As I read and write about different generations and the microgenerations that span across them, there is something I have come to notice: Their values and focus shift as a group.
When I made a chart about generational stereotypes, which you can check out here and here, I saw that each generation possessed a different ‘orientation’. Baby Boomers are community-oriented. Millennials are relationship-oriented. And Zillennials are culture-oriented. I started to wonder how one generation morphs into the next, taking a slowly passing generational life focus, adding current events, trends, and cultural elements, to draw out new values and focus for the incoming generation.
I wanted to explore that progression and timeline. Here is what I’ve come up with.
Disclaimer: I am a hobbyist, not a scholar, of generational trends. What I present here, and elsewhere on this site, is based on my readings, observations, experience, and opinions.
Baby Boomers (1946-1964)
Community Oriented
The Baby Boomers grew up in post-WWII, during a time of resource abundance and a time when society focused greatly on children. Their parents were mostly of The Greatest Generation, which is a family-oriented generation. Boomers were given a lot of attention and genuinely believed they could change the world. They grew into the free-love, hippie, Woodstock generation. They may have either fought in or protested the Vietnam War, and they witnessed the Civil Rights Era. This environment and set of events led to the Baby Boomers’ community orientation.
Generation Jones (1954-1965)
Competition Oriented
The microgeneration at the end of the Boomer Gen, Gen Jones came up in a time when resources, both tangible goods and attention, started to wane. They didn’t seem to have access to as much indulgence as even their older siblings, especially once they got to the job market, which was already flooded with Boomers. Combine that with the growing emergence of television, and you’ve got a recipe for obsessive comparison and competition.
Generation X (1965-1980)
Work-Life Balance Oriented
Generation X was born into a time when society was paying more attention to adults, especially Boomers, and less on the youth. Resources continued to tighten, and this group of independent latchkey kids was left to fend for themselves often. They became pragmatic with a low expectation of fairness. Unlike the earlier generations, they did not assume total dedication to a career would guarantee success. They hedged their bets.
Xennials (1977-1983)
Values Oriented
The microgen spanning Gen X and Millennials took the Work-Life Balance orientation a step further. This group grew up during the Cold War, the Satanic Panic, and the Challenger Explosion. Young enough to have difficulty understanding such things, these kids grew up with a genuine fear of the world. On top of that, the continued tightening of resources made this group downright thrifty. They started to evaluate what really mattered to them, and spent their energies carefully.
Millennials (1981-1996)
Relationship Oriented
The Millennials were children during 9/11 and the Oklahoma City Bombing. They also witnessed the rise of the internet. As they grew, sites like Myspace and Facebook emerged. The Values orientation of Xennials morphed into a focus on friends and family. This generation ushered in – dragging and being dragged by – social media.
Zillennials (1993-1998)
Culture Oriented
Zillennials were inundated with social media and digital forms of information and communication. They fully developed social media personas, truthfully or otherwise. Zillennials witnessed the rise of reality TV, another avenue for media persona. They were instrumental in popularizing internet meme culture. During their early years, there was also a sense of growing social conciousness. As a result, this microgeneration became heavily focused on culture-seeking and culture-making.
Generation Z (1997-2012)
Self-Care Oriented
Gen Z grew up in a social battle zone. They were literally bombarded with social media and reality TV standards and comparisons. They were overwhelmed by mega-movements like BLM and #MeToo and under constant threat of mass shootings, particularly in their schools. Totally surrounded by endless information from countless digital sources, their attention spans shrank. Eventually, their lives were upended by COVID. Gen Z, naturally, took to focusing on their mental health and physical wellness.
Zalpha Generation (2008-2014)
Platonic Friendship Oriented
Zalpha is currently young, so their focus may change. They are growing up with constant connectivity, COVID, and helicopter parenting. Their social lives have moved almost entirely online. They are still interested in the self-care trends of their older siblings and friends, but they highly value their platonic friendships, uncomplicated by romantic interests.
Generation Alpha (2013- )
Future Oriented
Again, the youngest of us will certainly change with time. They are coming of age in a world of COVID recovery, affordability crisis, culture wars, and growing civil unrest. However, they are well aware of the emerging new technological age ahead. With growing inclusivity, optimism, and a coming A.I. revolution, they prefer to focus on the promise of the future.
Like the chart presented in this post? Download it here.
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More posts like this:
Generational Stereotypes Chart
Micro-generations Stereotypes Chart