By Lydia Baxter

There are six living generations in America right now, and the Baby Boomers are one of the most influential. There are no two generations alike, though some do say that history repeats itself. Here’s a breakdown of what each of these six living generations are known for.

The “Greatest Generation” – AKA the “GI Generation”
• Born between 1901 and 1925
• Members of this generation tend to be assertive, energetic, great team players, and community-minded.
• Lived through the Great Depression and fought in WWII, and have strong sense of civic duty, so they often vote
• Resourceful and dislike wastefulness; operate under idea that they should “Use it up, fix it up, make it do, or do without.”
• Famous people: Betty White, Katharine Hepburn, and Richard Nixon

The “Silent Generation”
• Born between 1925-1945
• Dubbed the “Silent Generation” because they tended to be more cautious than their parents, and emphasized conformity
• Members of this generation tend to be disciplined, self-sacrificing, cautious, and avid readers (especially of newspapers)
• Famous people: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Joe Biden, and Dick Cheney

The “Baby Boomers”
• Born between 1946-1964
• Named after the significant surge in births as military personnel returned home from WWII
• Generation responsible for “free love” movement, the fight for civil rights, and the second wave of feminism
• Women of this generation started to work outside of the home in impressive numbers
• Members of this generation tend to be optimistic, driven, team-oriented, and respectful of tradition
• One of the first generations to regard retirement as a time to live life to the fullest
• Famous people: David Letterman, Eve Ensler, and Samuel L. Jackson

Generation X
• Born between 1965-1980
• Members of this generation tend to be entrepreneurial, self-reliant, curious, and focused on local change
• Emergence of street-smart, yet isolated children known as “latch-key kids”who returned home to an empty house, and tended to have divorced or career-driven parents
• Famous people: George Clooney, Paula Abdul, and Princess Diana

Generation Y – AKA “Millenials”
• Born between 1981-2000
• In 2014, members of this generation outnumbered Baby Boomers in United States, representing 25% of the country’s population
• Grew up in a hyper-connected society and tend to expect immediate results
• Millenials tend to have the same spark and drive to change the world as their parents, the Baby Boomers, though both groups are often pitted against one another.
• Famous people: Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, and Beyoncé

Generation Z – AKA “Boomlets”
• Born after 2001
• In 2006, there were a record number of births, which far outnumbered the start of the Baby Boomers
• 4 million members of this generation have their own cell phones
• This generation has never known a world without television, computers, or cell phones
• Children of Gen X and some Gen Y
• Famous people: Emma Gonzales and Millie Bobby Brown

 

FST’s production of The Wonder Years plays in the Court Cabaret starting February 6. To purchase tickets or for more information, click here.