Social Generations and Their Characteristics HSB4UI – Introduction to Norms and Culture

Introduction As you already know, Norms and Customs can vary from society to society and culture to culture Norms are unspoken rules and behaviors found within a society Additionally, Norms are also usually Contextual: This means they are usually understood within the society that they take place at any given moment

Introduction However, Norms also vary from generation to generation This means that behavioral customs have changed over time, especially with the rapid change of technology in the last 100 years or so

Social Generations and Their Characteristics

Social Generation (Definition) Cohorts (groups) of people born in the same date range and share similar cultural experiences Idea of “social generations” did not really exist before the mid 1800’s Auguste Comte (1798 – 1857 Father of Sociology! First to study social generations Suggested that social change came about because of conflicts between successive generations

Social Generation Ideas of “Enlightenment” (Philosophy) Why did Social Generations start to appear mid 1800’s? Ideas of “Enlightenment” (Philosophy) Society could in fact, change and progress Reason over tradition Industrialization and Economic Change Less emphasis for young men to obey and rely on their own fathers / families to be successful Skills and wisdom of parents less valuable in rapidly changing world

Social Generation Public School and the Creation of “Adolescence” Created a bridge between being children and adults Time to grow “away from the family” Included university and the military Nationalism People began to see themselves as part of a larger society Identification beyond local groups

MAIN SOCIAL GENERATIONS OF THE PAST 100 YEARS

THE LOST GENERATION (Born 1880 – 1910 ish) Generation defined by the fact that they came into adolescence / adulthood during the First World War Rapid advances of technology were applied to war-making / killing in a previously unseen scale Saw many of their peers killed senselessly in the trenches of Europe

THE LOST GENERATION (Born 1880 – 1910 ish)

THE LOST GENERATION (Born 1880 – 1910 ish)

THE LOST GENERATION (Born 1880 – 1910 ish) Had difficulty adjusting to peacetime society Physical and emotional trauma from the war Tended to have an overall pessimistic and negative view of humanity and the world

THE “G.I GENERATION” or “THE GREATEST GENERATION” (Born 1900 – 1925 ish) Came of age (adolescence) around the time of the Great Depression (1929) Would later become veterans (both combat and civilian) of World War II Financially FRUGAL: Compulsive savers, concerned with money and financial security Felt responsible to leave a legacy for their children Respect for authority and morality Some degree of paranoia (money, society etc.)

THE “G.I GENERATION” or “THE GREATEST GENERATION” (Born 1900 – 1925 ish)

THE “G.I GENERATION” or “THE GREATEST GENERATION” (Born 1900 – 1925 ish)

And Then….

THE BABY BOOMERS (1939 – 1970 ish) Generally children born from the “boom” following WWII Soldiers returning home wanted normal lives, families Technology allowed for many new jobs; commercialization and consumerism Unusually large social cohort (there are a lot of them)

THE BABY BOOMERS (1939 – 1970 ish)

THE BABY BOOMERS (1939 – 1970 ish) Grew up during a time of great social change – Civil Rights Movement, Education, Universal Healthcare etc. Improving quality of life (lower infant mortality, longer life expectancy etc.) First generation to “abandon” religion 42% had “dropped out” of their religion by 1990 Felt less tied to tradition and past values

THE BABY BOOMERS (1939 – 1970 ish) First generation to grow up with television and mass media http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SiwgMgBLgo Vietnam War, Kennedy Assassination, Cuban Missile Crisis

THE BABY BOOMERS (1939 – 1970 ish) As a result, first generation to “rebel” against traditional values “Late Boomers” “Hippies”

Kennedy Assassination (1963)

The Vietnam War (1956 – 1975)

The Vietnam War (1956 – 1975)

The Vietnam War (1956 – 1975)

THE BABY BOOMERS (1939 – 1970 ish)

THE BABY BOOMERS (1939 – 1970 ish) First generation to enjoy almost universally good economic times Grew up surrounded by increasing advances in technology (Cars, Planes, Birth Control, Music, Lunar landing etc.) Now getting older -> Impact on current society?

GENERATION X (1975 ish – 1990 ish) Also known as the “MTV Generation” No definite time of birth; followed the Boomers by 15 to 25 years Many Gen X’ers are children of the boomers Most diverse generation in terms of class, race, religion and ethnicity

Generation X (1975 ish – 1990 ish) One defining characteristic of Gen X was growing up in a world increasingly directed towards entertainment: Commercials, Films, Music Videos, Video Games, Television etc. Mixing of entertainment forms

Music Videos 1970’s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVRC5BnNg8A

Music Videos 1980’s (Stupid videos won’t link) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snsTmi9N9Gs

Generation X (1975 ish – 1990 ish) Gen X was the first generation to grow up in non-traditional households: Divorce, single parent, remarriages etc. Represents one of the first generations with an undefined future: Facing a possibly worse future than their parents

Generation X (1975 ish – 1990 ish) Represented challenged social values: Premarital sex, challenge to authority, drugs, partying etc. Believed these represented new societal values Currently hold the highest education levels of any generation

Generation Y (C. 1990) Sometimes referred to as the “Millenial Generation” or the “Entitlement Generation” Primary characteristic is familiarity with electronic and communication devices, and technology in general Cell phones, internet, gps, etc.

Generation Y (C. 1990) Carefully monitored by parents who were afraid to “let go” Multiple opportunities as children (clubs, teams, trips etc.) Gen Y “not allowed to fail” IE winning the trophy just for showing up “You are special”

Generation Y (C. 1990) Generation known for being confident and tolerant of diversity Want to enter the workforce in high-level positions having say and impact on how things are done Narcissitic (self loving), entitled and have rejection of social norms Less reliance on authority (consider the internet)

Generation Y (C. 1990) Sometimes known as the “Peter Pan” generation Refusing to grow up; delaying life stages “Boomerang” children More conscientious of morals, but more likely to disregard laws and rules