YOUNGER BOOMERS - NOW GENERATION JONES

The Baby Boom was a 25 year period between 1946 and 1964 during which 75 Million children were born in America. Because of the 25 years time frame, it is obvious that more than one generation exists among the Boomer demographic.

Although many of us felt and sensed some irreconcilable differences in our viewpoints, and those of younger Boomers relating especially to priorities and lifestyles; most of us could not quite define what caused the disconnections between us as older and middle boomers from the younger groups.

It seemed that around us were people younger than us, sometimes only by a few years, such as our siblings, but often also our own or our friends children, who did not seem to belong either among us older Baby Boomers or Generation X.

For example, when Oliver Stone lists what he considers to be the top 10 Boomer films, regardless of the 1967 to 1981 releases, I seriously doubt that several of the movies among them, such as: The Graduate 1967; Easy Rider 1969; Annie Hall 1977; Apocalypse Now 1979; Reds 1981, would appeal to the Younger Boomers.

It is now felt that, younger Boomers, those born between 1954 and 1964, or even 1969, could and should be considered a distinct group. They grew up in a changed society from the one we did and also received a different upbringing from older Boomers. Social historian Jonathon Pontell labeled this group Generation Jones.

Many feel that 20 years of international Boomer leadership, have been now ceded to Generation Jones since 2/3’s of the current Presidents and Prime Ministers of the EU and NATO members countries are now ‘Jonesers’. They cite the following: America’s Obama, the last President of France, Sarkozy, Germany’s Merkel, Australia’s Gillard, New Zealand’s Key and Canada’s Harper, all could be considered members of Generation Jones. Obviously, we can expect changes reflecting this demographics upbringing and personal style.*

The ‘Jones’ group designation also reflects consumerism (keeping up with the Jones), so the title is not totally complimentary. Neither is it mainly technological savvy or the fact that many/most of this grew up in an age of technological transformation, that defines this group. Many of them went from Preppy to Yuppie with M.B.A. degrees, Beemers and a Mortgage. 

Both members of couples are working very hard to support their lifestyle. Their children seem to be enrolled in every extra-curricular activity known to man and all of them have their own technology as soon as it is available.

Many of this group have remarried at least once. Often they have children from both marriages and sometimes the children are several years apart in age, perhaps by half a generation or more. 

To older Boomers, these younger ones weren't interested in social activism or human rights in the same way as Older Boomers were. We couldn’t quite understand this when these things mattered a great deal to us.  

Although we accepted that a number of significant changes had been assimilated, almost seamlessly, into the society around us by the time the younger group were reaching adulthood; we nevertheless felt that those younger than us, inherited considerably more opportunities, beginning with the ability for both sexes to earn a good living.

Older Boomers were proud that they had been responsible for many changes in our society and had made it better. Much of this was because of concessions from earlier generations, including the male dominated (often called chauvinist) elements of society. Many of us felt justifiably proud that because ‘the whole world was watching’, we were being heard.

It wasn’t just Women who were Roaring that “I am Woman, Watch Me Roar; In Numbers Too Big To Ignore”, although ‘Roar’ they did, and with some significant results. **

Better and more universal education was becoming available for more people, including Women.

One of the major changes in the professions, now totally taken for granted, was a large one. It was, perhaps the first time in the history of industrialized society that it was no longer considered a waste of time to educate Women because they would soon marry and leave the work force giving up their jobs to raise their families.

Meanwhile, economically the world had changed and the two income family was not only more easily accepted, but had actually become necessary.

In addition to these improved social services, women with incomes of their own, and changes to the law, all made it easier to divorce and move away from bad marriages. However, the single parent family this created, also  meant a parent who went out to work and the child to daycare and junior kindergarten.

The gigantic first Boomer wave, only a few years before some of the older of this ‘sophomore’ and ‘freshman’ group meant that when the younger group entered the work force, our own group were just coming into their mid careers and had a considerable time till we would leave the work force.

In fact, for the first time in history, both women and men were continuing to work and this added to the scarcity of opportunities for entry into the work force. Like Generation X (Douglas Copeland’s book on his group), some felt all they could hope for were jobs as ‘hamburger flippers’.

If the younger group had a Mantra, it almost seemed to be: no one else is looking out for me therefore, “I’m out for me”.

Meanwhile, on the health front, Aids had appeared as they came of age. This transformed forever, the formerly private discussions (if any at all) about sex.

With life threatening disease as an alternative, the schools took over health/sex education. Suddenly something always considered very ‘private’ was public. A combination of rumours of a horrible plague and possible contagion were crashing against the wall of privacy.

Generations of reserve against almost any discussion of ‘such matters’ with hardly anyone (extending sometimes even to your medical doctor) had to be overcome in order to potentially save their children’s lives. I remember telling my mother that she had to overcome her reticence about discussing sex with the children, or to get one of my brothers to speak with the boys and that it was essential that she do so, whatever her feelings.

Meanwhile, insecurity about having a partner and actually keeping someone interested, began to make businesses like Victoria Secret possible. The first time I heard someone say they were taking lessons in pole dancing, I almost choked.

Children of divorce may perhaps have felt that they must work to somehow find and keep a partner. To do this, they would need to do everything they could to keep the competition at bay.

Fidelity, something our parents both hoped for and expected, seemed and continues to appear to be more elusive than ever. Some women now even feel that it is congenitally impossible for males to be faithful to one woman.

In addition to lingerie as outerwear and in general, ways of dressing previously reserved for prostitutes, society in a few years went from an embarrassed reference to the older woman/younger man relationship in 2007 in the movie Oceans 13, to enjoying and even reveling about this in films such as that of in Under the Tuscan Sky (Diane Lane born 1965), and a hit television series Cougar Town with Courtenay Cox (born 1964).

Mercifully one good outcome which the more open discussion of sexuality which the HIV/Aids epidemic necessitated, has been a great tolerance and also acceptance of other people and their lifestyles. I also think it made us less fearful of those different from ourselves.

Innovations in technology, including the appearance of two of the most famous 'computer geek' pioneers was bringing us the transformation of both the home and the office environments. Most of us initially, however, couldn’t imagine what they would ever need a computer for. For a short time, few but the younger group, who were growing up as the digital age was, were  comfortable with it. The later Boomers however, both grew up ‘digital’ and continue to run their days, and their lives, connected with each other and their ‘devices’.

Some of us are dismayed that even when these younger people are in front of us, often they are still staying in touch with their ‘friends’, ‘circles’, networks and the world via youtube and Facebook and Linkedin.

As technologies became obsolete, younger Boomers and everyone following them began to need to ask what things such as a Typewriter, Phonograph, L.P. record, 45 disc and Black and White Television were. With technology evolving constantly, an antique was sometimes a 3 year old model of some game, phone or device. Think, Gordon Gekko on Wall Street 2, coming out of jail and being given this gigantic and heavy ‘mobile phone’.

We sometimes feel that the younger Boomers/Generation Jonesers got the benefits of the societal changes our group fought for. The injustice we fought and prevailed against, was our legacy. It however, became assimilated and taken for granted as the way life was, since they had never known anything else.

With perhaps a bit of sour grapes in our attitude, slightly older Boomers among us sometimes feel that, this younger Generation Jones group actually isn’t so young anymore either, so quit treating us as ancient. The oldest among them are now 55 years old, and even those born in 1969, the youngest of Generation Jones are 44 years old or older.

Some of us feel also that with the exception of computer literacy and both sexes typing up a storm, even if only with their thumbs, most of the younger Boomers, with the exception of the ‘computer geek’ pioneer group, the rest got the benefits of our efforts at making a better society without any effort or interest of their own in anything other than enjoying life.

Another reason for these ‘sour grapes’ is because we sometimes feel they blame our Cohort/Generation for what they consider their own harder lives.

Where Generation X  feel they were often from divorced families and left on their own, so ‘What’s in it for Me’. We sometimes feel that some of them ‘dropped out’, before they dropped in and saw what life was about for the rest of us.

Younger Boomers can’t understand why Older Boomers think they had it easy, got trips all over the world and ‘everything handed to them’, without having to work for it as older Boomers did. We feel not only did we get their dirty diapers and babysitting, but we get resented for it. We, on the other hand, think that they got everything handed to them on a platter. Most of us could not believe high school siblings on European multi city trips calling home for more cash to be sent to them.

I also think that some of them feel they have missed out on something. Some even say all they feel they got was our ‘hand me downs’.

The implication that some of them seem to believe it is somehow our fault that the world isn’t perfect, rankles a bit. Meanwhile, some seem to think they are worse off than their Gen X or Y younger siblings.

To some extent I understand when my younger siblings say that they think I talk about the past a lot and especially about friends and family members they never knew. We meanwhile, say C’mon, we don’t talk about walking six miles to school (as our own fathers might have) to the skepticism of our group.

I don't think however, that younger Boomers understand what I mean, when I tell them there really was idealistic optimism that change was possible.

Something so easily remembered by us – that there was music in the air wherever we went, seems to be dismissed by them as absurd. They also don’t care for some of my music any more than I do for theirs.

Nevertheless, I doggedly persevere in trying to explain that we were many individuals who nevertheless were united in wanting to change the world for the better. I don't know whether they believe me about this either. 

To them, I think most of the older Boomers, probably seem old and interested/interesting only to our own ‘generation’; not Cohort – Generation.

With the new classification of Generation Jones however, we realize that a logical separation of a group with different ideas, ideals and priorities makes good sense.

A gap chronologically encompassing 25 years, 1946-1964 wasn’t sensible either because two generations+ are involved and many older Boomers could and actually were parents to Younger Boomers.

Once you realize that many older Boomers are parents to Generation Jones younger members, it is easier not to be annoyed or take personally what this group thinks is older Boomer preoccupation with the past. You actually stop thinking they are deliberately insulting you and realize that every generation goes through something like this with later ones.

In fact, I think it is a good idea if we begin to occasionally try and learning something from each other because we both have something to offer each other.

Meanwhile, we should be aware that for some time now, other Generation Gaps are  coming and younger generations have probably already, considered that anyone calling themselves a Boomer (or whatever we eventually will be relabeled as) are something pretty far removed for where they live. All it is actually is that, another generation is coming of age. 

*You might like to look at this link: http://www.generationjones.com/?page_id=6

**I Am Woman – a song sung by Helen Reddy in 1975 became the anthem of a movement perhaps going back as far as World War I, but significantly effective in society by the gigantic Boomer demographic.

Meanwhile for some fun go to: https://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/mmi/publications/Profiles/mmi-younger-boomer-demographic-profile.pdf

Boomers II or Generation Jones
Born: 1955-1965
Coming of Age: 1973-1983
Age in 2004: 39 to 49 2014      45-49 to 59
Current Population: 49 million
This first post-Watergate generation lost much of its trust in government and optimistic views the Boomers I maintained. Economic struggles including the oil embargo of 1979 reinforced a sense of “I’m out for me” and narcissism and a focus on self-help and skepticism over media and institutions is representative of attitudes of this cohort. While Boomers I had Vietnam, Boomers II had AIDS as part of their rites of passage.

The youngest members of the Boomer II generation in fact did not have the benefits of the Boomer I class as many of the best jobs, opportunities, housing etc. were taken by the larger and the earlier group. Both Gen X and Boomer II s suffer from this long shadow cast by Boomers I.