Why Are The Generation X Negatively Described - Essay Example

 Human beings have been categorized depending on their characteristics, nature as well as how they operate in their daily activities. There have been progressive developments of the human generations over time since the inception of mankind. Before the generation x, there existed the baby boomers which include people born within the period when the World War II was at its peak. During his period, there existed rapid degeneration and disorganization of activities. Deaths occurred and the labor force most so in the US was vastly interrupted. Generation x are therefore known as the children of the baby boomers by majority of the scholars (Mitchell, 2001). Generation x have been defined with relevance to the work place ethics and several descriptions have also been put forward to explain the behavior of this group of people in terms of how they relate with other humans in the social sphere. They are described very negatively and their attributes made degenerative. They are the kind of people who are presumed to be very lazy at work and only prefer to work under specified and forceful conditions. Generation x exhibits a high level of arrogance given chance, and only work well under strict supervision. Generally, they don’t like work. Several research works have been put forward to try and make people understand this clot of people. It has been found out that a wide gap exists between the baby boomers and the generation x in terms of characteristics and behavior. Parameters like skill, ethics, knowledge, critical thinking and morality were critically and considerably identified as features that may exist to contrast the two generations of human beings (Coupland, 2008). Work ethics doesn’t exist in the category of generation x, they are very stubborn and do not even respect their seniors at work. They also do not perform work according to descriptions and the necessary accolades. It is generally argued that generation x are selfish individuals who look up to their family members for support of their daily livelihoods. To do not at all costs try to work hard and achieve one for their own. This argument may be true or not since humans are different, both in the way, they think and how they act. Therefore it should not be generally argued that the generation x category are selfish, lazy and do not want to work as this may compromise the human nature of free thinking, liberty to act and critical and creative analysis of presented ideas as well as the urge to be independent in thought. Generally, generation x characteristics and behavior has only been influenced by time or the period where they were born. Despite this they are still able to cope with the life time challenges just like any other human being. According to research work findings, it is true that technological trends keep up to date with them since they keep working hard to familiarize themselves with the recent changes. This has cancelled the notion that they are lazy and do not want to work. The American labor sector was the very foundation of the noticeable characteristics of the Generation X. In most employment circles, these characteristics were mostly noticeable in comparison to the previous generations like baby boomers that dominated most the workplaces then. Most people in this generation got into the workforce in the 1980s and were mostly judged by the existing generations. It must be emphasized that certain biases become inevitable in such judgments. The baby boomers are known to be hard workers who cherish perfection on the job and strive to attain excellence on the workplace. Generation X on the other hand is seen to be arrogant in most instances and will therefore make poor or strict managers. However, in comparison to the Generation Y, the Generation Xers do not put much focus on monetary rewards in their selection of employment opportunities. Perhaps the most significant characteristic noticeable in this generation is the little job turnover seen in them. The movement from one job to another in search of better opportunities is one of the greatest challenges that affect people in Generation Y. Nevertheless, for X, parental responsibilities and the need to settle down in life have greatly reduced the transit. Laziness is also another negative attribute evidenced in people from generation X. Several researchers have established that this laziness mostly emanates from the fact that most of these people got plum jobs when the unemployment rates were still very low and were therefore special in a way. In most cases, the education they got then facilitated their landing in some of the best careers, which enabled them get managerial positions with time. Most people in this age bracket therefore developed laziness because of the little competition that faced then during their search for employment and the subsequent years. Most existing literature has always described generation X on the negative. However, in employment circles, it is realized that most people from this generation are always endowed with unique skills that in most cases become the basis of their success and negative attributes like arrogance. In a way, this excellence emanates from the systems these people underwent through. The education systems in the 1960s through late 1980s were very good in several counties and had not been debased by the components of modern life, which have seriously impaired the level of education. The education system then, coupled with proper parenting became the foundation for the perfection in work that is reminiscent in this generation (Grummett, 1997). Most people in the current generation Y usually experience several problems in the workplaces in coping up with Generation X managers. The very different modes of live in these two generations become the subject of most of the controversies that exist between them. On the technological front, most people from the generation X are normally at ease with the many technological manifestations that characterize the present world. Technology has totally transformed the workplace much to the detriment of older generations (Hamblett, 2000). However, most of the X generations grew up at a time when the efficiencies of technology were beginning to be realized and seen in several sectors of life. However, these people will always demonstrate certain rigidities with regard to new technology in cases where they have not yet learnt the basis and need of such advancement. It therefore implies that the generation X becomes an inevitable component in the modern work place and an integral people in the shaping of modern social life. References Coupland, r. D. (2008). Generation X: tales for an accelerated culture. Toronto: St. Martin's Press. Grummett, T. (1997). Generation X. Seattle: Byron Preiss Multimedia Co. Hamblett, C. (2000). Generation X. London: Gibbs & Phillips. Mitchell, S. (2001). Generation X: Americans aged 18 to 34. New York: New Strategist Publications. Read More