Comparing Millennial Generation To Boomer - Essay Example

?Comparing Millennial Generation to Boomers With the changing decades new modes of culture and understanding have emerged in the corresponding populations that were born during these periods. Throughout the 20th century two of the most prominent generations have been designated by socio-cultural critiques as the Millennial Generation and the Baby Boomers. These generations constitute strong possibilities for analysis as they represent polar opposites in terms of birth, with the Baby Boomers constituting the generation born immediately after World War II and the Millennial Generation those born between 1982-2001. This essay examines these generations in terms of educational opportunities, One of the prominent areas of consideration between the Baby Boomer Generation and the Millennial Generation is the nature of educational opportunities. A notable consideration in these regards is the understanding that both generations emerged in an era of relative prosperity where pursuing higher education was not only a possibility, but an expected course of action for much of the population. Within this area of understanding statistical figures further elucidate areas of differentiation between the two generations. In terms of male education for Baby Boomers, it’s indicated that 25% have some college and 13% have four years of college or more. This is compared to males in the Millennial Generation wherein 34% have some college and 15% have four years of college or more. In these regards, the figures for individuals completing college are highly similar. This is not true for females where the disparity between the generations is marked, with 20% of Millennials completing four years of college or more as compared to 11% of Baby Boomers. These changing educational opportunities are also indicative of the shifting of gender roles among the two age groups. While Baby Boomers matriculated in an era where the male was still seen as the primary bread winner, the Millennial Generation increasingly saw the increase of women’s responsibility in the workplace. Another prominent area of consideration is the relative level of diversity between the Baby Boomer Generation and the Millennial Generation. One of the main considerations occurs in the reduction of the majority ethnicity between the two generations. In these regards, the Baby Boomer generation is noted to constitute 77% white, 9% Hispanic, and 12% black. This is compared to the Millennial Generation which demonstrates a demographic make-up of 61% white, 19% Hispanic, and 13% black. The main distinction between the two is clearly the strong rise in Hispanic populations between the generations. While this is indicative of shifts within these generations, it is also highly indicative of general shifts in the overriding population, both demographically and socio-culturally. While educational opportunities and diversity levels are statistically correlated they are also indicative of a number shifting attitudes and perspectives between the generations. Within this context of understanding, a number of qualitative understandings have been articulated. Starbucker presents the Baby Boomer contrast to Don Tapscott’s seminal text on the Millennial Generation Growing Up Digital. Among the comparative elements Starbucker considers contrasting attitudes on the nature of freedom, with both generations valuing it, but the Millennial Generation achieving heightened levels with increased access to digital technology, such as cell-phones and portable Internet access. Another prominent differentiation between the two generations is the outlook on the advance of technology. While the Baby Boomer generation experienced great technological leaps in terms of medical care, the television, and advancing car efficiency, the Millennial Generation has come to be almost identified with the shifting nature of technological progress. Another prominent area of consideration is the shifting attitudes towards the political spectrum. From a broad and qualitative understanding the general consensus is the belief that the events of the 1960s had a profound impact on generational perceptions of politics. While many of the Baby Boomers came of age during this period, it’s believed that the nature of political trust was thoroughly shattered through the events of Watergate and the large-scale public rejection of the Vietnam War. This attitude has carried over to the contemporary Millennial Generation through a general cynicism towards the nation’s political leadership. In a recent Washington Post article, Winograd further articulated a number of differentiating perspectives between the two generations. In these regards, Winograd argues that the Millennial’s political style is more similar to the Greatest Generation than it is to the Baby Boomer’s perspective. One of the predominant notions in these regards was noted as, “Unlike the young baby boomers, millennials want to strengthen the political system, not tear it down. According to a study last year by the Pew Research Center, most millennials (64 percent) disagree that the federal government is wasteful and inefficient, while most older Americans (58 percent) think it is” (Winograd 2008). In this context of understanding, one also must consider the shifting of political attitudes within the last few years of recession era living. With the Obama election an increase in political activism occurred within the Millennial Generation, but with continued unemployment rates a newfound cynicism with the political structure has emerged, as exemplified in the current Occupy Wall-Street movement. The question remains will this generation shift towards Great Depression era generational attitudes, or increasingly adopt the revolutionary attitudes of 1960s America Baby Boomers. In conclusion, this essay has compared and contrasted the Baby Boomer Generation with the Millennial Generation. In this context of understanding, major areas of investigation include statistical differences between educational opportunities and diversity, and qualitative investigations into differences between the generations’ general perspectives and political paradigm. Ultimately, it’s revealed that significant shifts have occurred in terms of gender roles, expectations and interaction with technology, and the level of political satisfaction with the current governmental structure. Still, it’s notable that particularly in the political realm, many of these attitudes and perspectives continue to shift and will undoubtedly witness change in the upcoming years. References Millennials: a portrait of generation next. 2011. Retrieved from http://pewresearch.org/millennials/ Starbucker, Terry. Baby boomers vs millennials. 2011. Retrieved from http://www.terrystarbucker.com/2008/12/24/generational-smackdown- baby-boomers-vs-the-millennials/ Winograd, Morley. The boomers had their day make way for the millennials. 2008. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- dyn/content/article/2008/02/01/AR2008020102826.html Read More