Defining Generational Differences: Baby Boomers and Generation X - Essay Example

Defining Generational Differences: Baby Boomers and Generation X 0 Introduction Generations are defined by their attitudes, values, and world viewthat has been uniquely formed by their individual exposure to events and the changing times. The next generation has always been met with some fear and anticipation of progressive attitudes towards society and cultural tradition. It is often taken for granted that the sons and daughters will rebel against the values held by their parents and will act out in more deviant ways than their elders. Still, society manages to maintain order and the accomplishments of our children often exceed our greatest expectations. Two consecutive generations, known as the Baby Boomers and Generation X, clearly fit this model. They are well defined by society, culture, economics, and history. Society retains the qualities of one generation to the next as traditions and social norms are passed from parent to child, but there are also new and striking differences. In the case of the Baby Boomers and generation X, the differences are fueled by history, socialization, and the exposure to a rapidly changing world. 2.0 Scope and Purpose This research will be conducted to determine where the differences are between the Baby Boomer generation and the age group known as generation X. More importantly, it will critically assess why there is a difference and evaluate the forces that created their different values and social interactions. The research is an important method to gain a deeper insight into our society and its mechanisms of enculturation. In addition, it has a commercial value to marketing departments, product developers, managers, or political campaigns who wish to exploit the underlying differences between generations. Understanding how different age groups interact with each other is critical to developing modern management strategies. It is interesting to note that this research is being conducted during a national political campaign where the three major candidates are from different generations. John McCain was born during the depression and Hillary Clinton is a Baby Boomer. Though Barak Obama technically fits into the Baby Boomer demographic, he was born in 1961 and as such exhibits many of the traits and characteristics associated with Generation X. They are an ideal group that can be used for comparisons and contrasting viewpoints on public policy. There is no one firm definition for either a Baby Boomer or a member of Generation X and birth dates and ages vary by as much as seven years (Wallace, 2006, p.150). Almost all the previous research agrees that the first Baby Boomer was born in 1946. However, generations do not fit neat and tidy boundaries and there is some variance as to when one ends and the other begins. For the purposes of this study, a Baby Boomer is anyone born between January 1, 1946 and December 31, 1964 (Smith, 2005, p.440). A member of Generation X has a birth date of January 1, 1965 and December 31, 1980 (Smith, 2005, p.440). This places the age of a Baby Boomer at approximately 44 to 62 years old, while a member of Generation X is approximately 28 to 43 years of age. In addition, the age of the generation at the time that the previous research was conducted becomes important. Age and maturity also influences people as well as their identification with a generation. The research will be conducted through the analysis of previous research and studies on this topic. It will be organized as follows: 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Scope and Purpose 3.0 Literature Review 4.0 Discussion 5.0 Recommendations and Conclusion 3.0 Literature Review Both the Baby Boom generation and Generation X have been extensively described and characterized in the popular media. For the sake of marketing and sales, advertisers have sought to drawn clear distinctions between the groups. Schaie (2007) states that, "Baby boomers are hedonistic; they are self-centered; they are spendthrifts; they are altruistic; they strive to self-actualize" (p.131). These characterizations are clearly meant to reduce the guilty spending of the Baby Boomer generation. Members of Generation X have often been portrayed as lazy, disconnected, and living with their parents well into their 30s as portrayed in the movies Slacker and Generation X (Ortner, 1998, p.433). Jurkiewicz (2000) states that Generation X has been unfairly stereotyped as being "cynical, sullen, contemptuous, nave, arrogant, unfocused, and materialistic" (p.57). Within the last 50 years the public perception of the generation of youth has steadily declined. A national poll in 1949 found that 42 percent of the respondents agreed that youth were levelheaded, but that number decreased to 19 percent by the year 2000 (Cnaan, Gelles, & Sinha, 2004, p.176). The jury of public opinion is still out on both the Baby Boomers and Generation X, and expert opinion may fare no better. Within the literature describing the two generations there are contradictions, and often less difference than is publically recognized. The Baby Boomer generation has been greatly influenced by the 1960s, the space race, Civil Rights, and the Vietnam War. In fact, these pivotal experiences have built up some level of generational resentment between the Baby Boomers and Generation X. Marconi (2000) states, "the younger generation seems angry with boomers for having lived during what seemed like the most dramatic, interesting, and defining moments in American history in at least a century" (p.79). These were common causes that united the generation and brought them together to confront a common issue. This common goal was evident in a study by Sirias, Karp, and Brotherton (2007) that found that Baby Boomers were more likely to exhibit a collectivist attitude, while Generation X was more individualistic (p.755). This difference in their viewpoint is also echoed by Glass (2007) who states that the Baby Boomers are more likely to be "optimistic, idealistic and driven" (p.99). This optimism and idealism is illustrated in the large scale public programs that are associated with the Baby Boom era. The space race, Great Society, and Civil Rights were all large nationalistic movements that engaged the country, while marginalizing the individual participants. Generation X ended the Cold War against a collectivist philosophy and was exposed to the fiercely capitalistic programs of Ronald Reagan and the exuberance of the Clinton economy. These driving national events, and their differences, created a Generation X with less commitment to a nationalistic group. Glass (2007) states that, "Members of this age group are often more skeptical, less loyal, and fiercely independent" (p.100). This would seem to indicate that the political environment during the teenage years has some influence on a generation's attitude towards, and commitment to the larger social groups. Both the Baby Boomers and Generation X have seen a considerable degree of social change. Attitudes towards race, gender, and sexual preference have shifted course in the past 60 years. In addition, the generations were socialized by the changing norms that were portrayed on television. Many of these attitudes and cultural changes altered the way in which the generations view the family. Tapscott (1997) states that there were 3 times as many single parent families and 3 times as many working mothers in 1997 than there were in 1950 (p236). The single parent home and the latch key kid also molded the generational difference in the way they view the family. While Baby Boomers tended to marry earlier and were committed to a nuclear family, Generation X is likely to stay single longer and live their life around an extended family that developed while they were unmarried (Ritchie, 1995, p.155). While Generation X may have less connection to the larger social units, they are more in touch with their immediate social circle than Baby Boomers. Commitment to the state and national political process that generates massive social programs indicates loyalty to the culture and empathy for its members. However, this may not translate to smaller social groups such as networks and families. Sirias et al. (2007) report that Generation X is highly competitive with individual goals, yet works very effectively as a team member (p.755,758). The difference lies in their concept of what is necessary for the success of a group. Sirias et al. (2007) explains that Baby Boomers view the team as the supreme unit, while Generation X'ers believe that they are an integral portion of the team and its success is dependent upon their individual success (p.758). This is a natural evolution that has been promoted by technology and the ability to network and communicate. The younger Generation X is less likely to view the world from a bureaucratic angle and has less loyalty to a rigid chain of command. The abandonment of a commitment to the larger social group in favor of smaller and less formal structures would seem to impact a member of Generation X's attitude toward their value of work, their work ethic among teams, and their professional goals. Kupperscmidt (2000) reported that Baby Boomers have their strength in the ability to build coalitions, leadership, and effecting change through compromise and agreement (cited in Smola & Sutton, 2002, p.365). A major difference in the two groups can be seen in their approach to team building and cooperation. The Baby Boomers will tend to build teams and garner support through generally accepted norms, while a member of Generation X believes that, "The goal is that all group members will eventually begin to push in the same direction from a common theory base and set of values" (Sirias et al., 2007. p.758). Generation X is far less formal and more spontaneous in respect to their vision of a work ethic. Once again, we see the individualistic traits of Generation X having a significant impact on their interaction in the workplace. Generation X has been exposed to the immediacy of technology and the independence of a virtual world. However, this seems to be contradicted by Wallace (2006) who states that, "a sense that one's work is socially important and having supportive colleagues are more important to Generation X's work commitment than to that of the Baby Boomers" (p.147). In addition, Wallace (2006) reported that material gain, higher pay, and professional involvement was more important to Baby boomers that to Generation X (p.147). The literature indicates that Generation X does not have less commitment to the larger social structures, but they approach the situation from a different perspective than the Baby Boomers. Previous misconceptions of dedication and loyalty, and how it manifests, may preclude the accurate assessment of Generation X in regards to work goals and ethics. One of the more firm measures of the difference between Baby Boomers and Generation X is their degree of prosperity at any given age. Paulin and Riordon (1998) conducted an economic analysis of Generation X and Baby Boomers and found that generation X was significantly worse off than the Boomer generation (p.18). They found the results to be true across race and gender and concluded that, "With the possible exception of having a larger array of entertainment and other goods to purchase, members of Generation X appear to be worse off by every measure" (p.18). This is contrary to the typical stereotype of the Baby Boomer who has 'turned on and dropped out'. However, it does seem to support the contention that while pay scale is important to Generation X, the opportunity to do work that is socially important takes priority. With less motivation to achieve wealth, Generation X is fulfilling its own prophecy. As was previously noted, Generation X highly values work that is socially important. How does this motivation translate into personal opinions on other social issues such as race and the environment According to Cotgrove and Duff (1981), "Peace and prosperity provide the conditions which make possible a shift of social ideals" (p.104). In fact, the prosperity of post World War II and the 1950s were the catalyst for the demand for social change by the Civil Rights movement and the students of the 1960s. However, soon after this period, as Generation X began, the trend began to reverse itself. As the new generation began to pull back from a belief in massive government and collectivist programs, the focus on human rights also began to wane. While some have blamed this effect on the backlash of white flight, there has been no evidence for that as African Americans have receded their support as well as avowed racists (Putnam, 2002). There is more reason to believe that it was due to the hyper-inflationary 1970s and the difficult economic times. One of the sharpest divisions that has been drawn by the media and public perception is the difference between Generation X and the Baby Boomers in their attitude toward wealth and career. Yu and Miller (2005) report that, "Western researchers have indicated that money and recognition are strong enticements for Baby Boomers, while Xers do not want recognition for some of their efforts" (p.37). However, this may be a myth with no basis in reality. Appelbaum, Serena, and Shapiro (2005) reported that a high salary and a stable future were both very important motivational factors among both age groups (p.13-14). However, their method of attaining these rewards varied greatly. While hard work and professional interaction are important to Baby Boomers, Generation X relies more on social importance and prestige among colleagues (Wallace, 2006, p.147). This signifies the importance that Baby Boomers place on pragmatic foundations, while Generation X is more likely to rely on abstract concepts of satisfaction gained through work. Some of the perceived contradictions in attitudes toward the social group, individualism versus collectivism, and work ethics may be explained by the trust that the groups have in a desired outcome. Cynicism may be a major component of this difference. While the Baby Boomers were exposed to Vietnam and the subsequent mistrust in government, Generation X had to deal with a rising divorce rate, greater diversity, and two income families. Wallace (2006) reports that Baby Boomers have greater trust in achieving the rewards promised by a desired outcome, while Generation X is more cynical about attaining what they perceive they earn (p.148). This difference in trust has resulted in a generation of Baby Boomers who are likely to work harder and longer hours, while Generation X tends to view work as a less important and less serious aspect of their life (Wallace, 2006, p.148; Joyner, 2000, p.64). This difference could be contributed to the effect of maturity, the results of social change, or the age of the Baby Boomer generation as contrasted with the youth of generation X. However, the roots of the differences seem to lie in the underlying goals that were formulated as children. Studies from the 1970s and 1980s reported that the Baby Boomers were forming goals based on the traditional values with males gravitating towards educational and occupational endeavors, while females focused on family, religion, and society (Chang, Chen, Greenberger, Dooley, & Heckhausen, 2006, p.323). This resulted in the Baby Boomer's continued focus on hard work and material rewards. A longitudinal study by Sewell, Haller, and Portes (1969) confirmed that the influence of family members and significant others was critical in developing the educational goals for the Baby Boomers (p.89, 90). A study that was completed 10 years later began to see the shifting focus on goals rooted in institutional trust. Alexander and Cook (1979) in an extensive survey of high school seniors stated that, "The plans of many students actually are quite unstable; for others they are seemingly nonexistent, or at least not sufficiently formulated to be elicited adequately through conventional survey items" (p.211). In addition, Alexander and Cook (1979) warned that many students were failing to execute what plans they had made and further illustrated the difficulty in measuring motivations, values, and the driving organizational forces (p.212). Here again, evaluating Generation X on the basis of previous aspirations and goals assumed to be predominate fail to accurately portray the generation. The differences in the Baby Boomers and Generation X may simply lie in the model that is used for analysis. While Baby Boomers grew up believing that the path to success involved education, Generation X may see success measured through a different lens and have different expectations from education. These differences in expectations do not indicate more or less commitment to a goal or aspiration towards achievement, but rather the motivation for establishing a goal. It has forced institutions to evolve to accommodate the change in attitudes, trust, and the expectation from opportunity. These differences have been at the forefront in the revolution in education. Clearly, technology has played a vital role in the restructuring of the delivery of education. Oblinger (2003) observed that, "The aging infrastructure and the lecture tradition of colleges and universities may not meet the expectations of students raised on the Internet and interactive games" (p.43). The changeover from Baby Boomer to Generation X has been accompanied by a greater infusion of technology in the classroom as well as technology based delivery systems. Internet classes have stimulated the drive towards more part time students, older students, and a more diverse student population. During the period of 1979 to 1999, the percentage of female students increased from 42 percent to 56 percent (Oblinger, 2003, p.38). This not only reflected the generation's greater acceptance of diversity, it also was an indication that Generation X had moved away from being influenced by the traditional social norms. While the Baby Boomers continued to rely on the traditional male and female roles, Generation X accepted a more individualistic attitude towards their future with less regard for established models. This is also indicated by the wider range of diversity offered by college courses in regards to gender, race, and ethnicity in response to demand. To further confirm that the differences in the Baby Boomer generation and Generation X are based in underlying motivations and molded by their social environment can be measured by the generation's degree of civic involvement and their participation in organizations. Generation X, disillusioned by society and having a greater personal independence, has also resulted in a disengagement from traditional social institutions. In fact, research has shown that there is a correlation between age and civic interaction. Carpini (2000) noted that members of Generation X were less knowledgeable about politics, less likely to vote, and less likely to participate in a political action than the Baby Boomers (p.342). However, this seems to somewhat contradict the presidential campaign of Barak Obama who has relied on younger voter turnout for his recent success. Putnam (2002) attributed the reduced interest in civic engagement to the ongoing evolution of society and states quite simply that, "The culprit is television". The extensive study by Putnam (2002) found an overall deterioration in civic engagement spanning several generations and concluded, "In short, the most parsimonious interpretation of the age-related differences in civic engagement is that they represent a powerful reduction in civic engagement among Americans who came of age in the decades after World War II, as well as some modest additional disengagement that affected all cohorts during the 1980s". Television had its greatest effects upon the Baby Boomers, while the technology of the Internet has been more influential on generation X. Technology isolates the individual and reduces their reliance on traditional social groups, interactions, and structures. This has had a profound impact on both generations with Generation X continuing the trend. While television and technology has taken a toll on civic engagement across all generations, the Internet may be providing alternatives to Generation X. Younger students, such as those of Generation X, are more likely to see themselves as "Internet-savvy", consider themselves more technology capable than their elders, and are less patient with older and outdated equipment (Oblinger, 2003, p.39). This access to technology has been responsible for the rapid rise in popularity of the concept of social networking that began on college campuses. The question of motivation again arises when we compare Baby Boomers to Generation X. Baby boomers are more civically engaged than Generation X, even though Generation X has an easy path to participation through technology. Without a motivation to participate, the technology will remain unused for this purpose. However, the mere existence of the technology may not be enough to spur participation as Generation X matures. Carpini (2000) states that, "the ability of new technologies to increase the motivation to act appears to be the least well-theorized and understood aspect of the potential for increasing civic engagement" (p.348). This is an indication that the driving force behind the difference in the Baby Boom generation's and Generation X's civic engagement is grounded in environmental and historical factors rather than the isolation caused from a changing society. This comfort level with technology began with the introduction of electronic and computer based games in the 1970s. Oblinger (2003) contends that generation X, that was raised with video games, are more likely to use a trial and error method to solving problems that mirrors the strategy of playing a game where losing results in learning (p.40). This is in contrast to the Baby Boomer generation that uses traditional problem solving methods that included rules, logic, and process (Oblinger, 2003, p.40). Indeed, this further confirms that Generation X is more independent and less formal, even in their approach to problem solving. The careful and methodical approach exhibited by Baby Boomers is also shown in the results of a survey reported by Appelbaum, Serena, and Shapiro (2005), which found that Baby Boomers were 3 times as likely to pursue a successful outcome for the sake of self-satisfaction (p.15). These subtle differences in the motivation for acting have resulted in the media portrayal of Generation X as a culture of slackers (Ortner, 1998, p.432-433). Yet, we have seen in previous research reported in this paper that contends it is the motivation that differs, and not the substantive drive to act or be effective. Much like the subtle differences in workplace behavior, the perception that Generation X is less religious than the Baby Boomers may also be a misplaced concept. Religion has undergone significant change in the last 60 years since the first Baby Boomers were born. Roof (1999) says that , "From our perspective in year 2000, two things are clear about the 1950s, a period often remembered as a golden age for family and religion: it was an aberrant decade for both institutions, and it also marked a turning point in the way these two institutions related to one another" (p.220). These shifts in the fundamental components of a world view have altered both the Baby Boomers and Generation X. There are more alternative religions and more options for spirituality. It is commonly portrayed that youth rebel against the religion of their elders. Still, Cnaan, Gelles, and Sinha (2004) argue that there is much less deviance from normality between the generations in regards to religious worship than is commonly believed (p.195). In fact, even in the face of multiple spiritual options Cnaan et al. reports that, "It is likely that Baby Boomer and Generation X parents [. . .] encourage their teens to attend worship services carried out by organized religions and to be part of religiously based social programs" (p.195). A longitudinal study Smith, Faris, Denton, and Regnerus (2003) also noted no significant difference in the level of trust in religion, approval of religion, or their desired influence of religion on high school seniors born between 1958 and 1978 (p.128). The belief that Generation X is less religious than the Baby Boomers is shown to be a myth in light of recent research. Does generation affect the work style of the individual The Baby Boomers have seen a movement from the industrial economy into the service and information age. They have been subjected to a steady change in management requirements and business models (Yu & Miller, 2005, p. 39). This has made the Baby Boomer more flexible with a greater exposure to a variety of management methods. Generation X has been predominantly exposed to the service economy and this limited experience has made them, "more aware of their rights and skills and less concerned with long-term career goals, corporate loyalty or job status" (Yu & Miller, 2005, p.39). In addition, Yu and Miller (2005) noted that "Xers tend to be more independent, self-motivated and self-sufficient. Baby Boomers, on the other hand, tend to be more diligent on the job and prefer a more stable working environment" (p.36). Once again, we see the literature being contradictory as noted earlier by Appelbaum et al. (2005) that noted both generations placed a high value on a stable future. 4.0 Discussion One of the main consistent threads that run through the literature is the fact that in many ways the two generations are very similar. They both strive for successes and treasure a stable future. They are both guided very much by their parents in their religious beliefs and the level of commitment to religion has remained almost unchanged across both generations. Both generations also have a commitment to social change, though Baby Boomers may be presenting that merely out of economic opportunity. Generation X feels a deeper concern for social good and places its value above individual wealth. One of the main differences raised by the literature was the degree of independence exhibited by Generation X as compared to Baby Boomers. Generation X has less loyalty to an employer and less likely to rely on civic institutions for solutions. This is further shown in the higher degree of collectivism held by the Baby Boomers. In almost every area, the independence of Generation X is an underlying motivation for its members. When Generation X participates in team projects, they place their own satisfaction above the success of the group. However, they function effectively in this fashion because they also have the realization that their well being is dependent upon the success of the team. This is in contrast to the collectivist attitude of the Baby Boomer who places the goal of the team above their individual personal good. Baby boomers and Generation X also have a considerable gap in their concept of family. The Baby Boomers grew up in a relatively stable and prosperous economy, while Generation X was exposed to more economic hardship and have suffered economically through the decades. Baby Boomers grew up with suburbia, the Cleavers, and Ozzie and Harriet. Divorces and two income families were far less prevalent than they were a generation later. Generation X was faced with a culture of absentee parents at a time of changing social attitudes on race, gender, and equality. Generation X has used their access to technology to accommodate the environment. Extended families and innovative social networks have radically changed the image of the family across these two generations. Generation X is not the stereotyped character that is portrayed in the media and popular culture. They are not the sullen and rebellious social group that is often associated with them. Likewise, Baby Boomers are not the idealistic dreamer that has often permeated modern media and literature. Generation X is a serious age group that thinks of society and their place in it differently than previous generations. Baby Boomers are material driven and believe that social change is possible. Though Generation X is very independent, they function effectively in team and virtual situations. 5.0 Recommendations and Conclusion It is noteworthy to understand the implications of this research in context with the current presidential election. The three candidates are each from a different generation. It is interesting to compare Hillary Clinton, a Baby Boomer, with the Generation X Barak Obama. Clinton's health care plan is universal and reflects her tendency towards collectivism. In contrast, Obama's plan would allow people to opt out based on individual choice. This is a sign of the independence of generation X. In addition, Obama relies on the youth vote who is significantly more interested in social change than the economy. The research is incomplete and limited in its use. One of the problems that was encountered in the literature was the degree of subjectivity and contradiction. Although some generalizations can be made, efforts to define different values or ethics between the groups can lead to ambiguity. However, understanding not only how the generations view key components of society differently, it is important to know why. In the case of generation X and the Baby Boomers, the differences are not attributable to rebellion as is often perceived. They were the result of environmental, historical, and economic events. More research needs to be conducted in this area with greater controls that can eliminate bias and gain a better understanding of the phenomena of generational differences. In conclusion, generational differences are not the result of rebellion against traditional social values and norms. They are the result of key events in the life of the child as they grow into maturity. Many of the core values, such as religion, are passed from generation to generation almost unchanged. The value we place on material wealth and social good will be formed by the environment we grow up in and that is in a constant state of flux. Baby Boomers were exposed to great social upheaval, war, and civil unrest. Generation X had the economic disadvantage and the uncertainty of the changing face of the family. Both generations continue to excel in spite of the prevailing public perception. References Alexander, K. L., & Cook, M. A. (1979). The motivational relevance of educational plans: Questioning the conventional wisdom [Electronic version]. Social Psychology Quarterly, 42(3), 202-213. from JSTOR. Appelbaum, S. H., Serena, M., & Shapiro, B. T. (2005). Generation "X" and the boomers: An analysis of realities and myths [Electronic version]. Management Research News, 28(1), 1-33. from EBSCO. Carpini, M. D. (2000). Gen.com: Youth, civic engagement, and the new information environment [Electronic version]. Political Communication, 17, 341-349. from Taylor & Francis. Chang, E. 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