In 1991, 28-year old author Douglas Coupland wrote a novel called Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture. The phrase has entered the contemporary dialect, shortly after the release of the novel. Coupland portrays a group of three friends who have escaped civilization for still Palm Springs, California, telling stories while they rush to menial jobs. Through these stories, the novel reveals the anguish felt by those who were born in the early 1960s, who are baby boomers, but feel no connection with their cultural icons. For this age group, the "X" symbolizes an unknown value for a generation awakening in the consciousness of its reality as a distinct group, but at the same time to be culturally eclipsed by the Baby Boomer Generation (Wikipedia, nd). The phrase Generation X defines an age group unsuccessfully searching for an identity that does not exist.
In demographics, marketing, popular culture and the social sciences, the phrase Generation X classifies the process immediately after the baby boomers. According to William Strauss and Neil Howe from generation to generation of books, the bass and treble at cultural trends as opposed to birth rates indicate that this generation consists of people born between 1961 and 1981 (Strauss and Howe, 190 ). They are also known as the "13th generation" because they are the thirteenth generation born since the generation of those of the American Revolution (Wikipedia, nd). The total number of people born in Generation X is now estimated at over 50 million people, surpassing the amount of Baby Boomers from 1980 (Mitchell, McLean and Turner, 05).
This generation also has many other synonyms labels. Among them are the ones that bring the most critical subtexts benignly as "The MTV Generation", or "Slackers". The first implies an ability to focus on nothing more tedious work of flashy camera with quick cuts typical of those in music videos (Isaksen, 02). The latter implies a generation with little popular ambition since 1991 Richard Linklater's "Slacker". Broad generalizations for members of any generation not accurately depict every single member of that generation. Many of the generational stereotypes of Generation X, often attributed to them by the Baby Boomers, are simply false. They are the generation most technologically savvy, being the first to grow up with television, the advent of personal computers and video games. The stereotype comes from the arrival of MTV in 1981 that specifically suits them. Yet, despite all the charm of Atari, Pacman and MTV, they are very intelligent. According to enrollment rates in colleges and universities, Generation X is the generation most learned in US history. Since the beginning of high school graduations this generation's schools in 1980, their graduates regularly enroll in higher education in amounts record (Mitchell, McLean and Turner, 05). In addition, each generation has slacker representing a dissident group and are not necessarily exclusive of this generation (Mitchell, McLean and Turner, 05).
The anger and agitation are two definitive terms describe Generation X. Much of this is expressed through the choice of music. music alternative rock bands of the so-called "grunge" as Alice In Chains, Nirvana and Pearl Jam characterize this generation. Similarly, the hip-hop artists such as Dr. Dre, Notorious BIG and Tupac Shakur also characterize this generation. A popular myth is that they are the only white man. Still, this group is very diverse in ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, and status. They are white, 70%, 13% black, 12% Hispanic, 4% Asian, and 1% Native American (Mitchell, McLean and Turner, 05). This generation feels burdened by what they think are the result of a negligent behavior of previous generations: AIDS, broken families, the environment, homelessness, the national debt and poverty. Yet this generation developed in a period of relative calm in US history. One cohesive experience as the Second World War, Korea or Vietnam to bring them together would prevent them from developing into a unified group (Mitchell, McLean and Turner, 05). This generation experiences a combined distinction not by a single unifying event, but rather by common experiences of investment and social conditions (Isaksen, 02).
Generation X children were known collectively as "latch-key children," with the television as a babysitter or a main substitute for parents. A vast preponderance of this generation's children lived in two-income families and, unlike previous generations, many have been forced to return home from school to look after themselves. In addition, both have grown during the Reagan administration and Republican George Bush in 1980 that limited social programs (Mitchell, McLean and Turner, 05). As a direct result, they are realistic in their expectations through learned self-reliance at an early age. Based on a lifetime of exposure to advertising on television, this generation is very crafty as a group of consumers. They consider both the institution and the government with a high degree of suspicion, choosing to trust only themselves and their friends. They instinctively know when they are deliberately manipulated and not stupidly absorb information represented to be accurate. This generation puts a higher value honesty above advertising campaign (Mitchell, McLean and Turner, 05).
Often degree of independence Generation X is mistaken for an insensitive level of egocentrism. However, instead of identifying as selfish, a more precise descriptive term would be of great autonomy. They place great emphasis on individualism (Wikipedia, nd). Yet even with their aversion to collectivism, this generation has the peculiarity of his generation. They take great pride in their degree of diversity, tolerance and inability to be labeled. Through a lifestyle unconventional living as interracial marriage and adoption or living together before marriage, that the practices peacefully acceptance while not trying to impose their own values on others (Wikipedia, ND).
Many in Generation X saw their parents cold heart resized by companies, after years of faithful service. In contrast to previous generations of parents and grandparents, the employees of this generation do not expect to stay in a job or business during their entire careers. Instead of pursuing a career stability, anticipate seeking employment elsewhere. This group has a tendency to look for work that gives better opportunities for skills development and individual fulfillment (Smith, 03). These employees want the ability to be marketable elsewhere in the world of work through the formation and growth of new skills learned. Wanting to vacation time, sick days and work leaves in addition to employee benefits as day care, health care and stock investment plans, these workers are also benefiting from good sense. In the final analysis, however, they find personal satisfaction from their work as a greater incentive pays above (Smith, 03).
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