The use of generational labels has been increasing in recent years and some people have been confused by the various terms used to describe each one. The phrase that labels each generation corresponds to people born in a certain period. While there is no clear line where one generation ends and another begins, they are generally divided by cultural differences notable throughout the years.
All of the Generations
Generations are divided into groups of people who are born at about the same time. 20-year time intervals are usually used to distinguish each generation. Here’s how American generations were dubbed since 1900 and the major events that shaped both kids and parents.
The greatest generation, also known as the GI generation, includes people born between 1901 and 1927. They weathered the Great Depression and the events of the 1940s and enjoyed the popularizing of jazz and swing music they went through. Despite the wild events at the time, they did hard work and faced the challenges of raising a family in their era.
The Silent and Baby Boomer Generations
The silent generation includes people born between 1928 and 1945. They earned their name for their conformist nature due to events at the time. Still, they were characterized by a strong work ethic and navigated a period of societal silence while facing the expectations of earning their way through life.
The Baby Boomer generation is the people born from 1946 to 1964. At the time, there was a big surge in population after the events of the 1940s. Often looked at by Gen Z as out-of-touch grandparents or boomers, these people also defied their parents and started the concept of family meetings, reshaping parenting dynamics.
Gen X and Millennials
Generation X is the one where people born between 1965 and 1980 are put. They had to confront their own set of challenges and pioneering helicopter parenting. Unlike the boomers, Gen Xers actively participated in their children’s social and educational development.
The Millennial generation, or Generation Y, was born from 1981 to 1996. They lived through the rise of the internet, the mobile phone, and the smartphone. They are often accused of self-centeredness but exhibit community-oriented and environmentally conscious traits. They also have a freer parenting style.
Gen Z and Gen Alpha
Generation Z was born between 1997 and 2010 and grew up in a world constantly connected through technology. Environmentally conscious and active in society, they represent a shift toward global connectivity despite not yet being of voting age.
Generation Alpha includes those born from 2010 to 2024 and those who will be born in the years to come. These children are the first to never experience a world without social media. They are tech-savvy and hold the potential to shape humanity positively. As the youngest of the generations, their characteristics are yet to be fully understood.