The Generational Divide(U.S. Populations)

Traditionalists/Silent Generation

Born 1925-194575 Million

Baby Boomers Born 1946-196480 Million

Generation X Born 1965-198046 Million

Generation Y/ Millennial

Born 1980-200276 Million

Traditionalists (58+)

InfluencesGreat Depression, Roaring Twenties, World War I & II, Korean War, G.I. Bill

CharacteristicsPatriotic, loyal, “waste not, want not,” faith in institutionsMilitary influenced top-down approach

Key Word: Loyal

Influential People/Events

Traditionalists (58+)

Value Logic and Discipline Don’t Like Change Want to Build a Legacy

Baby Boomers (39-57)

InfluencesSuburbia, TV, Vietnam, Watergate, protests, human rights movement, drugs, and rock ‘n roll

CharacteristicsIdealistic, COMPETITIVE, question authority

Key Word: Optimistic

Influential People

“Me” GenerationMoney, Title, RecognitionWant to Build A Stellar Career

Baby Boomers (39-57)

Generation X (25-38)

InfluencesSesame Street, MTV, Game Boy, PC, divorce rate tripled, latch-key childrenCharacteristics- eclectic, resourceful, self-reliant, distrustful of institutions, highly adaptive to change and technology

Influential People

First generation to be plannedFirst generation to have dual career parentsDivided by divorce (divorce rate three times higher than previous generation)Independent (Latch-key children)Pragmatic (What’s the bottom line?)Seek personal attention (what they did not get as children)Want everything now (materialistic)Information over introspection (just the facts)Want choices

Generation X (25-38)

Generation Y/Millennial (up to 22)

InfluencesExpanded technology, natural disasters, violence, gangs, diversity

CharacteristicsGlobally concerned, realistic, cyber literate, “personal safety” is number one concern

Influential People/Events

Generation Y/Millennial (up to 22)Fast-Paced Lifestyle with different patterns of social connection and intimacyTechnological proficiencyGravitate towards group activities and team sports vs. unorganized sports.Have more groups of friends rather than individual friendsAware of campus and community rules, regulations and political correctness, however…see it as a challenge to find a way around the rules

Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation by Neil Howe and William Strauss

Goals…

Goal

Traditionalists “Build a Legacy”

Baby Boomers “Build a Stellar Career”

Generation X “Build a Portable Career”

Generation Y “Build Parallel Careers”

Institutions…

Institutions

Traditionalists “Deserve loyalty”

Baby Boomers “Deserve to change”

Generation X “Are suspect”

Generation Y “Should be judged on their own merit”

Career Path…

Career Path

Traditionalists “Job changing has stigma”

Baby Boomers “Job changing puts you behind”

Generation X “Job changing is necessary”

Generation Y “Doesn’t need to be a straight line”

How is the Millennial Generation Perceived by Others?

“Society’s emphasis on convenience has empowered them to look for the easiest way out in may circumstances. They have learned to work the system…they are used to working in the distractions of an overcomplicated world…technology guides their every move, and they are stimulation junkies.”

Robert Wendover, Center for Generational Studies

“Today’s students are socially shy, technically savvy, parent-drive, and more complex psychologically than their predecessors. And, they demand a smarter, better trained (college) professional to meet their needs…But there’s a gap between (college) professionals’ usual initiatives and the skills, experience, and tools required to handle the unique developmental and behavioral issues of today’s students.”

Student Affairs Today, Volume 6, Issue 4, July 2003