N
Neithan
Guest
By now we’re probably all somewhat familiar with the popular Strauss-Howe generational theory. I remember reading about this when their book Fourth Turning came out about 20 years ago and thinking how interesting it was: how potentially useful when considering the inter-generational relationships in the family, church, workplace and political clubs. Journalists are particularly fond of it, and you may have read an article or two about the conflicts and challenges that confronted “Baby Boomers,” “Gen X” and the “Millennials,” compared to their older “Silent,” “G.I.” and “Lost” parents/grandparents/great-grandparents.
One issue with this theory is the series of differing years used for the beginning and ending of each. Some start in the middle of a decade and last about 20 years, others can begin near the end of a decade and last almost 30 years! [Cavalier generation, for example.] In some cases, poor Gen X is wedged awkwardly between two larger generations and left with a mere 14 years (1965-1979).
Why not just simplify this and let each generation last two decades. This makes it easier for census bureaus and journalists alike (though maybe the latter don’t want it simplified). So with this reckoning the Lost generation was the 1880s and '90s; the G.I. were the 1900s and 1910s, the Silent were the '20s and '30s etc. until the Millennials in the 1980s and '90s. The kids born between 2001-2020 are a new generation (with various suggested names like “Net Gen,” “Digital Natives,” “Delta Generation” or “Plurals”; we’ll see which catches on).
Thoughts?
One issue with this theory is the series of differing years used for the beginning and ending of each. Some start in the middle of a decade and last about 20 years, others can begin near the end of a decade and last almost 30 years! [Cavalier generation, for example.] In some cases, poor Gen X is wedged awkwardly between two larger generations and left with a mere 14 years (1965-1979).
Why not just simplify this and let each generation last two decades. This makes it easier for census bureaus and journalists alike (though maybe the latter don’t want it simplified). So with this reckoning the Lost generation was the 1880s and '90s; the G.I. were the 1900s and 1910s, the Silent were the '20s and '30s etc. until the Millennials in the 1980s and '90s. The kids born between 2001-2020 are a new generation (with various suggested names like “Net Gen,” “Digital Natives,” “Delta Generation” or “Plurals”; we’ll see which catches on).
Thoughts?
Last edited: