American Generations

2. Teen-ager
 A term coined during the 1950s to
describe the large group of Americans
between childhood and adulthood (12-
20)
 Today the term teenager is used to
describe those of high school age, 14-
18, tween 9-13. Aside from social
implications, teens and tweens make up
a huge sales market.

3. Teen-Angst
 A period of light/moderate
depression during early
adolescence—typically during
the first half of high school.
Signs include: withdrawn,
moody, feelings of alienation,
melancholy, feelings of being
misunderstood.

4. Fashion and Teenagers
 Typically, teenagers are the first
to try out new fashions due to the
drive to stay current, new, and
popular. Teens are also willing to
try new things in their quest for
identity and the “who am I?”
dilemma.

5. Teenagers and Language
 Youth culture, since at least the 1920s,
has been responsible for adding new
words, slang, and changing the
mainstream culture’s language and
speech patters. There are a variety of
theories on why this occurs—what do
you think?
 I mean, some teenager was responsible
for the use of the word “cool.”

6. The Lost Generation
Born: 1883-1900
Came of age during WWI
Young adults of the 1920s
Characteristics: Optimistic,
energized, liberal, creative,
bohemian, free-spirited.

12. The Greatest Generation
Born: 1901-1924
Came of age during The
Great Depression
Adults of the 1940s
Characteristics:
Conservative, hardworking,

19. The Silent Generation
 Born: 1924-1940
 Came of age during WWII
 Adults of the 1950s
 Characteristics: Conservative,
patriotic, family oriented,
conformists, traditional.
 Note: one of the smallest
generations due to small families of
the great depression.

25. The Baby Boomers
 Born: 1943-1962
 Came of age during Korean/Vietnam
wars
 Adults of the 1960s/70s
 Characteristics: liberal, non-
conformists, activists, personal
freedom, non-traditional.
 Note: one of the largest generations
due to the economic boom of the post-
WWII era.

37. Generation X
Born: 1963-1983
Came of age during The Cold
War/Desert Storm
Adults of the 1980s/’90s
Characteristics: Educated, work-
centered, change through
economic progress, motivated,
fiscally conservative.

44. Generation Y/ Millennials
Born: 1984-2000
Came of age during the new
millennium (9/11)
Adults of the 2000s/’10s
Characteristics: apathetic,
sheltered, connected, socially
liberal, narcissistic, educated,
goal-motivated, optimistic, .

45. • Children of the LATE Baby Boomers/ Early
GEN Xers
•Largest generation (75 million) after the
Boomers (80 million), compared to the Gen
Xers (40 million)
•38% of millennials identify themselves as
“non-white”
•Positioned in history to be the next “Hero
generation”

46. •Grew up basking in “The Decade of the
Child”—children on a pedestal vs.
“children should be seen and not heard”
•Fathers became more involved in
parenting
•Most “hovered over” generation ever in
our country; unprecedented parental
supervision and advocacy

47. “Indi-filiation,” shorthand for this
tension between individualism
and affiliation, can best be
summed up thusly: teens want to
be interesting and unique – just
like their friends.

56. Generation Z
Born: 2001-present
Will come of age in the twenty-
teens/2020s
Adults of the 2020s/2030s
Characteristics: ??? First
generation to grow up with the
internet/social media. First
generation born in the 21st
century.