Factor.

But while there was a post-war economic boom, there were also insufficient places at schools and not enough jobs, which is why this generation is highly competitive. They always had to ‘fight’ for a spot, resources, and success.

Other Defining Events:

• The Counterculture of the 1960s
• Civil Rights Movement
• Women’s Rights Movement
• The Korean War and The Vietnam War
• The Antiwar Movement
• Cold War & The Berlin Wall
• Deep Political Instability
• Some of The Greatest Social Changes in History
• Significant Reforms in Education and Technology
• Kennedy and Martin Luther King Assassinations
• Cultural Revolution and One-Child Policy in China
• Cuban Missile Crisis
• Quebec Crisis
• The “Summer of Love”

Characteristics of Baby Boomers

The defining events have led most members of the Baby Boomer Generation to:

• Opt for duty, structural fairness, and equal opportunity
• Develop into competitive workaholics that sacrifice for success
• Become goal-centric, career-focused, and achievement-oriented, chase the American dream, and do whatever it takes to realize goals and meet deadlines
• Put in hard work and sacrifice to pay their dues and earn their place, i.e., a job title, perks, and prestige
• Opt for new challenges and always strive to win
• Develop into resourceful, self-assured, highly independent, and self-reliant persons, but not so much team players
• See work as means for self-expression and self-actualization, not a source of stability
• Demonstrate company loyalty – it’s not very common for Boomers to hop around companies
• Question their authority and not be afraid to initiate conflict

Note

Many studies divide the Baby Boomers into two subgroups, i.e., Boomers I (The Baby Boomers) and Boomers II (Generation Jones). Boomers, I had much better opportunities, including the best jobs and housing conditions, making them widely optimistic. On the other hand, Boomers II faced much more significant economic struggles. In turn, the latter developed as more narcissistic, self-oriented, and skeptical individuals.

Who Is Generation X?

Generation X, sometimes called Baby Busters, the Latchkey Generation, Post-Boomers, or the MTV Generation, is the demographic cohort between Baby Boomers and Millennials. While used in many instances before, the contemporary application of the term ‘Generation X’ came after the release of the 1991 novel Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture by Canadian author Douglas Coupland. The X is the unknown variable in mathematics, referring to their desire not to be defined. Today, members of this generation are between 42 and 57 years old.

Defining Events for Generation X

Gen Xs were the first latchkey kids who grew up in a very much ‘hands-off’ culture without much adult presence. Their parents were always working due to the increased maternal participation in the workforce, so they spent most of their time alone at home without supervision. Apart from needing to use the key in an empty home, they could play outside until the streetlights came on. They grew up without their parents around and without financial planning. In addition, their parents have the highest divorce rate in history. This combination shaped Generation X to become especially independent and self-reliant and always seek a healthy balance between family, financials, and personal needs.

Note

Many often describe Generation X as the neglected ‘middle child’ because it’s smaller and less influential than the older Baby Boomers and the younger Millennials. Like the Greatest Generation, Xs are often classified as an in-between generation. Still, many gen Xs have contributed to changing the world during periods of significant change and technological advancement.

Generation X entered the workforce as the booming economy started to slow down, bringing concerns over their “slacker” values in the workplace. However, the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis, and the Great Recession have compromised its earning power and saving. So, unlike their parents, Gen Xs feel like they worked harder for their success, making them more resilient in the workplace and able to overcome hardship.

Other Defining Events:

• The Dot-Com Boom
• The Financial Crisis of 2008
• The Great Recession
• Post-Civil Rights Movement
• New Feminism
• New Conservatism
• Energy Crisis
• Lots of Broken Homes and Divorces
• Cold War
• Fall of The Berlin Wall
• Shifting Societal Values
• The Growth of Education
• Space Exploration
• The First Modern Computers
• MTV Culture
• Rise Of LGBTQ+ Rights
• AIDS Epidemic
• Three Mile Island
• Iranian Hostage Crisis

Characteristics of Generation X

The defining events have led most members of Generation X to:

• Become independent, self-reliant, creative, and resourceful, meaning they can work autonomously and overcome challenges
• Develop into critical thinkers, open to change and challenges who value flexibility, diversity, and responsibility
• Opt for maintaining work-life balance at any cost, even by leaving a job
• Less loyal than previous generations, Gen X will quickly change their job if the employer doesn’t meet their needs
• Want space for personal development and prioritize their interests, not the ones of their company
• Develop a ‘what’s in it for me’ mindset and don’t care as much about the news or social events
• Appear skeptical when in reality, they are pretty realistic and will analyze the pros and cons of each situation
• Be calmer, more collected, direct, and open to feedback in the workplace
• Grom into quiet achievers and results-oriented individuals
• Prefer informal, casual, friendly, and fun work environments with constructive feedback
• Be accepting and inclusive of others, far more peer-oriented than their parents
• Work to live rather than live to work

Who Are Millennials?

Millennials, sometimes called Generation Y or Digital Natives, are the demographic cohort between Generation X and Generation Z. The generation got its name because they were born or became adults near the end of the last millennium or the dawn of the new one, the 21st century. The credit for naming the Millennials goes to authors William Strauss and Neil Howe in their 1987 Strauss–Howe generational theory. We also recognize them as Generation Y because they follow Generation X. Today, members of this generation are between 23 and 41 years old.

Defining Events for Millennials

Young people in developed countries worldwide postponed having children. So, Millennials were born at a time of declining fertility rates. Most of them are children of Baby Boomers or Generation X. Millenials’ parents cared about their educational and social development and involved them in everything, including purchases. Gen Y had busy planned lives and what we recognize as helicopter parents, overseeing every activity of their daily life. Due to this, they take a freer approach to parenting.

Note

Baby Boomers were the largest generation until recently when Millennials exceeded them in number.

Millennials are the first generation born in the digital world, with the elevated use and familiarity with the Internet, mobile devices, and social media. Technology advancements revolutionized the world during their childhoods and teenage years. So, by growing up with technology, they have driven their expectation for immediacy. They see the world differently from their predecessors and don’t want to wait but achieve their ambitions young.

While Millennials are among the most educated generations, they still suffered significant economic disruption in their working lives, with high levels of youth unemployment during the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. They also face other financial obstacles, such as record student loan debt. They witnessed firsthand that things don’t stay the same for long in every aspect of life, making them open to change and adaptation.

Other Defining Events:

• Early Exposure to Serious Adult Issues
• Great Recession
• COVID-19 Pandemic
• The Tech Revolution
• Expansion of Social Media
• TV Talk Shows
• Environmental Impact Awareness
• The September 11 Attacks (9/11)
• Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
• High School Shootings and Mass Murders
• Attacks on The World Trade Center and Pentagon
• The End of The World Theory
• Same-Sex Marriage
• Hurricane Katrina
• Boston Marathon Bombing
• “Girl’s Movement” For Girls in School Sports

Characteristics of Millennials

The defining events have led most members of Generation Y to:

• Become the first generation of technologically sophisticated leaders with a growth mindset
• Develop into highly ambitious, purpose and achievement-driven persons who seek challenges
• Grow into innovators and strategists with the motto “work smarter, not harder” – Millenials are incredibly productive, effective, efficient, curious, and collaborative for better achievement of goals
• Prefer flexibility regarding schedule, time, and location; will always choose at least a partly remote position
• Easily adapt to new tools and techniques in the workplace
• Value work-life balance and opt for computer-based jobs that enable them to spend time with friends and family
• Opt for personal development and want employers to get to know them personally and grant them autonomy
• Value regular feedback, seek attention, awards, and praise for a job well done
• Question the authorities to get to the bottom of things, understand how everything works, and propose a better solution
• Initiate a loyalty shift – they don’t plead alliance with companies; if their conditions are not met, they are quick to leave
• Promote consciousness, diversity, and community orientation
• Grow into a self-centered yet progressive generation in their political views and voting habits
• Become the most ethically and racially diverse generation – Millennials are less religiously observant and more accepting of the LGBTQ+ rights movement, interracial marriage, and immigrants
• Be open-minded in raising kids in diverse family forms and allowing them to express themselves freely

Who Is Generation Z?

Generation Z, sometimes Gen Z, iGen, or Centennials, among many others, is the demographic cohort between the Millennials and Generation Alpha. The name continues the alphabetical order from Generation X and Generation Y. Today, members of this generation are between 2 and 22 years old.

Defining Events for Generation Z

While Generation Z shares many characteristics with the Millennials, they saw a drastically different world in their formative years, shaping them into a separate age group. They have distinct worldviews, opinions, tendencies, and attitudes from Gen Y. Unlike Millennials, members of Generation Z have little to no memory of the time without the widespread Internet. They were born into a world of peak technological innovation with instantly available information and ever-present social media. Therefore, Gen Z is a cosmopolitan generation shaped by global events and trends during turbulence, disruption, and change.

The digital age has helped Gen Zers expand their knowledge and horizons and made them the most diverse and progressive generation to date. At the same time, the excess screen time, disease, and financial insecurity has made them feel isolated, anxious, and depressive, and led to implications for their social skills development, attention spans, vocabulary, academic performance, and future economic contributions.

Most members of this generation have grown up in free and diverse families, whether with a single parent, a multi-racial household, or one with blurred gender roles. In turn, Gen Zers have become less fazed by race, sexual orientation, or religious differences compared to previous generations. In addition, their parents raised Gen Z to be independent and figure things out on their own. They allowed them to express themselves freely, explore and create without constant supervision. So, Generation Z has no issue doing things their way and is certainly not a ‘go along to get along generation.’

Other Defining Events:

• Access to Technology Since Birth
• Always Wired, Smartphones, Texts, and Social Media
• Shared Family Responsibilities
• Diverse Family Structures
• COVID-19 Pandemic
• Great Recession
• Election of The First Black President
• Legalization of Gay Marriage
• Gender Equality
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Climate Change
• Terrorism and War
• Gun Violence
• Volunteerism
• Arab Spring Democracy Movements
• Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Note

It’s still early to define all events that will leave a lasting effect on Generation Z or younger generations. Still, these worthy mentions are likely to shape their characters.

Characteristics of Generation Z

The defining events have led most members of Generation Z to:

• Be born as digital natives, addicted to digital devices, constantly connected to others through phones and screens
• Grow into the most racially and ethnically diverse generation
• Develop a global perspective and a progressive way of thinking on politics and social issues
• Easily make friends on the Internet, but at the same, be the loneliest generation
• Become less focused yet creative and innovative
• Communicate openly, be vocal, socially expecting, conscious, and express their opinions
• Fight for social change, racial equity, and protecting the environment
• Grow into pragmatic individuals – both entrepreneurial and financially cautious, knowing that everything is possible
• Value security, stable jobs, and smart investments
• Be independent, self-directed, and ask for less positive reinforcement compared to Gen Y
• Look for shortcuts, more affordable, career-connected education pathways
• Value authenticity and individual expression in their life experiences
• Explore and evaluate a range of options before settling on a decision
• Expect the newest technologies at work, accustomed to prompt results
• Be very competitive and compare with peers
• Always believe their opinions matter – want to be seen and heard

Note

Generation Alpha is the demographic cohort succeeding Generation Z. It refers to individuals born after 2020, or according to some studies, after 2010. Since Alphas are still being born, there is no sufficient data to analyze their behaviors. These children will grow up in a fully digital world and are expected to become the most socially connected, educated, technologically immersed, and wealthiest generation to date.

Who Is Generation HE?

Generation HE is a distinct generation, not defined by age but by characteristics. Anyone who finds themselves within the listed features can become a member.
The generation’s name was first used in the third millennium, following the establishment of HE Group. The term HE stands for Human Engineering, supporting the main principle of this group, i.e., building oneself over the life course instead of allowing a typical set of circumstances and experiences to shape them.

Defining Events for Generation HE

Since members of any age can classify as Generation HE, no particular events shaped these individuals into the persons they have become. The core principle of this generation is that people perceive circumstances differently. However, they are responsible for how they respond. While two individuals might live through the same experiences, they can produce entirely different results. The difference is their point of view.

Moreover, people can choose what happens to them to an extent. Actions have consequences, so Generation HE members take responsibility for their choices and try to achieve the best possible scenario with given resources.

Note

Different events in history have contributed to shaping generational cohorts. Yet, one generation is neither better nor worse than the remaining ones. Generation HE combines all generations, highlighting each generation’s importance and significant contribution to today’s progress.

Characteristics of Generation HE

The members of Generation HE are:

• Comfortable with technology and understand its impact, benefits, and drawbacks
• Leaders with a growth mindset who want to leave a better world behind
• Open-minded, innovative, creative, resourceful, and curious
• Critical thinkers and tactful problem-solvers open to change and new challenges
• Flexible and diverse persons who adapt and excel easily
• Collaborative team players who want to support and help others achieve success
• Analytical, productive, effective, and efficient - always look for a better solution than the proposed one
• Responsible, driven, determined, and committed in life, family, friends, and the workplace
• Highly ambitious and achievement-oriented, yet believe the end doesn’t justify the means
• Reliable, honest, trustworthy, honorable, and loyal – will always remember a good deed and never betray anyone
• Open in communication with excellent interpersonal skills, not afraid to express their opinions
• Conscious and community-oriented with a global perspective and progressive way of thinking